BMB 1 - The Prefrontal Cortex; Classical Cortical Syndromes Flashcards
True/False.
The prefrontal cortex accomplishes a series of both low-order and high-order functions.
True.
What types of largely unconscious, low-order functions does the pre-frontal cortex orchestrate?
Automatic, routine, obligatory kinda stuff
(e.g. brushing your teeth)
What types of conscious, high-order functions does the pre-frontal cortex orchestrate?
New, controlled, strategic, voluntary kinda stuff
(e.g. a new task, making a decision, etc.)
Which portion of the prefrontal cortex is largely involved in regulating cognitive processes?
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Which portion of the prefrontal cortex is largely involved in regulating behavior (especially in determining the appropriateness of one’s behavior)?
The orbitofrontal cortex
Where does active memory occur (as in, visualize your car or hear the noise of a cow within your mind)?
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
+
task-specific posterior areas
Which types of memory does the prefrontal cortex manage?
Active memory (i.e. “the mind’s eye”);
working memory (manipulation of the representation in “the mind’s eye”)
Which portion of the cerebral cortex is most involved in agency and choice?
The prefrontal cortex
Which portion of the cerebral cortex is most involved in discriminating between reality, memory, and imagination?
The prefrontal cortex
Which portion of the cerebral cortex is most involved in conscious experience?
The prefrontal cortex
The _________ prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is the key region for keeping information “on-line.”
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is the key region for keeping information “on-line.”
fMRI in patients with psychosis is associated with deficits in which three specific areas of the cerebral cortex?
(1) Anterior cingulate cortex
(2) Superior temporal gyrus
(3) Medial temporal cortex
The inability to separate reality from imagination in patients with schizophrenia is largely due to defects in what portion of the brain?
The prefrontal cortex
Deficits of ________ memory is the primary deficit in schizophrenia.
Deficits of working memory is the primary deficit in schizophrenia.
It is largely a lesion in what portion of the brain that leads to a disconnect in a schizophrenic patient’s ability to distinguish auditory hallucinations from auditory reality?
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
When does the theory of mind first appear in child development (theory of mind being the capacity to understand the mental state of others as separate and distinct from one’s own)?
(E.g. at what age would a child begin to look where you point with your finger instead of just at your finger?)
6 months
What term refers to the absence (extremely rare) of language ability in an individual?
Aphasia
What term refers to the a partial deficiency of language ability in an individual?
Dysphasia
What term refers to the absence of ability to read but with intact writing ability?
Alexia
What term refers to the loss of ability to understand non-spoken, non-written aspects of language like pitch, cadence and intonation (the lyrical, rhythmic aspects of language)?
Aprosodia
True/False.
Language ability is typically found in the dominant hemisphere, which is also typically ipsilateral to the patient’s dominant hand.
False.
Language ability is typically found in the dominant hemisphere, which is also typically contralateral to the patient’s dominant hand (although, a significant number of left-handed individuals are left hemisphere -dominant).
Most brains have language ability wired in the _______ (right/left) hemisphere.
Most brains have language ability wired in the left hemisphere.
Which model of aphasia is more accurate than the Wernicke-comprehension / Broca-motor model?
The Distributed Network Model - there is a broader network of fibers that are involved with language production and consequently, aphasias. I.e., a singular part of the brain is not responsible for all of language.
_______ aphasia is an inability to produce speech.
Broca’s aphasia is an inability to produce speech.
_______ aphasia is an inability to comprehend speech.
Wernicke’s aphasia is an inability to comprehend speech.
_______ aphasia is an inability to repeat speech.
Conduction aphasia is an inability to repeat speech.
Where is Broca’s area?
The inferior frontal gyrus
Where is Wernicke’s area?
The superior temporal gyrus
What is the structure that connects the inferior frontal gyrus (Broca’s area) and the superior temporal gyrus (Wernicke’s area)?
The arcuate fasciculus
Which aphasia is more likely to be ego dystonic and frustrating to a patient, Broca’s or Wernicke’s?
Broca’s
Lesions in the inferior frontal gyrus will lead to a(n) ______ inability to speak.
Lesions in the superior temoral gyrus will lead to an inability to ______ speak.
Lesions in the arcuate fasciculus will lead to an inability to ______ speech.
Lesions in the inferior frontal gyrus will lead to a motor inability to speak.
Lesions in the superior temoral gyrus will lead to a inability to comprehend speech.
Lesions in the arcuate fasciculus will lead to an inability to repeat speech.
Aphasic patients will be more likely to eventually recover if they have which form of aphasia?
Broca’s
(due to frustration as a motivating factor)
Apraxia occurs due to a lesion in which portion(s) of the brain?
The dominant parietal lobe
(typically lefthand)
True/False.
Apraxia is often associated with aphasia and is basically a loss of strength and/or coordination.
False.
Apraxia is often associated with aphasia and is a loss of ability to perform specialized tasks (e.g. making a sandwhich, dressing oneself, making coffee, driving a car, etc.).
Aprosodia is a result of damage to what portion(s) of the brain?
The non-dominant frontal operculum
_________ is a disorder of attention and a failure to respond to objects on one side of the body (the patient is typically unaware they have a deficit).
Neglect is a disorder of attention and a failure to respond to objects on one side of the body (the patient is typically unaware they have a deficit).
Very generally, what portion of the brain is damaged in patients with neglect?
The non-dominant hemisphere
The ________ stream is the visual pathway involved in determining where an object is (spatial processing).
The ________ stream is the visual pathway involved in determining what an object is (object identification).
The dorsal stream is the visual pathway involved in determining where an object is (spatial processing).
The ventral stream is the visual pathway involved in determining what an object is (object identification).
The dorsal stream is the visual pathway involved in determining _______ an object is.
The ventral stream is the visual pathway involved in determining _______ an object is.
The dorsal stream is the visual pathway involved in determining where an object is (spatial processing).
The ventral stream is the visual pathway involved in determining what an object is (object identification).
Agnosia generally refers to inability to do what?
The inability to recognize objects by use of the senses
What term refers to the specific type of agnosia in which one is unable to recognize faces?
Prosopagnosia
Object agnosia, prosopagnosia, and alexia are all disorders that involve a defect in which neural stream from the primary visual cortex?
Ventral
A defect in the ventral stream of visual cortical processing can lead to _________ syndrome.
A defect in the ventral stream of visual cortical processing can lead to Balint syndrome.
Describe the three features of Balint syndrome (a defect in the ventral stream of visual cortical processing).
- Simultanagnosia: Loss of ability to perceive holistic gestalt of what senses are presenting: i.e., cannot take in a lot of competing information from the environment (see examples in image).
- Optic apraxia: Inability to control eye movements voluntarily.
- Optic ataxia: Failure of vision to guide complex voluntary movement, such as reaching for an object.
Make the diagnosis:
Broca’s aphasia
A 63 y/o right-handed woman presented with several months of gradually worsening problems with completing tasks at home and at work. Despite normal strength and preserved fine finger motion, on exam she was unable to pantomime tool use with either hand, often using her fingers as if they were the tool themselves. Brain imaging revealed a meningioma with mass effect and edema on the left parietal lobe.
What is the diagnosis secondary to her meningioma?
Apraxia
A 68 y/o right-handed male with hypercholesterolemia and atrial fibrillation presented with inability to recognize his wife. He thought she sounded and acted like his wife, but could not distinguish her from other women by sight. He was unable to recognize faces of famous people. Brain MRI showed infarct of left frontal lobe and another left temporal-occipital area and acute infarct right temporal-occipital area.
What is the diagnosis secondary to his stroke?
Prosopagnosia
A 57 y/o RH man with h/o hypertension and hypercholesterolemia presented with problems with vision saying “things just don’t look right” and difficulty reading. His neuro exam was significant for difficulty moving eyes on command although EOMI. He could not identify more than one object at a time. He had difficulty reaching out to targets but could touch his nose bilaterally with his eyes closed. He could read single letters but not words. Brain MRI revealed old, previously unknown infarction in the left parietal lobe and an acute hemorrhage deep in the right parietal and occipital region.
What is the diagnosis secondary to his stroke?
Balint Syndrome
