Introduction to Cognitive Psychology - Department of Psychological ...

Prof. Greg Francis 8/12/11Output!! Myelin is like insulation for thecell’s axon!! it insures that the signalgenerated by the actionpotential is strong!! Jumps electrically rather thanthe normal chemical exchanges!! In multiple sclerosis the body’simmune system attacks myelin!! physical problems (paralysis)!! cognitive problems (memory,reasoning, judgement)!! cause unknown (300,000people)Output!! The output of a neuron is either excitatory or inhibitory on theother neuron it reaches!! Excitatory: when our neuron sends an output, the receivingneuron is more likely to produce an action potential!! Inhibitory: when our neuron sends an output, the receivingneuron is less likely to produce an action potentialPurdue UniversityPurdue UniversityNetworks!! Cognitive behavior is related togroups of neurons workingtogether!! Include excitation and inhibition!! more laterEpilepsy!! Disease of central nervous system!! causes mostly unknown!! Seizures!! bursts of electrical activity travelling through networks inthe brain!! brain activity is out of control!! epileptic fits!! Isolated seizures also occur due to high fever,lack of oxygen, or head injuryPurdue UniversityPurdue UniversityEpilepsyEpilepsy!! EEG recordingsare often used todiagnose epilepsy!! Many differenttypes of epilepsy,with different EEGpatterns!! One theory (but not yet proven) is that epilepsypatients’ inhibitory cells are not working properly!! Excitatory cells activate everything until they “exhaust”themselvesPurdue UniversityPurdue UniversityPSY 200: Intro. to Cognitive Psychology 2