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Neuro > Cerebral Cortex > Flashcards

Cerebral Cortex Flashcards

1
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

Thin layer that Covers entire surface of the brain
Together with deep nuclei, contains grey matter
Highly folded with gyri and sulci
Organised into lobes

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2
Q

How is the cerebral cortex arranged?

A

In layers and columns
eg. pyramidal and granular

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3
Q

What are the Brodmann regions?

A

52 regions based on cytoarchitecture- cell size, spacing or packing density and layers

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4
Q

What divides the frontal and parietal lobe?

A

Central sulcus

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5
Q

What are the functions of the frontal lobe?

A

Regulating and initiating motor function
Language
Cognitive function (executive function (e.g. planning))
Attention
Memory

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6
Q

What are the functions of the parietal lobe?

A

Sensation - touch, pain
Sensory aspects of language
Spatial orientation and self-perception

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7
Q

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

A

Processing visual information

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8
Q

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

A

Processing auditory information
Emotions
Memories

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9
Q

What is the limbic lobe composed of?
What is its function?

A

Includes the amygdala, hippocampus, mamillary body, and cingulate gyrus
Concerned with learning, memory, emotion, motivation and reward

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10
Q

What is the insular cortex?

A

Lies deep within lateral fissure
Concerned with visceral sensations, autonomic control, and interoception, auditory processing, visual-vestibular integration

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11
Q

What is the grey matter composed of?

A

Neuronal cell bodies and glial cells - around 85 billion of each

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12
Q

What is the white matter composed of?

A

Myelinated neuronal axons arranged in tracts

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13
Q

What section is this?*

A

Axial section?

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14
Q

What is the purpose of white matter tracts?

A

Connect cortical areas

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15
Q

What are association fibres?

A

Connect areas within the same hemisphere

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16
Q

What are commissural fibres?

A

Connect homologous structure in left and right hemispheres

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17
Q

What are projections fibres?

A

Connects cortex with lower brain structures (e.g. thalamus, brain stem and spinal cord)

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18
Q

What is the superior longitudinal fasciculus?

A

Connects frontal and occipital lobes

Association fibres

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19
Q

What is the arcuate fasciulus?

A

Connects frontal and temporal lobes

Association fibres

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20
Q

What is the inferior longitudinal fasciculus?

A

Connects temporal and occipital lobes

Association fibres

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21
Q

Name the association fibre tracts

A
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22
Q

What is the uncinate fasciculus?

A

Connects anterior frontal and temporal lobes

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23
Q

What are commissural fibres?

A

They connect homologous structures in left and right hemispheres

24
Q

What is the corpus callosum?

A

Biggest commissural fibre tract
Disconnected in untreatable epilepsy - corpus colostomy- irreversible - to prevent spreading of seizures

25
Q

Name 2 commissural fibre tracts?

A

Corpus callosum
Anterior commissure

26
Q

What are projection fibres?

A

Connect cortex with lower brain structures (e.g. thalamus, brain stem and spinal cord)

27
Q

Name two types of projection fibres

A

Afferent - towards cortex
Efferent - away from cortex

Deeper to cortex radiate at the corono radiata

Converge through internal capsule between thalamus and basal ganglia

28
Q

What view is this?

A

Coronal

29
Q

What view is this?

A

Axial

30
Q

What is the basal ganglia concerned with?

A

Co-ordinating movements

31
Q

What is the difference between primary cortices and secondary cortices?

A
32
Q

What does the primary motor cortex in the frontal lobe control?

A

Controls fine, discrete, precise voluntary movements
Provides descending signals to execute movements

33
Q

What is the supplementary motor area for?
What is the premotor area for?

A

Involved in planning complex movements (e.g. internally cued)
Involved in planning movements (e.g. externally cued)

34
Q

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

A

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

35
Q

What is the function of the somatosensory association?

A

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

36
Q

What is the function of the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe?

A

Processes visual stimuli

37
Q

What is the function of the visual association cortex in the occipital lobe?

A

Gives meaning and interpretation of visual input

38
Q

What is the function of the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe?

A

Processes auditory stimuli

39
Q

What is the function of the auditory association cortex in the temporal lobe?

A

Gives meaning and interpretation of auditory input

40
Q

What is the prefrontal cortex associated with?

A

Attention
Adjusting to social behaviour
Planning
Personality expression
Decision making

41
Q

What is the function of Broca’s area?

A

Production of language

42
Q

What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

A

Understanding of language

43
Q

What does frontal lobe lesions result in?

A

Changes in personality
Inappropriate behaviour

44
Q

What is an example of a parietal lobe lesion?
And what does it result in?

A

Lesion in right hemisphere
Contralateral neglect
-Lack of awareness of self on left side
-Lack of awareness of left side of extra personal space

45
Q

What are examples of temporal lobe lesions?
What does it result in?

A

Lateral/medial lesions
Leads to agnosia, inability to recognise
Bilateral resection of anterior medial temporal lobe structures to cure epilepsy
Could not form new memories - anterograde amnesia

46
Q

What does a lesion to Broca’s area result in?

A

Expressive aphasia - poor production of speech comprehensno intact

47
Q

What does a lesion to Wernicke’s area?

A

Receptive aphasia - poor comprehension of speech, production is fine

48
Q

What association fibre connects Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area?

A

Arcuate fasciculus

49
Q

What does a lesion to the primary visual cortex do?

What does a lesion in the visual association do?

A

Blindness in the corresponding part of the visual field

Deficits in interpretation of visual information e.g. prosopagnosia : inability to recognise familiar faces of learn new faces (face blindness)

50
Q

How do you assess cortical function?

A

Position emission tomography (PET)
-Blood flow directly to a brain region
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
-amount of blood oxygen in a brain region

51
Q

How do you record brain activity?

A

Electroencephalography (EEG)
-Measures electrical signals produced by the brain
Magnetoencephalography (MEG
-Measures magnetic signals produced by the brain

Event related potentials / evoked potentials

52
Q

What are somatosensory evoked potentials?

A

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

e.g. somatosensory activity
thalamic activity
mid cervical cord activity
impulses arriving at shoulder

53
Q

How to assess cortical function using brain stimulation and why?

A

Assess the functional integrity of neural circuits
Uses electromagnetic induction to stimulate neurons
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Investigate neural interactions controlling movement following spinal cord injury

54
Q

What is Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

A

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

55
Q

How can we see how brain regions are connected

A

Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
-Based on diffusion of water molecules

Neuro (8 decks)

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