Lesion
Definition
A lesion in psychology refers to any abnormal damage or change in the tissue of an organism, often caused by disease or trauma. In neuroscience, it's used to describe a specific area of the brain that has been damaged.
Analogy
Think of your brain as a well-organized city. Each part of the city (or brain) has its own function and role. A lesion is like a roadblock or construction site that disrupts normal traffic flow and prevents that part of the city from functioning properly.
Related terms
Neuroplasticity: This is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. It's like how a city can adapt and reroute traffic when there's a roadblock.
Stroke: This is a medical condition where poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. It's similar to a power outage in our city analogy - without electricity (or blood flow), parts of the city (brain) can't function.
Tumor: This is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain, which can cause lesions. Like an unplanned skyscraper popping up in our city, it disrupts normal functions and pathways.
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