4.2 The Cerebral Cortex

Question 1

Corpus callosum and anterior commissure

Answer 1

Two bundles of axons in which neurons in each hemisphere communicate with neurons in the corresponding part of the other hemisphere

Question 2

Laminae

Answer 2

Layers of cell bodies that are parallel to the surface of the cortex and separated from each other by layers of fibers

Question 3

Columns

Answer 3

How the cells of the cortex are organized; cells are formed into columns based on similar properties, and arranged perpendicular to the laminae

Question 4

Occipital lobe

Answer 4

Located at the posterior end of the cortex; the main target for axons from the thalamic nuclei that receive input from the visual pathways

Question 5

Primary visual cortex/striate cortex

Answer 5

The very posterior pole of the accidental lube; has a striped appearance in cross-section

Question 6

Cortical blindness

Answer 6

Caused by destruction of any part of the striate cortex in the related part of the visual field

Question 7

Parietal lobe

Answer 7

Lies between the occipital lobe in the central sulcus; Monitors all the information about eye, head, and body positions and passes it on to other brain areas that control movement

Question 8

Central sulcus

Answer 8

One of the deepest grooves in the surface of the cortex

Question 9

Postcentral gyrus/primary somatosensory cortex

Answer 9

Posterior to the central sulcus; the primary target for touch sensations and information from muscle stretch receptors and joint receptors

Question 10

Neglect

Answer 10

A fascinating symptom of right-hemisphere parietal lobe damage; a tendency to ignore the contralateral side of the body and world

Question 11

Temporal lobe

Answer 11

The lateral portion of each hemisphere, near the temples; the primary cortical target for auditory information; the left temporal lobe is for understanding spoken language; also contributes to some of the more complex aspects of vision, including perception of movement in recognition of faces; Also plays a part in the emotional and motivational behaviors

Question 12

Klüver-Bucy syndrome

Answer 12

Previously wild and aggressive monkeys failed display normal fears and anxieties after temporal lobe damage

Question 13

Frontal lobe

Answer 13

Contains the primary motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex; extends from the central sulcus to the interior limit of the brain

Question 14

Cerebral cortex

Answer 14

The cellular layers on the outer surface of the cerebral hemispheres form gray matter

Question 15

Precentral gyrus

Answer 15

The posterior portion of the frontal lobe just anterior to the central sulcus; specialized for the control of fine movements

Question 16

Prefrontal cortex

Answer 16

Most anterior portion of the frontal lobe; receives information from all the sensory systems, including the interior of the body; Important for working memory and the delayed-response task; contributes to the shifting of attention

Question 17

Prefrontal lobotomy

Answer 17

Surgical disconnection of the prefrontal protects from the rest of the brain; used to be conducted in attempts to control psychological disorders

Question 18

Working memory

Answer 18

The ability to remember recent stimuli and events

Question 19

Delayed-response task

Answer 19

A stimulus appears briefly, and after some delay, the individual must respond to the remembered stimulus

Question 20

Reference memory

Answer 20

The ability to remember unchanging information

Question 21

The binding problem

Answer 21

The question of how the visual, auditory, and other areas of your brain influence one another to produce a combined perception of a single object

Question 22

Gamma waves

Answer 22

30-80 action potentials per second

Question 23

One hypothesis for the binding problem

Answer 23

Binding of the perception depends on precisely simultaneous activity in various brain areas

Question 24

What causes synchrony to develop? (The binding problem)

Answer 24

Synchrony among distant parts of the cortex depends on coordination by an area in the inferior parietal cortex