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BMSc - Neuropharmacology and Behaviour > Brain Pathways > Flashcards

Brain Pathways Flashcards

1
Q

What is the PNS divided into?

A

Somatic and autonomic
Somatic; LMN, sensory fibres
Autonomic; sympathetic and parasympathetic; smooth muscle and glands

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2
Q

What is the diencephalon?

A

Thalamus and hypothalamus

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3
Q

What does the lateral (sylvian) fissure separate?

A

The frontal/parietal lobes from the temporal lobe

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4
Q

What is the function of the superior termporal gyrus?

A

Primary auditory cortex

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5
Q

What is the function of the cingulate gyrus?

A

Involved in emotion and memory

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6
Q

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

A

White matter that connects left and right hemisphere

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7
Q

What makes up the basal ganglia?

A 
Caudate nucleus
Putamen 
Globus pallidus
Substantia nigra
Subthalamic nucleus
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8
Q

What is the telencephalon?

A

Cortex
Basal ganglia
Limbic system

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9
Q

What is the metencephalon?

A

Cerebellum

Pons

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10
Q

What is the myelencephalon?

A

Medulla

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11
Q

What is the mesencephalon?

A

Midbrain

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12
Q

What is the basic function of the thalamus?

A

Relay station that sends information from the body to the cortex; specifically the post-central gyrus of the parietal lobe; somatosensory cortex
It also relays vision, auditory information and balance

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13
Q

What is special about olfactory information?

A

Does not pass through the thalamus

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14
Q

What do cortical projections to the thalamus play a role in?

A

Selective attention

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15
Q

What are the main functions of the frontal lobe?

A 
Reasoning
Movement 
Speech (brocas area) 
Personality 
Emotional behaviour
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16
Q

What are the main functions of the parietal lobe?

A

Somatosensory processing

Integrating visual and motor signals

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17
Q

What are the main functions of the temporal lobe?

A

Higher level visual perception
Auditory perception
Language
Memory

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18
Q

How many cortical layers make up the laminar structure of the neocortex?

A

6

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19
Q

At what layer does sensory information from the thalamus reach the cortex?

A

Layer 4

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20
Q

Aside from sensory information, what layer does information from other regions of the cortex reside in?

A

2,4 and 5

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21
Q

From what layer of the neocortex do outputs to the brainstem and spinal cord originate from?

A

5

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22
Q

From what layer do outputs back to the thalamus originate from?

A

6

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23
Q

From what layer do cortical-cortical projections arise from?

A

Superficial layers 2 and 3

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24
Q

What is special about the primary visual cortex in terms of the laminar structure?

A

Has a large layer 4 (input layer)

Small layer 5 (output to spinal cord and brainstem)

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25
What is special about the laminar structure of the primary motor cortex?
Very small layer 4; sensory input | Large layer 5; motor information to spinal cord
26
What are some key brodmann areas?
``` Area 6; supplementary and premotor area. Planning of movement Area 4; primary motor cortex Somatosensory cortex; 3, 1 and 2 Posterior parietal cortex; areas 5 and 7 Visual cortex; areas 17, 18, 19 Primary visual cortex; area 17 Auditory cortex; areas 41,42 ```
27
What is the function of the polymodal association cortex?
For example, posterior parietal cortex | Involved in high level sensory representations for example representing the space around us
28
What if the function of the prefrontal cortex?
Higher level planning and decision making
29
What are the dorsal and ventral visual streams?
2 major hierarchal pathways that visual information can follow: Dorsally; Posterior parietal cortex Ventrally; inferotemporal cortex
30
What is the role of the dorsal stream/ posterior parietal cortex?
Spatial perception | Damage in this region causes spatial neglect
31
What is the role of the ventral stream/ inferotemporal (IT) cortex?
``` Object recognition Semantic memory (what objects are, people, words and facts) ```
32
What is the role of the lateral prefrontal cortex?
Executive function Planning Working memory
33
What is the role of the ventromedial/ orbitofrontal cortex?
Social cognition Decision making Substantially damaged in phineus gage
34
What is the role of the anterior cingulate cortex?
Reward based learning | Social cognition
35
What is working memory?
Holds things in mind whilst you are thinking about something
36
What role does the lateral PFC play in working memory?
Densely interconnected with different cortex regions | Thought to provide a transient buffer linking memory representations stored in separate cortical regions
37
Where is the hippocampus located?
Deep within the medial temporal lobe next to the lateral ventricle
38
What cortical regions of the medial temporal lobe surrounds the hippocampus?
Entorhinal cortex Rhinal sulcus Perirhinal cortex Parahippocampal cortex
39
What layers of tissue forms the hippocampus along the rostral/caudal section of the brain?
CA3 and CA1 | Dentate gyrus
40
What is the flow of information between processing in the MTL for memory?
Unimodal/ polymodal association areas (frontal, temporal and parietal) These relay to the parahippocampal and perirhinal cortex These relay to the entorhinal cortex The entorhinal cortex relays to the hippocampus The hippocampus will then finally relay to the subcortical areas via the fornix All of these connections are bidirectional; information flows both in and out
41
Describe the trisynaptic circuit of the hippocampus
The entorhinal cortex initially sends projections to the dentate gyrus (perforant pathway) These projections make synaptic connections with the dentate granule cells These granules send projections to CA3 via mossy fibre The CA3 neurons then project to CA1 via Schaffer collateral pathway CA1 then sends projections back to the EC either directly or via subiculum
42
What are some of the first cells to show pathological changes in AD?
Layer 2 entorhinal stellate neurones that provide the main input to the dentate gyrus and CA3
43
How do the CA3 neurons form an autoassociative network?
The neurons from CA3 not only project to CA1 via schaffer collateral pathway but also loop back to project onto their own dendrites (recurrent collaterals)
44
Why is the autoassociative network of CA3 important?
The neurons can change in strength, there is a simple form of learning It also allows for pattern completion (this is to do with synaptic plasticity and learning)
45
What is the role of the fornix?
Connects the hippocampus to the anterior nucleus of thalamus, mamillary bodies, cingulate gyrus and hypothalamus (diencephalon)
46
What is the papez circuit?
``` Subcortical projections of the hippocampus via the fornix Fornix to: - Mamillary bodies - Hypothalamus (emotional expression) - Anterior nucleus of thalamus - Cingulate cortex (emotional experience) - Neocortex (emotional colouring) - Back to hippocampus Damage can cause memory impairment ```
47
What is the limbic system?
Group of structures involved in emotion and memory
48
What is involved in the limbic system?
Fornix (carries info from hippocampus to mamillary bodies) Mamillary body (memory, connections with amygdala and hippocampus Septal nucleus (pleasure, reward and reinforcement) Hypothalamus (hormonal influence via anterior pituitary) Amygdala (fearful and anxious emotions) Hippocampus (memory) Parahippocampal gyrus (memory) Cingulate cortex - above corpus callosum (emotion and memory)
49
What motor loops are present between the basal ganglia and the cortex?
Motor area to basal ganglia and back | Motor area to cerebellum then into the basal ganglia
50
Describe the direct pathway in the basal ganglia
``` Facilitates movement (inhibition of inhibition) Neurons from striatum sends inhibitory neurons to the internal segment of globus pallidus allowing movement via thalamus ```
51
Describe the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia
``` Inhibits movement (via STN) Inhibitory signals sent from striatum to external globus pallidus This prevents GPe from inhibiting the STN which allows the STN to increase output to GPi - and therefore inhibits the thalamus and consequentially movement ```
52
Describe the hyperdirect pathway of the basal ganglia
``` Inhibits movement (supresses unwanted movement) Cortical outputs contact STN directly. This then projects to GPi; inhibits thalamus ```
53
What type of neurons make up the striatum and globus pallidus?
Inhibitory
54
At a cellular level, what is the striatum made up from?
Medium spiny neuron (MSN)
55
Describe the inputs to medium spiny neurons (MSN)
Excitatory via glutamate from cortex and thalamus Inhibitory via GABAergic interneurons Excitatory or inhibitory via dopaminergic neurons from pars compacta of substantia nigra
56
What is the overarching output of medium spiny neurons?
Inhibitory
57
What makes up the pars reticulata of the substantia nigra?
GABA inhibitory neurons
58
Describe the excitatory pathway of the direct pathway in respect to dopamine
Direct pathway expresses D1 receptors These are Gs linked and triggers an intracellular cascade that ultimately leads to an increased excitability of the neuron
59
Describe the inhibitory pathway of the the indirect pathway in respect to dopamine
Expression of D2 receptors | These inhibit the cAMP pathway which ultimately leads to a decreased excitability of the cell
60
Why does dopamine have an overall effect of facilitating movement in the basal ganglia?
It activates the direct pathway; increases excitability of neuron Inhibits the inhibitory pathway; causes overall decrease in excitability of the cell
61
What are betz cells?
Neurons present in layer 5 of the primary motor cortex | Cell bodies whose axons run down to the corticospinal tract
62
What is the difference between the anterior and lateral corticospinal tract?
Anterior; proximal musculature; decussation at level of LMN | Lateral; distal musculature; decussation at pyramids
63
Describe an UMN lesion
Weakness or paralysis Hyperactive reflexes Decreased motor control Spastic muscle tone
64
Where do LMNs leave the spinal cord?
Alpha motor neurons leave the ventral (anterior) root of the spinal cord to innervate muscle
65
What is a motor unit?
An alpha motor neuron and all of the muscle fibres that it innervates

BMSc - Neuropharmacology and Behaviour (27 decks)

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