Prefrontal Cortex The prefrontal cortex is the most anterior portion of the frontal lobe. It responds mostly to stimuli signaling the need for movement, however it is also responsible for many other specialized functions. It receives information from all sensory systems and can integrate a large amount of information (Kalat 2004). Studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for working memory. Working memory is defined as "the information that is currently available
As can be seen in the next figure, the prefrontal cortex is intertwined with the entire brain’s operations and therefore the whole body. The red/pink lines show the interaction of dopamine neurotransmitters and receptors and even though dopamine is not shown to connect directly to the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulated cortex and the hippocampus are directly connected and the prefrontal cortex is directly linked to these; therefore, to remove or reduce the dopamine alone could present
What impairments would you expect to see following lesions to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex? Compare and contrast with lesions affecting the dorsolateral prefontal cortex. In 1948 Phineas Gage, an American railroad construction foreman, was involved in a terrible accident during which a tamping iron was explosively forced upwards through his left cheek and exiting the top of his head (Harlow, 1948). He stunned his colleagues by not only surviving the event and swiftly regaining consciousness
Lily Huang author of Protect the Willfully Ignorant states “An increasingly urgent question of privacy or how best to keep your public plot walled in” (474). Most internet users savvy or not, are aware of the potential risks. Most people know the potential risk for permanency and of the pictures or information we put out on social networks or other sites and the content being seen. We have all heard the warnings since grammar school from everyone about the internet and how to use it. Teachers, parents
the general public and therefore research on their brains has been conducted. When comparing scans of everyday citizens’ brains as opposed to the brain of a convicted serial killer, the differences are clear. The two scans differ widely with the prefrontal gray matter of the average person’s, dwarfing that of the murderer’s (Adams). Pr... ... middle of paper ... ...lack of serotonin is a known chemical difference within the mind and body of serial killers. It is also crucial to consider the genetic
Introduction The orbitofrontal cortex is found to be associated with the processing of cognitive information related to decision making. This is, responding to the reward or punishment outcomes experienced by an individual after making a decision and, responding to the expectation of facing such an outcome later. This region of the brain is involved in the regulation of emotions during the process of decision making thereby causing an individual to engage in certain social behaviours. This essay
“Some werewolves are hairy on the inside.” Stephen King, a famous horror film writer and director, knows that serial killers are some of most evil but unrecognizable people in society. Walking down the street, serial killers go completely unnoticed. This “under the radar” way of living is what makes them very dangerous. Serial killers appear entirely normal on the outside, but it is what is on the inside that makes them unlike everybody else. Inside is where their minds are altered to accept
simulator.” (2004, February) It means that the prefrontal cortex enables individuals to experience the future before it even happens. This ability also enables one “to desire things” and lets one imagine how it will make them feel a type of way and defines synthetic happiness. In the article, The Role of the Brain in Happiness by Doctor Bill Conklin, he explained that by using a functional MRI machine, he was able to see that the left prefrontal cortex is more active when an individuals feel happy
The course Psychology 361: Introduction to Clinical Psychology served as an introduction to the profession and personal life of clinical psychologists. We discussed the ethical and legal issues, the importance of the client-therapist relationship, the rights and responsibilities of the client and the therapist and the different types of therapy within this field of practice. However, after evaluating these concepts in depth, I have come to find some of the material surprising, interesting and difficult
affects of alcohol on the teenage brain. Adolescent drinkers are more inclined to damage their brain than adult drinkers. This is because structures in the brain such as the hippocampus, which is responsible for learning and memory, and the prefrontal cortex, “which is the brains chief decision maker and voice of reason” (Wuethrich, p.59) are making a lot of adjustments during the teen years. As a result the brain does not fully develop. This has been proven by a study done with rats, conducted
I decided to study medicine many years ago because it enables one to make a direct difference to another person’s life by putting into practice a deep knowledge of science. However after being in quarantine due to a swine flu outbreak whilst on a Chinese language camp this summer my feelings developed. I had an insight into public health and disease control on a global scale and it was the intensity and sense of urgency that appealed to me. A doctor has no routine and is exposed to scientific and
Procrastination: Habit or Disorder? "Procrastination is 'the art of keeping up with yesterday and avoiding today.' " - Wayne Dyer (6) Universally common to college students, procrastination is often addressed as a bad habit. Yet, in most cases, this isn't a nuance, but a perpetual occurrence - no longer qualifying for the term "habit." Typically thought of as a behavioral trait, procrastination thrives on a cycle of blame shifting and avoidance. Falling victim to this "habit" myself, I embarked
All throughout history Buddhist monks and the eastern religion have been performing meditation, but recently anyone has been trying it. Meditation is a practice that someone may train their mind to be in a state of consciousness that benefits their mind and body. Meditation is about paying attention, focusing and being very calm. It sharpens creativity and performance while enhancing relationships. Meditators find when they stop taking things in life so seriously, the self drops away. They are
does our anatomy. Our prefrontal cortex continues to develop until we are in our mid twenties for example. Thats why as teenagers and even young adults we are still developing motor, cognitive, and social behaviors. This explains why teenagers are the worse drivers, their judgement and foresight has not reached it’s full potential. Here is a chart that compares the human prefrontal cortex development to that of a rat. You can see well into the age of 32 the prefrontal cortex is still developing in
you to opt for immediate mood repair” Not surprisingly, those “unpleasant tasks” can include homework and projects. While useful when surviving in the wild, this instinct can impair your ability to work efficiently. The next contender is the prefrontal cortex, located right behind y... ... middle of paper ... ...r friend can provide support in case you need help. However, doing this can take much willpower because asking a friend to do help you to stop procrastinating may seem a bit silly, so
Rather than concentrating on doing one thing at time, students divide their attention in many activities, such as doing your homework while playing video game and texting when listening to lecture in class. Researchers founded multitasking can divide attention between several tasks that can confuse the brain and have negative effects on student’s grade. When switching between tasks to task it can decreases the level of activities that are done at the same time. Researchers believe that students depend
Currently, it is still unknown how different men and women really are, at least in the aspect regarding the brain and one’s thought processes. It is a controversial topic, just being discovered and many studies conflict with each other regarding the subject, which leaves for open questions and missing answers. Originally, there was a common understanding that at least cognitively, both genders were born similar. The way their environment affected them was what made them different, and the society
famous forms of a cure during the 1930s was a surgery called Lobotomy. “Lobotomy, also known as leucotomy which mean cut/slice white in Greek, or its nickname of ice pick, is a neurosurgical operation that involves severing connection in the brain’s prefrontal lobe” according to Freeman. Lobotomy was performed by
reasons, college campuses should work towards an lcohol-free campus. Students attend college to learn, however, the mental capacity and the ability to learn is inhibited with excessive drinking. High doses of alcohol damage the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex areas of the brain which are still developing in college-aged students. The hippocampus is the area of the brain used for learning and memory. In one study, "Dr. Michael De Bellis at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center used magnetic resonance
viVigilance tasks require great deal of attention for an extended period of time. (Helton & Warm 2008) People who take place in such tasks usually find themselves struggling to concentrate after a period of time, this leads to decrease of accuracy and speed of the task, also known as vigilance decrement. There have been previous researches that suggest studies that have been the introduction to vigilance decrement theory. During the years of World War 2, radar system were used to detect enemy’s