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Cerebral Cortex Flashcards

1
Q

What are the layers of the cerebral cortex?

A
  1. Molecular (plexiform)
  2. External granular
  3. External pyramidal
  4. Internal granular
  5. Internal pyramidal
  6. Multiform (fusiform)

These layers play distinct roles in processing information.

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2
Q

What are the three categories of subcortical white matter fibers?

A
  • Projection fibers
  • Association fibers
  • Commissural fibers

These fibers are classified based on their connections within the brain.

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3
Q

What do projection fibers connect?

A

They connect the cerebral cortex with subcortical areas.

Projection fibers include the internal capsule.

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4
Q

Name the largest group of commissural fibers.

A

Corpus callosum

The corpus callosum links many areas of the right and left hemispheres.

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5
Q

What is the function of association fibers?

A

They connect cortical regions within one hemisphere.

These fibers can be short (connecting adjacent gyri) or long (connecting lobes).

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6
Q

Fill in the blank: The _______ connects frontal, parietal, and temporal lobe cortices.

A

Cingulum

The cingulum is an example of a long association fiber.

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7
Q

What interconnections does the inferior longitudinal fasciculus provide?

A

Temporal-occipital interconnections

This fasciculus connects structures between the temporal and occipital lobes.

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8
Q

What is the role of Betz cells?

A

They are giant pyramidal neurons that generate motor output and send signals to lower motor neurons.

Betz cells are located in the primary motor cortex.

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9
Q

True or False: Commissural fibers connect homologous areas of the cerebral hemispheres.

A

True

These fibers facilitate communication between corresponding regions in each hemisphere.

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10
Q

What are the regions of the internal capsule?

A
  • Anterior limb
  • Genu
  • Posterior limb

The internal capsule is a critical pathway for projection fibers.

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11
Q

Fill in the blank: The _______ connects the frontal and temporal lobes.

A

Arcuate fasciculus

This fasciculus plays a significant role in language and communication.

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12
Q

What do commissural fibers link?

A

They link homologous areas of the cerebral hemispheres.

Examples include the anterior commissure and the posterior commissure.

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13
Q

What is the function of projection fibers traveling through the internal capsule?

A

They connect subcortical structures to the cerebral cortex and vice versa.

This includes connections to the spinal cord, brainstem, and thalamus.

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14
Q

What type of fibers are short association fibers?

A

They connect adjacent gyri within a single hemisphere.

Short association fibers facilitate local communication between neighboring areas.

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15
Q

What is the role of the corona radiata?

A

It connects all areas of the cerebral cortex above the internal capsule.

The corona radiata is formed by the axons of projection fibers.

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16
Q

What is the location of the primary motor cortex?

A

Located in the precentral gyrus, anterior to the central sulcus

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17
Q

What are the functions of the primary motor cortex?

A

Commands movement for head, upper limb, and lower limb

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18
Q

What areas are included in the cortical motor planning areas?

A
  • Supplementary motor area: motor planning
  • Premotor area: postural organizing for skilled movement
  • Broca’s area: word production
  • Area corresponding to Broca’s area in the opposite hemisphere
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19
Q

What is the function of Broca’s area?

A

Motor programming of speech, usually in the left hemisphere only

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20
Q

What does the primary somatosensory cortex receive information from?

A

Receives information from tactile and proprioceptive receptors via a three-neuron pathway

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21
Q

What are the components of the three-neuron pathway for somatosensory information?

A
  • Peripheral afferent/dorsal column neuron
  • Medial lemniscus neuron
  • Thalamocortical neuron
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22
Q

What is the role of the supplementary motor area?

A

Plans and coordinates complex movements

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23
Q

What does the primary visual cortex analyze?

A
  • Distinguishes between light and dark
  • Analyzes shapes, locations of objects, and movements of objects
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24
Q

What is the function of the primary auditory cortex?

A

Provides conscious awareness of the intensity of sounds

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25
What does the secondary auditory cortex do?
Compares sounds with memories and categorizes them as language, music, or noise
26
What types of white matter projections are there?
* Commissural * Association * Thalamic * Corticospinal * Corticobrainstem
27
What is the primary function of the association cortex?
Integrates sensory information and supports higher cognitive functions
28
Fill in the blank: The _______ lobe contains the primary visual cortex.
Occipital
29
True or False: The primary auditory cortex receives information from the cochlea via a pathway that synapses in the inferior colliculus.
True
30
What are the functional areas of the frontal lobe?
* Primary motor (4) * Premotor (6) * Supplementary (6) * Broca's area (44, part of 45) * Prefrontal areas (6, 8, 45)
31
What area in the parietal lobe is responsible for somatosensory processing?
Primary somatosensory cortex
32
What is the role of the temporal lobe's primary auditory cortex?
Receives and processes auditory information
33
What is the function of the medial dorsal prefrontal association cortex?
Involved in goal-oriented behavior and self-awareness
34
Fill in the blank: The _______ lobe is associated with visual processing.
Occipital
35
36
What are the localized functions of the cerebral cortex?
Different areas of the cerebral cortex are specialized to perform a variety of functions, categorized into: * Primary sensory * Secondary sensory * Association cortex * Primary motor
37
What does the primary sensory cortex do?
Discriminates among different intensities and qualities of sensory information
38
What is the role of the secondary sensory cortex?
Performs more complex analysis of sensation
39
What functions does the association cortex control?
Controls behavior, interprets sensation, and processes emotions and memories
40
What is the primary motor cortex responsible for?
Provides descending control of motor output
41
List some higher cortical functions.
* Comprehension * Cognition * Communication * Reasoning * Problem-solving * Abstraction * Imagining * Planning
42
Define language in the context of the cerebral cortex.
Comprehension and communication through words or symbols for words
43
What are the components of language abilities?
* Reading * Writing * Speaking a word after reading * Understanding words
44
What is Broca's area involved in?
Production of speech sound
45
What is Wernicke's area responsible for?
Understanding of speech and language
46
What connects Wernicke's area to Broca's area?
Arcuate fasciculus
47
What does the motor cortex control?
Movement of muscles
48
What is the function of the premotor cortex?
Plans to move a body
49
What are the main types of association cortices?
* Unimodal association cortex * Multimodal association cortex
50
Where is the limbic association area located?
Anterior-ventral portion of the temporal lobe and parahippocampal gyrus
51
What is the significance of the limbic association area?
Links emotion with many sensory inputs; important in learning and memory
52
Where is the posterior association area located?
At the junction of occipital, temporal, and parietal lobes
53
What is the function of the posterior association area?
Links information from primary and unimodal sensory areas; important in perception and language
54
Where is the anterior association area located?
In the prefrontal cortex
55
What does the anterior association area do?
Links information from the association; important in memory, planning, and higher-order concept formation
56
Fill in the blank: The primary auditory cortex is located in BA _______.
41, 42
57
True or False: The primary visual cortex is located in BA 17.
True
58
59
What are the several modalities of language?
* Reading * Writing * Speaking a word after reading * Understanding words
60
What area of the brain controls writing?
Posterior portion of middle frontal gyrus (BA6, Exner's area)
61
What is agraphia?
A disorder caused by a lesion in the writing area of the brain
62
What causes global aphasia?
Damage to both Broca and Wernicke areas due to occlusion of the left internal carotid or proximal middle cerebral artery
63
What is conduction aphasia characterized by?
Inability to accurately repeat sentences despite less affected speech production and comprehension
64
Define ideomotor apraxia.
Patients cannot demonstrate skilled movements through pantomime, leading to incorrect finger configuration or improper timing
65
What is ideational apraxia?
Inability to sequence a series of actions, such as lighting a match and then blowing it out
66
What is expressive aphasia?
Knowing what you want to say but having trouble saying or writing it
67
What is receptive aphasia?
Hearing or seeing words but being unable to make sense of them
68
What is anomic aphasia?
Difficulty in using the correct word for objects, places, or events
69
What characterizes global aphasia?
Inability to speak, understand speech, read, or write
70
What is the primary issue in conduction aphasia?
Inability to repeat words or phrases despite fluent speech and good comprehension
71
What is neglect syndrome?
Contralateral hemispatial neglect without sensory loss, most commonly due to problems in the right parietal lobe
72
What is motivational neglect?
Neglect where the neglected side receives less emotional input, often linked to lesions in the anterior cingulate cortex
73
Where is Broca's area located?
Inferior frontal gyrus in the dominant hemisphere (areas 44 and 45)
74
What are the characteristics of Broca's aphasia?
* Poor and effortful fluency * Good comprehension * Poor repetition
75
What causes Wernicke's aphasia?
Lesion in or near the superior temporal gyrus (Wernicke's area, BA 22)
76
What are the characteristics of Wernicke's aphasia?
* Fluent speech * Impaired repetition * Impaired comprehension
77
What is apraxia?
A movement problem linked to damage in the frontal lobe, affecting skilled motor tasks
78
What is dressing apraxia?
Inability to dress properly due to apraxia
79
What is agnosia?
Loss of ability to recognize the significance of sensory stimuli despite intact primary sensory systems
80
What is visual agnosia?
Inability to recognize familiar objects by sight
81
What is somatosensory agnosia?
Inability to recognize common objects through touch
82
What incident occurred on Sep 13, 1848, involving Phineas Gage?
A metal rod entered his left cheek, passed behind his left eye, and exited through the top of his skull
83
What part of Phineas Gage's brain was damaged by the rod?
Left frontal lobe
84
What types of fibers are involved in the brain's communication pathways?
* Projection Fibers * Association Fibers * Commissural Fibers
85
What is the function of projection fibers?
Relay sensory inputs from the body to the cortex and motor outputs from the cortex to the spinal cord
86
What do association fibers facilitate?
Integration of multimodal information supporting language, memory, and complex thought
87
What is the role of commissural fibers?
Connect corresponding areas between the left and right hemispheres
88
What was Phineas Gage's condition immediately after the injury?
He did not lose consciousness and was able to speak shortly after the accident
89
What were the physical effects of Gage's injury?
He lost sight in his left eye and had significant scarring
90
How long did Phineas Gage live after the accident?
12 years
91
What behavioral changes did Gage exhibit post-injury?
* Unable to plan ahead or manage tasks effectively * Emotionally unstable (anger)
92
What does the change in Gage's behavior suggest about his brain injury?
Damage to the prefrontal cortex, critical for executive functions, emotional regulation, and social behavior
93
What are the primary areas of the brain involved in sensory and motor functions?
Cortical Area
94
What is the function of association fibers?
Connect different regions within the cortical areas for integrative processing
95
Fill in the blank: The rod that injured Gage passed through the left _______.
frontal lobe
96
True or False: Phineas Gage was a hardworking, natural leader before his injury.
True
97
What are the examples of projection fibers mentioned?
Internal capsule

MD216 (17 decks)

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