23 - Higher Mental Functions Flashcards
How many different areas does broadmann divide the brain into?
50
What areas are the
- Primary motor cortex
- Primary somatosensory cortex
- Primary visual cortex
- Primary auditory cortex
- Broca’s area
- Wernicke’s area
- Primary motor cortex Area 4 - Primary somatosensory cortex Areas 1,2,3 - Primary visual cortex Area 17 - Primary auditory cortex Areas 41 and 42 - Broca’s area Areas 44 and 45 - Wernicke’s area Area 39
What is the cortical association area?
Areas of cortex which appear to have no function
How does the brain recognise an object?
Via a hierarchical system of neurones in the visual cortex, visual association cortex and inferotemporal associarion cortex
- Right posterior parietal association cortex = Decides what is the object and what is the background
- Data interpreted against internal model (association cortex)
What are the symptoms of damage to the right posterior parietal association cortex?
- Difficulty in separating and defining objects
- Piecemeal perception = inability to observe more than one object at a time
- Constructional apraxia = severe problems constructing three dimensional objects using other objects
- Optic apraxia = inaccuracies in reaching for objects, inability to relate relative positions of objects
- Discalculia = difficulty in counting objects
- Contralateral disregard = subject ignores opposite side of the body
What is balint’s syndrome?
Bilateral lesions of posterior parietal cortex
Appears blind - bumping into walls and furniture
Can describe a small visual area very accurately
What are the symptoms of temporal lobe damage?
Problems recalling from long term memory
What is orbitofrontal cortex damage?
Case of phineas gage
Extreme changes in personality
Particularly affecting our ability to conform to social norms and our primitive appetites for food and sex
