9. Behavioural Neuroscience: Anatomical divisions of the Brain Flashcards
define rostral (anterior)
toward the beak
define caudal (posterior)
toward the tail
define dorsal (superior)
toward the back
define ventral (inferior)
toward the belly
define lateral
toward the side
define medial
toward the midline
define ipsilateral
on SAME side of midline
define contralateral
on OPPOSITE side of midline
what are homotopic connections
connect complementary region of OTHER hemisphere of brain
what are heterotopic connections
connections that communicate to diff brain regions
what is the corpus callosum
large bundle of axons that connect the 2 hemispheres (facilitates communication & connection b/w them for various func)
what is callosotomy
procedure to cut the corpus callosum to STOP severe epileptic seizures
- PREVENTS communication b/w hemispheres
what are the subdivisions of the brain?
forebrain, midbrain & hindbrain
what are the subdivisions of the forebrain & the structures w/in it ?
- Telencephalon : cerebral cortex, basal ganglia & limbic system
- Diencephalon : thalamus, hypothalamus
what are the subdivisions of the midbrain & its structures?
Mesencephalon : tectum/tegmentum
what are the subdivisions of the hindbrain & its structures?
- Metencephalon : Cerebellum, Pons
- Mylencephalon : Medulla oblongata
Desc the Cerebral Cortex (Telencephalon - forebrain)
- largest structure of human brain
- divided into 2 cerebral hemispheres
- inner “white matter” : pale cause high [axon fibres] covered in F.A
- outer “grey matter” : where neurons synapse & connect together
- LOTS OF FOLDS to ^ amount of cortex = ^ # of neural activity
SULCUS : dips
GYRUS : lump bits
desc the Basal Ganglia & its func (Telencephalon - forebrain)
- located in TOP area of brain but DEEP in mid
- its nuclei (Putamen & caudate nucleus) is responsible for controlling INVOLUNTARY movement (highly auto aspects e.x walking)
- dysfunc in ppl w/ Parkinson’s > (weakness, treamors, limb rigidity, poor balance, diff initiating movements)
desc Limbic system & its func (Telencephalon - forebrain)
- incl : hypothalamus, thalamus, hippocampus & amygdala
- AMYGDALA = for fear responses (imp for mediating emotional responses)
- HIPPOCAMPUS = for learning & memory
desc the thalamus (Diencephalon - forebrain)
- major relay station for sensory inputs > cerebral cortex (lots of connectivity to diff areas)
- imp for activities which req diff inputs & processing (e.x reading: info from retina > lang processing area)
- divided into several nuclei
- DENSE hub of neurons
desc the Hypothalamus (Diencephalon - forebrain)
- controls autonomic nervous system & endocrine (hormone) system
- regulates survival behaviours (fight, flight, feed, mate)
desc the Mesencephalon (midbrain)
- @ topmost region of brainstem, sits directly above hindbrain
- connects PONS & CEREBELLUM w/ forebrain
- imp in motor movement (esp eye) & in auditory & visual processing
- IMP for startled responses (coordinated movement, attention must be diverted to these imp events)
desc the Metencephalon (Hindbrain)
- CEREBELLUM : receives info from visual, auditory, somatosensory & vestibular (balance) systems (HELPS COORD OF MOVEMENT)
- PONS : lies on VENTRAL surface of brainstem, contains SEVERAL nuclei imp in regulating SLEEP & AROUSAL
- relays info from cerebral cortex > cerebellum
desc the Myelencephalon (Hindbrain)
- AKA Medulla Oblongata/Medulla
- links hindbrain > spinal cord
- contains neurons imp for autonomic func (respiration, heart rate)
what are the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex?
- Frontal lobe
- Temporal lobe
- Occipital lobe
- Parietal lobe
desc the primary visual cortex & where it is located
- occupies MEDIAL & LATERAL parts of OCCIPITAL LOBE
- it receives sensory info from retina
desc the func of the Parietal Lobe & where its located
- involved in attention & spatial awareness
- sits on DORSAL surface of cortex (part of the dorsal stream)
- “where” pathway becux of role in SPATIAL LOCALISATION
desc the func of Temporal lobe & where its located
- imp in auditory processing & involved in more complex VISUAL processing (recog of faces & complex objects)
- sits on VENTRAL surface of cortex, part of VENTRAL STREAM
- “what” pathway becuz of complex obj recog
desc the primary auditory cortex & where its loacted
- occupies SUPERIOR (dorsal) part of TEMPORAL lobe, & part of cortex buried w/in SYLVIAN FISSURE
- receives auditory info from COCHLEA (inner ear 4 hearing)
what is a tonotopic map formed by?
a systematic organization of neurons in the auditory system where neurons that respond to similar freq are located close together, forming a spatial representation of sound freq
desc the Primary somatosensory cortex & where it is located
- immediately POSTERIOR to the CENTRAL SULCUS (large grove b/w the frontal & parietal lobe)
- receives sensory info from skin (temp, touch, pain)
somatopic map is a …
a spatial organization of the brain where specific areas correspond to different parts of the body
desc the Primary motor cortex & where its located
- on the PRECENTRAL GYRUS, immediately ANTERIOR to CENTRAL SUCUS
- diff parts of primary motor cortex send signals that CONTROL diff grps of VOLUNTARY muscles (lips, hands, feet)
- controls muscles on the OPP (CONTRALATERAL) side of the body
why is the human frontal lobe DIFF from other animals?
- relatively larger than non-primates
- higher lvl of connectivity w/ rest of the brain (compared to other apes)
what are some “higher order” func of the frontal lobe?
- voluntary, controlled behaviour
- impulse control & emotional regulation
- abstract reasoning & planning
- Social cognition
- Language
what does frontal lobe damage cause?
- alters executive functioning
- Phineas Gage e.x (metal rod through frontal lobe)
- caused BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES
-personality changed SIGNIFICANTLY (angry, impatient)
- unable to plan for future
- only able to work where he DIDN’T make decisions
