11) Higher Cortical Function Flashcards
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
Motor Expression of speech (left hemisphere) Behavioural regulation Cognition Eye movements Continence
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
Sensory Comprehension of speech (left) Body image (right) Calculation and writing Awareness of external environment Superior optic radiations
What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
Hearing Memory Emotion Inferior optic radiations Olfaction
Describe cerebral dominance/asymmetry:
Left hemisphere is dominant in 95% of people
What is the general function of the left hemisphere?
Left is involved in sequential processing e.g. language and logic
What is the general function of the right hemisphere?
Right is involved in whole picture processing e.g. body image, visuospatial awareness, emotion
What is the corpus callosum?
White matter connecting two hemispheres
Where is Broca’s area and what is its function?
Inferior lateral frontal cortex - involved in production of speech
Where is Wernicke’s area and what is its function?
Superior temporal lobe - interpretation of language
What connects Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas?
Arcuate fasciculus
Describe the process of repeating a heard word:
Sound into auditory cortex as impulses -> pattern of vibrations sent to Wernicke’s area and understood as words -> sent to Broca’s area via arcuate fasciculus -> communicates with motor cortex to move mouth and make appropriate sound
What is Wernicke’s aphasia?
Receptive aphasia - able to speak fluently but without compression, unable to understand language
What is Broca’s aphasia?
Expressive aphasia - can understand language but can’t articulate themselves
What are the two types of memories and where are they stored?
Declarative (facts) - stored in cortex
Non-declarative (motor skills, emotions) - stored in cerebellum
What is consolidation of memory dependent on?
Emotional context, rehearsal and association
