CHAPTER 3.15: Studying Causality

Question 1

what was wilder penfield’s approach to studying causality?

Answer 1

brain stimulation

Question 2

what is brain stimulation?

Answer 2

electrical current is used to induce/inhibit a specific response while subject is awake (can be surface or deep in the brain)

Question 3

what are lesions?

Answer 3

different areas of brain damage created

Question 4

what are some lesioning techniques?

Answer 4

• cryogenic blockades (thin electrode inserted into brain where cooling fluid is inserted, “freezing” brain and temporarily turning it off and seeing if certain behaviour returns after brain thaws)
• surgical cuts (snip a precise nerve fiber)
• chance cases of brain injury (ex. finneas gage)
• transcranial magnetic stimulation

Question 5

what is transcranial magnetic stimulation?

Answer 5

magnetic pulse used to temporarily induce/disrupt brain activity, giving direct cause and effect control!

it is very safe and non invasive!