Brain Functions Flashcards
What is the Purpose of the Supramarginal Gyrus?
Allows understanding of reading
What is the Purpose of the Angular Gyrus?
Sending instructions to exner’s area for writing
What is the Purpose of the Primary Auditory Cortex?
To recieve pitch and timing input from ears tonotopically
What is the Purpose of the Wernicke’s Area?
Interperets speech patterns from the primary auditory cortex and to suppress noise that is irrelevant to speech
If a Lesion occurs in the Wernicke’s area, what type of Aphasia occurs?
Fluent/Sensory Aphasia
If a Lesion occurs in the Arcuate Fasiculus, what type of Aphasia occurs?
Connectional Aphasia, in which speech and comprehension are not linked
What is the Purpose of the Broca’s Area?
To instruct speech muscles
If a Lesion occurs in the Broca’s Area, what kind of Aphasia occurs?
Non-fluent/Motor aphasia
What is the Purpose of Exner’s Area?
To Instruct the hand muscles in actions such as writing and in repetitive actions
What is the Purpose of the Pre-Central Gyrus/Primary Motor Cortex?
To activate muscles throughout the body
What is the Purpose of the Post-Central Gyrus/Primary Somatosensory Cortex?
To recieve touch, pressure, pain and temperature sensory input from the body
What is the Purpose of the Primary Visual Cortex?
To take input in from the eyes
What is the Purpose of the Secondary Visual Cortex?
To process visual input from the Primary Visual Cortex
How are the Motor/Sensory Neurons in the Pre-Central and Post-Central Gyri Arranged?
In a humonculus
What is the Purpose of the Cingulate Gyrus?
To blend fight and flight response with logical reasoning and to regulate emotions
What Additional System is the Cingulate Gyrus a part of?
The Limbic System
What is the Purpose of the Corpus Collosum?
To coordinate the left and right hemispheres of the brain
What is the Purpose of the Hypothalamus?
Regulation of Homeostatsis, Secretion of Hormones, Emotions and monitoring Osmolarity and Temperature in the Autonomic System
What Personal Qualities are associated with the Frontal Association Cortex?
Intelligence, Personality, Behaviour, Mood and Cognitive function
What Personal Qualities are associated with the Parietal Association Cortex?
Spatial skills and 3D recognition of shapes, faces, concepts and abstract perception
What Personal Qualities are associated with the Temporal Association Cortex?
Memory, Mood, Aggression and Intelligence
What Hemisphere of the brain is Typically Non-Dominant?
The right hemisphere
What Personal Qualities is the Non-dominant Hemisphere of the brain associated with?
Non-verbal language, Emotional expression, Spatial Skills, Conceptual understanding, Artistic/Musical skills and comprehension of metaphor/linguistic nuance
What could Injury to the Non-Dominant Hemisphere result in?
Loss of non-verbal language, emotion in speech, spatial disorientation, inability to recognise familiar objects and loss of musical appreciation
What is the Purpose of the Basal Ganglia?
Helps in initiating muscle movement, Muscle memory and practiced movements, Fine movement control of muscles and mood expression through muscles
What is the Purpose of the Cerebellum?
To stop movements and manage balance and posture
Do the sides of the Cerebellum manage Movement on the Same Side or Opposite Sides of the body?
Same side (Ipscilateral movement coordination)
Is the Cerebellum affected by Alcohol?
Yes, which is why it is harder for those under the influence to balance, maintain posture and terminate movements
What Neurotransmitter is used in neurons between Secondary (association) areas (e.g. Broca’s Area, Exner’s Area) and the Striatum?
Glutamate (excitatory)
Where do Neurons from the Striatum output?
The Globus Pallidus (Internus and Externus) and the Substantia Nigra
What Neurotransmitter is used in Neurons originating from the Striatum?
Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (Inhibitory)
Where do Neurons originating from the Substantia Nigra output?
The Striatum
What Neurotransmitter is used in Neurons originating from the Substantia Nigra?
Dopamine
Where do the Neurons originating in the Globus Pallidus (Internus) output?
The Thalamus
What Neurotransmitter is used in Neurons originating from the Globus Pallidus (Internus)?
Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (Inhibitory)
Where do Neurons originating in the Thalamus output to in the Motor System?
The Primary Motor Cortex
What Neurotransmitter is used in Neurons originating from the Thalamus in the Motor System?
Glutamate (Excitatory)
What is the Purpose of the Substantia Nigra?
To produce 95% of the body’s dopamine
What is the Purpose of the Dopamine being supplied to the Striatum by the Substantia Nigra?
To keep the neurons in the striatum primed and ready to fire when they recieve Glutamate
What happens if there is Not Enough Dopamine being supplied to the Striatum by the Substantia Nigra?
It will require more glutamate to be supplied to the Striatum to initiate movement
The Lack of Dopamine which results in a Higher Amount of Glutamate required to initiate movement has What effect on the Cortex and Periphery respectively?
Hypoexcitivity in the Cortex and Hypoactivity in the Periphery (Muscles)
In the Primary Visual Cortex, what Areas of Sight are the Anterior and Posterior regions responsible for?
Anterior is responsible for peripheral vision, Posterior is responsible for central vision
What is Housed in the Medulla?
Cranial Nerve Nuclei and the Cardiovascular and Respiratory control centres
What is Housed in the Pons?
Cranial Nerve Nuclei
What is the Purpose of the Choroid Plexus?
To produce Cerebrospinal Fluid
What is the Purpose of Cerebrospinal Fluid?
To protect the brain from damage and to supply nutrients and remove waste to and from the brain
What is the Purpose of the Thalamus?
It acts as a relay station for Motor/Sensory information
What do the Cerebral Peduncles contain?
The Corticospinal and Corticopontine fibres
Which Sense are Mammilary Bodies responsible for providing a Reflex for?
Smell
Which Sense is the Superior Colliculi responsible for providing a Reflex for?
Sight
Which Sense is the Inferior Colliculi responsible for providing a Reflex for?
Hearing
In terms of Frequency Processing in the Primary Auditory Cortex, is the cortex Arranged Tonotopically to process Lower Frequencies more Laterally or Medially in the cortex?
Higher frequencies (20,000 Hz) are processed more medially in the cortex, while lower frequencies (20 Hz) are processed more laterally in the cortex
In terms of Frequency Processing in the Primary Auditory Cortex, is the cortex Arranged Tonotopically to process Higher Frequencies more Laterally or Medially in the cortex?
Higher frequencies (20,000 Hz) are processed more medially in the cortex, while lower frequencies (20 Hz) are processed more laterally in the cortex
