CP- Week 2

Mind is to the brain as the program is to the hardware- Searle

David Marr- 1982- Mind and Brain Interaction
Level of Computational Theory- What, how and why- Strategy
Level of representation and algorithm- Nature- representation of information
from outside world- Mental states basically need to represent the actual states in
the world
Level of implementation

Reductionism- understanding the human mind can be reduced to understanding the

basic electro chemical states and processes that characterizes the behaviour of neurons.
Approaches towards CP
Cognitive Approach- Observer adapts non-invasive approach- Input, process and
output can be predicted
AI Approach- Aim is to try and generate a new computer program that mimics the
behaviour of observed program
Demonstration Proof- Representations and processes created for the program is
actually being followed- Robots, Self driving cars
Neuroscience Approach- observe and measure inner workings of brain- tries to
find the Fundamental Nature of the program/ brain
Information theory approach- Shannon and Weaver- 1949- a mathematical
account of the operation of any type of communication system- How is info
processed and what are the underlying parameters
Information Arising System- Info + Transmitter + Channel + Receiver + Destination
Communication System- This might how brain works
Auditory Input--> Electrical signal (by transmitter)--> Travels--> Re-converted into
electrical signal--> Output
Efficiency is problem. Variables to counteract the problem:
Channel capacity-  Capacity of channel to carry info
Rate of transmission- Speed of transmission
Redundancy of encoding- How much meaningful info can be transmitted
Noise- how much meaningful information versus how much noise
Classical Information Processing view-
Human senses(receivers)--> external input--> encode(sensory transduction)-->
abstract information processing systems--> Brain(central systems)--> Decode the info
Sensory transduction- conversion of a sensory stimulus from one form to another.
Modularity and Cognitive Neuropsychology
Modularity- degree to which a system's components may be separated and
recombined, often with the benefit of flexibility and variety in use.
Modularity of mind is the notion that a mind may, at least in part, be composed of
innate neural structures or mental modules (bits) which have distinct, established,
and evolutionarily developed functions.
Principle of Modular design- Marr- wrote this idea for computers but can be applied to
mind
Central idea- to break down overall endeavor into smaller components that are
connected to each other.
Mind- broken down into smaller components--> Resistant to damage
The process where the information received by the sense organs are converted
into usable information- Sensory Transduction
Info from different Senses --> common Perceptual code --> Higher cognitive
processes (operated on in sequence by the faculties of perception, imagination,
reasoning, memory)

Jerry Fodor- Modularity hypothesis- mind maybe decomposed into smaller and discrete
sub process and modules.
2 kinds of brain faculties:
Horizontal faculties- Faculties of perception, imagination, reason and memory
Reflects general competencies that cut across diff domains.
Eg- Cognitive abilities- memory component. Therefore, memory - horizontal faculty
Describing world in 20 sentences- Memory component is a part- horizontal faculty
Vertical faculties- Specific process of diff areas of brain.

Fodor's Modules- The Modularity of Mind

Proximal Stimulus- Stimulations received by the sense organs
Distal Stimulus- Object creating proximal stimulation
Eg- distal- stereo system--> proximal- sound waves received

Central processors(CP) are concerned with the fixation of belief and planning of
intelligent action
CP- makes final decisions about distal stimulus
Eg- A nice song is playing in stereo--> you want to focus your attention on it
A bad song is playing--> You want to move away

Cognitive Neuropsychology
Operation of disordered brains
Assumption- Much can be learned about cognitive function when brain does not
function properly

Developmental neuropsychology- brain disorders that develop as a person ages, and

that lead to some form of cognitive impairment that is developmental disorders.
Acquired disorders- occurring during normal developmental cycle due to illness or
injury

Key assumptions:
Coltheart- Functional architecture is assumed to operate in all normal individuals
individual diff- diff func. framework for diff individuals but same cognitive
framework--> CP wont work

CP also involves case studies

Deficits in CP
Association deficits- When a patient performs poorly on say, 2 diff tests
(understanding both spoken and written words)--> Then the impairments are
associated since they arise in same person--> Problem in operation of a single
underlying module
Difficulty in understanding both spoken and written words--> The individual has
problem with language

Dissociation Deficit- Funnel(1983) reported- a patient was able to read aloud 90%
of words but unable to read non- words(words that can be pronounced but don't
have meaning) correctly
Dissociated- One is impaired other is intact

Single dissociation- Disassociation of one single module

Double dissociation- 2 tasks involved are from 2 diff modules. Eg- text impairment and
reading impairment may involve 2 diff modules

Basic Concepts in Cognitive Neuroscience(CN)

CN- Study of physiological basis of cognition

Nervous System- Collection of billions of specialised cells through which brain and rest
of the body communicate
CNS- Brain and Spinal chord
PNS- Rest of the body (neurons that links CNS to skin, muscles and glands)
Endocrine system- Chemical regulator of body- hormones

Neurons- basic building blocks of brain

Raymond Cajal- Neuron Doctrine- Neurons are single and independent unites that
transmits signal

Neural networks- cluster of neurons towards specific functions

Neurons exist in electrically charged environment- +ve or -ve

Resting potential- charge of neuron while in rest- -70mV

Action potential or nerve impulse process:
Axon membrane is pierced by tiny tunnels or holes called ion channels.
These tiny channels act like gates - allows sodium ions to rush into axon
Channels are first opened near soma then throughout axon
AP- All or nothing event
after nerve impulse- neurons become unwilling to fire--> Flow of K ions out of
neuron while membrane gates are open
The neuron comes back to its resting potential

Saltatory Conduction- AP jumping from gap to gap (due to myelin sheath)

Excitatory- Inciting the neighboring neuron to fire AP

Inhibitory- stopping the AP

Brain:
Locations:
 Hind brain- posterior part of brain- Medulla, pons, reticular formation and
cerebellum
Mid brain- middle part of brain- Superior and inferior colliculus, substantia nigra
Forebrain- front part of brain- thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, cerebrum

Functions:
Central core or brain stem- regulates most primitive behaviour- coughing,
sneezing- and most primitive voluntary behaviour- eating, drinking
Hindbrain, midbrain, hypothalamus and thalamus (structures in forebrain)
Limbic system- control our emotions
Cerebellum- regulates higher intellectual process

Hind brain
Sits on top of spinal chord- basic life functions
Medulla- controls breathing and reflexes that help maintain upright posture
Pons- Attentiveness and sleep
Reticular Formation- network of neural circuits that extends from the lower brainstem
right up to the thalamus in the fore brain and trans versing some of the other central
core structures- controls arousal and attention- decides which message to be sent to
cerebral cortex
Cerebellum- coordination of movements, learning new motor responses

Neurons crossover- right side connects to left brain and vice versa

Midbrain
Above pons and surrounded by forebrain
Superior and inferior colliculus- relaying sensory info to brain and movement control
Substantia Nigra- Dopamine containing pathway (reward pathway)

Forebrain
Cerebrum or cerebral cortex
Rest- sub-cortical structures
Thalamus- sensory relay station, directing incoming info from sense receptors to
cerebrum
Hypothalamus- Regulates basic physiological functions, maintains homeostasis (control
over ANS), sensing of emotions
Pituitary gland- imp part of endocrine system(system of glans)- Hypothalamus controls
endocrine system
Limbic System- additional control over instinctive behaviour controlled by central core
hippocampus- memory
Amygdala- emotions (esp- fear)- damage--> unable to recognise fear expressions
and inability to learn new fear responses

Cerebral Cortex
Sensory Areas- Info to specific CC areas from sensory system
Motor Cortex- Motor responses or movement of body part
Association areas- rest of CC- memory and language

Corpus Collosum- connects left and right sides of the brain- cerebral hemispheres
Both hemispheres are symmetrical

4 lobes (both hemispheres contain this separately):

Frontal- higher mental abilities and play role in sense of self
Primary motor cortex- responsible for movements- mirror neurons (mimic and
learn through observing)
Primary somatic cortex- homunculus map
Association areas- Combine and process info
Prefrontal cortex- anterior part of frontal lobe- thinking, personality
Parietal- register bodily sensations
primary somatosensory area- sensory info from body flows in
Occipital- back of the brain, vision
Damage- visual agnosia or mind blindness- object recognition is present but
cannot for associations
facial agnosia- inability to perceive familiar faces
Temporal- located above ear, hearing
Wernicke's area- comprehension of language (damage- receptive aphasia- not
able to understand language)

Left side of brain control right side of body and vice versa
Spatial neglect- damage to one hemisphere leading to damage in opposite side of the
body

Hemispheric Specialization- The concept that 2 cerebral hemispheres maybe differently

adept in capabilities and functions- occurs in patients with spilt brain
Split brain- corpus collosum is severed