Brain in the NS

Question 1

Define interlude

Answer 1

Change in detection of senses

Question 2

Define sensory adaptation

Answer 2

Getting used to a specific stimulus

Question 3

Where do neurons transmitting precisely located info send axons to?

Answer 3

To the top of spinal cord (medulla)

Question 4

Where do neurons transmitting poorly located info send axons to?

Answer 4

Synapse with other neurons when entering spinal cord

Question 5

Where do sensory neurons from the head send axons to?

Answer 5

Send axons directly to brain via cranial nerves

Question 6

What are signals integrated with?

Answer 6

Other incoming signals from higher, lower and same-level processing stages

Question 7

What does lower level processing refer to?

Answer 7

Earlier in the processing stream

Question 8

Define sub-cortical nuclei

Answer 8

Tight cluster of neuron’s cell bodies

Question 9

What is gray matter?

Answer 9

Cortex and sub-cortical nuclei

Question 10

What is white matter?

Answer 10

Myelinated axons of neurons

Question 11

Describe the thalamus

Answer 11

On top of midbrain, relay station for sensory signals. Receives downward-going input from higher areas.

Question 12

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 12

Thin layers of neurons covering hemisphere

Question 13

Describe the corpus callosum

Answer 13

Thick bundle of axons connecting the 2 hemispheres (signal transfer)

Question 14

What is the hypothalamus?

Answer 14

In front and below thalamus. Connected to pituitary gland, gateway to ES.

Question 15

What are the basal ganglia?

Answer 15

Nuclei surrounding thalamus. Consist of globus pallidus, putamen and caudate

Question 16

What do putamen and caudate make up?

Answer 16

Corpus striatum

Question 17

Define cortical

Answer 17

Cingulate cortex above corpus callosum, connected to hypothalamus +olfactory system

Question 18

What is the brainstem made up of?

Answer 18

Hindbrain and midbrain

Question 19

What does the hindbrain consist of?

Answer 19

Medulla, pons, cerebellum

Question 20

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 20

Balance and motor learning

Question 21

Where is the midbrain situated and what is its purpose?

Answer 21

Above the pons, combines info from different sense modalities

Question 22

Define mesencephalon

Answer 22

Midbrain

Question 23

What do telencephalon and diencephalon both refer to?

Answer 23

Forebrain

Question 24

What does sub-cortical mean?

Answer 24

Near complete circle formed by fornix and hippocampus ending in mammillary body and amygdalae

Question 25

Define the limbic system

Answer 25

Interconnected cortical & sub-cortical areas with role in memory and emotion

Question 26

Where is each lobe located and what is it involved in?

Answer 26

Occiptal lobe (back, visual) Temporal lobes (sides, auditory) Parietal lobe (top, somatosensory, intersensory, sensory-motor) Frontal (front, planning & motor output)

Question 27

Define retinotopic map

Answer 27

Visual signals from neighbouring retinal positions arrive at neighbouring positions in primary visual cortex

Question 28

What is a tonotopic map?

Answer 28

Auditory signals from adjacent areas of cochlea arrive at adjacent areas in primary auditory cortex

Question 29

What is topographic representation?

Answer 29

Inside specific sensory areas, signals arrive at positions corresponding position of receptor cells

Question 30

What is a somatotopic map?

Answer 30

Signals from hand arrive in hand area of somatosensory cortex next to shoulder area e.t.c.

Question 31

What are signals from higher, lower and same-level processing stages also known as?

Answer 31

Higher = Top-down/feedback. lower = Bottom-up/feed-forward, same = lateral

Question 32

Where are cortical motor areas?

Answer 32

In frontal cortex at boundary to parietal cortex

Question 33

Describe motor and pre-motor cortex

Answer 33

Planning, monitoring and sensory guidance of movements