Cerebral white matter and basal nuclei LO3

Question 1

Cerebral White Matter

Answer 1

The communication “railway” of the brain
- Composed of myelinated axons –> organised into three
types of tracts:
- commissural tracts
- association tracts
- projection tracts

Question 2

Commissural tracts

Answer 2

Conduct information between the two cerebral hemispheres
Left to right hemisphere - allow to function as one unit

Question 3

association tracts

Answer 3

conduct information between cortical areas in the same hemisphere
visual cortex to visual association area

Question 4

projection tracts

Answer 4

conduct information between the cerebral cortex and lower parts of the CNS
Thalmus to CC

Question 5

Cerebral Basal Nuclei

Answer 5

Islands of gray matter deep within the white matter
- Communicate with the motor areas of the cerebral
cortex to facilitate smooth skeletal muscle movements
- Activity is regulated by the neurotransmitter dopamine