PSY 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Phineas Gage, Absolute Threshold, Reading Disability

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1101
• Professor: Mark Dallas

Document Summary

Cortex plasticity, mirrored split brain, language and creativity of l/r brain, l/r handedness. L/r brain differences -- 2 hemispheres connected by corpus callosum and communicate over it via neurons, mirror images. As motor & sensory systems do, l/r hemisphere of brain controls opposite side of body. One hemisphere can usually take over if other is damaged. L brain: language (verbal), grammar, logic, math (even language in l typical for left. Epilepsy -- synchronized and overwhelming firing of neurons which over works the motor. Joe could use his left and right hands simultaneously to do different things. We can"t draw two different figures at once because our neurons are chatting and confusing us, integrating the images we"re trying to draw. With evolution the l hemisphere has become more specialized (language and consciousness) -- consciousness must come from only one sphere of brain or else joe"s split brain wouldn"t allow him to have consciousness.