8.1 higher cortical function

Question 1

where are most inputs and outputs to and from the cerebral cortex from?

Answer 1

inputs = from thalamus and other cortical areas

outputs = from pyramidal cells and project to widespread areas. can be projection fibres e.g UMN fibres, can be commissural fibres e.g corpus callosum or can be association fibres e.g arcuate fasiculus.

Question 2

what is the function of the frontal lobes?

Answer 2

Motor (primary motor cortex, damage can result in contralateral weakness)

Expression of speech (L hemisphere usually).
Broca’s area is here. Damage can cause dysphasia

behavioural regulation/judgement. Prefrontal cortex is here. damage = impulsive, disinhibited behaviours.

cognition. prefrontal cortex is here. can get difficulty with tasks like complex problem solving e.g calculations.

eye movements. contain frontal eye fields.

continence (paracentral lobules)

Question 3

what is the function of the parietal lobes?

Answer 3

Sensory. Has primary sensory cortex. Damage = can get contralateral anaesthesia affecting all modalities.

Comprehension of speech. Wernickes area. Can cause receptive dysphasia

body image and awareness of external environment. damage can lead to neglect.

calculations and writing, working with the frontal love.

REMEMBER superior optic radiations run through here = damage can cause a contralateral inferior homonymous quadrantanopia.

Question 4

how many layers make up the cerebral cortex?

Answer 4

6 layers containing cell bodies and dendrites (its grey matter)

Question 5

where is the primary motor and sensory cortex found?

Answer 5

motor cortex = frontal lobe

sensory cortex = parietal lobe

Question 6

what are the functions of the temporal lobe?

Answer 6

HOME

Hearing. Primary auditory cortex on the superior surface, near wernickers area. Auditiory hallucinations = a sign of a leison

Olefaction. Primary olfaction cortex here. olefactory hallucinations are a sign

Memory. Hippocampus is a crucial structure for this. Damage can lead to amnesia.

Emotion.

REMEMBER inferior optic radiations run here. damage can lead to a contralateral superior homonymous quadrantanopia.

Question 7

what is the left hemisphere usually dominant for?

Answer 7

sequential processing

• language
• mathematics/logic

Question 8

what is the right hemisphere usually dominant for?

Answer 8

whole picture processing

• body image
• visuospatial awareness
• emotion
• music

Question 9

what is the corpus callosum?

Answer 9

a huge bundle of white mater connecting the two hemispheres.

Question 10

what effect can destruction of the corpus callosum have?

Answer 10

alien hand syndrome

subtle effects on language processing

Question 11

where is the visual cortex located?

Answer 11

the occipital lobe

Question 12

what is broca’s area and where is it found?

Answer 12

it is in the inferior lateral frontal love

Sits just inferior to the mouth/pharynx area of the primary motor cortex (on the lateral part of the pre central gyrus)

responsible for speech production. A pattern generator.

Question 13

what can damage to Broca’s area cause?

Answer 13

staccato speech, where patient still understands what is being said to them

= Brocas/ expressive dysphasia

Question 14

what is wernickes area and where is it found?

Answer 14

found at the parieto-temporal junction
sits near primary auditory cortex in temporal lobe (good as can send to wernickes area immediately for interpretation)

for interpretation of language

Question 15

what can damage to wernickes area cause?

Answer 15

damage can cause fluent, nonsensical speech where the patient doesn’t appear to understand what is beingg said to them

= receptive dysphasia

Question 16

how are wernickes and brocas area connected?

Answer 16

via the arcuate fasiculus (white matter)

Question 17

what is the pathway for repeating a heard word?

Answer 17

goes from ear to primary auditory centre in temporal lobe

from there goes to wernickes area at parietal- temporal junction to understand word

then through arcuate fasiculus to brocas area to form pattern to repeat word

from there goes to motor cortex for face to say word

Question 18

where do inputs for a thought come from?

Answer 18

all over the cerebral cortex

Question 19

what can be the consequence if the arcuate fasciculus is damaged?

Answer 19

can cause the inability to repeat heard words

Question 20

where are memories believed to be stored?

Answer 20

all over the brain

Question 21

what is declarative/explicit memory? where is is stored?

Answer 21

• factual information

tends to be stored in cerebral cortex

Question 22

what is non declarative/implicit memory? where is it stored?

Answer 22

• motor skills
• emotion

tends to be stored in subcortical structures e.g basal ganglia and cerebellum

Question 23

where is short term memory stored? where is it stored?

Answer 23

stored for seconds to minutes as reverberations or echo in cortical circuits

Question 24

where is long term memory stored?

Answer 24

in cerebral cortex, cerebellum etc. following consolidation

Question 25

what factors effect consolidation?

Answer 25

• emotional context
• rehearsal : how familiar you are with the info
• association

Question 26

what is the importance of the hippocampus in memory?

Answer 26

helps consolidate memories

sits deep in temporal lobe

has lots of inputs from many brain systems = good at associating stimuli