Cerebral cortex

Question 1

Fibre types in cerebral white matter

Answer 1

1) Association fibres
2) Commissural fibres
3) Projection fibres

Question 2

Association fibres (white matter)

Answer 2

Connect areas within the same hemisphere

Question 3

Commissural fibres (white matter)

Answer 3

Connect left hemisphere to right hemisphere

Question 4

Projection fibres (white matter)

Answer 4

Connect cortex with lower brain structures (eg: thalamus, brain stem and spinal cord)

Question 5

Layers of the cerebral cortex

Answer 5

Layer I
Layer II
Layer III
Layer IV
Layer V
Layer VI

Question 6

Layer I of the cerebral cortex

Answer 6

• molecular
• contains unmyelinated axons and dendrites
• mainly cortico-cortical connections

Question 7

Layer II of the cerebral cortex

Answer 7

• external granular

- mainly cortico-cortical connections

Question 8

Layer III of the cerebral cortex

Answer 8

• external granular

- mainly cortico-cortical connections

Question 9

Layer IV of the cerebral cortex

Answer 9

• internal granular
• contains stellate cells (tightly packed)
• input from thalamus

Question 10

Layer V of the cerebral cortex

Answer 10

• internal pyramidal
• contains pyramidal cells
• connections with subcortical, brain stem and spinal cord

Question 11

Layer VI of the cerebral cortex

Answer 11

• multiform
• contains pyramidal cells
• connections with subcortical, brain stem and spinal cord

Question 12

Neocortex

Answer 12

• part of the cerebral cortex
• function: higher functions such as sight and hearing in mammals
• most recently evolved part of the cortex
• arranged in horizontal layers and vertical columns
• more dense vertical connections (basis for topographical organisation)
• neurons with similar properties are connected in the same column
• divided into main lobes (parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe and frontal lobe)

Question 13

Primary cortices

Answer 13

• Predictable function
• Topographical organisation
• Left-right symmetry
• primary motor cortex
• primary somatic sensory cortex
• visual cortex
• auditory cortex
• gustatory cortex
• olfactory cortex

Question 14

Association cortices

Answer 14

• Less predictable function
• Not topographically organised
• Weak/absent left-right symmetry
• motor association area
• sensory association area
• visual association area
• auditory association area
• prefrontal association area

Question 15

Visual association cortex

Answer 15

• image attributes processed separately
• form and colour (what) analysed along ventral pathway
• spatial relationships and movements (where) analysed along dorsal pathway