Cerebral Cortex

Question 1

What is the nature of the structure of the cortex?

Answer 1

Organized into layers & columns

Question 2

How are different regions of the cortex characterized?

Answer 2

Cytoarchitecture - based on type of cells, spacing, density, layers.
52 regions identified by Brodmann
Areas relate to function

Question 3

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Answer 3

Regulating & initiating motor function
language
cognitive function - executive function (planning)
attention memory

Question 4

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

Answer 4

Sensation - touch, pain.
Sensory aspects of language
spacial orientation, self perception

Question 5

What is the main function of the Occipital lobe

Answer 5

Processing visual information

Question 6

What are the functions of the Temporal lobe?

Answer 6

Processing auditory information

emotions, memories

Question 7

What is the function of the Limbic lobe?

Answer 7

Contains; amygdala, hippocampus, mammillary body, cingulate gyrus.
Concerned with learning, memory, emotion, motivation & reward.

Question 8

What is the function of the Insular Cortex?

Answer 8

Lies deep within the lateral fissure

Concerned with visceral sensations, autonomic control, interception, auditory processing, visual vestibular integration.

Question 9

What is the structure of the brain?

Answer 9

Grey matter - neuronal cell bodies & glial cells- 85 billion each.
White matter - Myelinated neuronal axons arranged in tracts.

Question 10

What connects cortical areas together?

Answer 10

white matter tracts

Question 11

Which white matter tracts connect areas within the same hemisphere?

Answer 11

Association fibres

Question 12

Which white matter tracks connect homologous structures in the left & right hemisphere?

Answer 12

Commissural fibres

Question 13

Which white matter tracts connect cortex with lower brain structures (thalamus, brain stem)?

Answer 13

Projection fibres

Question 14

Which Association fibre connects the frontal and occipital lobes?

Answer 14

Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus

Question 15

Which Association fibre connects the frontal and temporal lobes?

Answer 15

Arcuate Fasciculus

Question 16

Which Association fibre connects the temporal and occipital lobe?

Answer 16

Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus

Question 17

Which Association fibres connect the frontal and temporal lobes?

Answer 17

Uncinate Fasciculus

Question 18

What are some examples of commissure fibres?

Answer 18

Corpus callosum - disconnected in severe epilepsy surgically

Anterior commissure

Question 19

Where do projection fibres radiate deeper to the cortex?

Answer 19

Corona radiata

Question 20

Where do projection fibres converge through?

Answer 20

Internal capsule between thalamus & basal ganglia

Question 21

What are the features of primary cortices?

Answer 21

Predictable function
Organized topographically
Symmetry between left & right

Question 22

What are the features of secondary cortices?

Answer 22

Less predictable function
not organize dtopographically
left-right symmetry is weak/absent

Question 23

What are the motor areas of the Frontal lobe?

Answer 23

Primary motor cortex
Supplementary area
Premotor area

Question 24

What is the function of the Primary motor cortex?

Answer 24

Controls fine, discrete, pre-voluntary movement.

Provides descending signals to execute movements.

Question 25

What is the function of the Supplementary area?

Answer 25

Involved in planning complex movements e.g. internally cued - production of speech

Question 26

What is the function of the Premotor area?

Answer 26

Planning externally cued movements - seeing an object and wanting to pick it up

Question 27

What is the function of the primary somatosensory area of the parietal lobe?

Answer 27

Processes somatic sensations arising from receptors in the body (e.g. fine touch, vibration, two-point discrimination, proprioception, pain and temperature.

Question 28

What is the function of the Somatosensory association centre in the Parietal lobe?

Answer 28

Interpret the significance of sensory information, e.g. recognizing an object placed in the hand. Awareness of self and awareness of personal space

Question 29

What are the main cortices of the Occipital lobe?

Answer 29

Primary visual - process visual stimuli | Visual association - Gives meaning & interpretation of visual input

Question 30

What are the main Cortices of the temporal lobe?

Answer 30

Primary auditory - process auditory stimuli | Auditory association - Gives meaning & interpretation of auditory input

Question 31

What is meant by Tonographic?

Answer 31

Different frequencies of sound are mapped onto different areas of the auditory cortex.

Question 32

What is Broca's area associated with?

Answer 32

Speech production

Question 33

What is Wernicke's area associated with?

Answer 33

Understanding of language

Question 34

What is the Prefrontal cortex associated with?

Answer 34

``` Attention adjusting social behaviour planning personality expression decision-making ```

Question 35

What happens if you have Frontal lobe lesions?

Answer 35

Changes in personality | Inappropriate behaviour

Question 36

What would happen following a Parietal lobe lesion?

Answer 36

Lesion in the right hemisphere would cause neglect on the left side of the body. Contralateral neglect

Question 37

What would happen following a temporal lobe lesion?

Answer 37

Leads to agnosia, inability to recognise.

Question 38

What would a lesion in Broca's are lead to?

Answer 38

expressive aphasia - poor production of speech, comprehension intact.

Question 39

What would happen following a lesion in Wernicke's area?

Answer 39

Receptive aphasia - poor comprehension of speech, production is fine.

Question 40

What would a primary motor cortex lesion present as?

Answer 40

Blindness in the corresponding part of the visual field

Question 41

What would a lesion in the Visual association area of the occipital lobe?

Answer 41

Defects in interpretation of visual information. e.g. prosopagnosia - inability to recognise familiar faces/ learn new faces.

Question 42

How do we assess cortical function?

Answer 42

Positron emission tomography PET - bllod flow to a brain region (glucose consumption). Functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI - amount of blood oxygen in a brain region. Electroencephalography EEG - Measures electrical signals produced by the brain. Magneto encephalography MEG - Measures magnetic signals produced by the brain

Question 43

What are somatosensory evoked potentials?

Answer 43

Series of waves that reflect sequential activation of neural structures along the somatosensory pathways.

Question 44

What happens in Transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS?

Answer 44

Uses low direct current over the scalp to increase/decrease neuronal firing rates.

Question 45

How can we image neuronal tracts in the brain?

Answer 45

Diffusion tensor imaging DTI - based on diffusion of water molecules.