Brain in the NS Flashcards
Define interlude
Change in detection of senses
Define sensory adaptation
Getting used to a specific stimulus
Where do neurons transmitting precisely located info send axons to?
To the top of spinal cord (medulla)
Where do neurons transmitting poorly located info send axons to?
Synapse with other neurons when entering spinal cord
Where do sensory neurons from the head send axons to?
Send axons directly to brain via cranial nerves
What are signals integrated with?
Other incoming signals from higher, lower and same-level processing stages
What does lower level processing refer to?
Earlier in the processing stream
Define sub-cortical nuclei
Tight cluster of neuron’s cell bodies
What is gray matter?
Cortex and sub-cortical nuclei
What is white matter?
Myelinated axons of neurons
Describe the thalamus
On top of midbrain, relay station for sensory signals. Receives downward-going input from higher areas.
What is the cerebral cortex?
Thin layers of neurons covering hemisphere
Describe the corpus callosum
Thick bundle of axons connecting the 2 hemispheres (signal transfer)
What is the hypothalamus?
In front and below thalamus. Connected to pituitary gland, gateway to ES.
What are the basal ganglia?
Nuclei surrounding thalamus. Consist of globus pallidus, putamen and caudate
What do putamen and caudate make up?
Corpus striatum
Define cortical
Cingulate cortex above corpus callosum, connected to hypothalamus +olfactory system
What is the brainstem made up of?
Hindbrain and midbrain
What does the hindbrain consist of?
Medulla, pons, cerebellum
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Balance and motor learning
Where is the midbrain situated and what is its purpose?
Above the pons, combines info from different sense modalities
Define mesencephalon
Midbrain
What do telencephalon and diencephalon both refer to?
Forebrain
What does sub-cortical mean?
Near complete circle formed by fornix and hippocampus ending in mammillary body and amygdalae
Define the limbic system
Interconnected cortical & sub-cortical areas with role in memory and emotion
Where is each lobe located and what is it involved in?
Occiptal lobe (back, visual) Temporal lobes (sides, auditory) Parietal lobe (top, somatosensory, intersensory, sensory-motor) Frontal (front, planning & motor output)
Define retinotopic map
Visual signals from neighbouring retinal positions arrive at neighbouring positions in primary visual cortex
What is a tonotopic map?
Auditory signals from adjacent areas of cochlea arrive at adjacent areas in primary auditory cortex
What is topographic representation?
Inside specific sensory areas, signals arrive at positions corresponding position of receptor cells
What is a somatotopic map?
Signals from hand arrive in hand area of somatosensory cortex next to shoulder area e.t.c.
What are signals from higher, lower and same-level processing stages also known as?
Higher = Top-down/feedback. lower = Bottom-up/feed-forward, same = lateral
Where are cortical motor areas?
In frontal cortex at boundary to parietal cortex
Describe motor and pre-motor cortex
Planning, monitoring and sensory guidance of movements
