Chapter 1, 3-5 - Background Flashcards
How would you define neuropsychology?
- Understanding how the brain is organized to produce behaviour
CNS vs. PNS?
- CNS - Brain, spinal cord, retina (develops as an out pocketing of the diencephalon) (all are encased by bone)
- PNS - Nerves that carry signals in and out of the CNS
T/F: Sensory and motor systems are crossed.
- TRUE
- Ex. If touched on the left side, this is then processed on the right side of the brain. Instructions are then sent from the right side of the brain, and executed by the left side.
What are the two major divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
- Sympathetic branch - fight or flight response
- Parasympathetic branch - rest and digest response
What’s the general overview of nervous system function?
1) Sensory input (i.e., the PNS)
2) Integration (within CNS)
3) Motor input (doesn’t always have to involve muscles)
Afferent vs. efferent?
- Afferent - incoming information from a neuron/network
- Efferent - outgoing information from a neuron/network
*Labelling requires context - A before E
What are glial cells?
- Cells that provide nutritional support, immune function, and regulate neuronal signalling
What are the different types of neuron morphologies?
- Unipolar neurons (contains 1 neurite, which could be a dendrite or an axon)
- Bipolar neurons (1 axon, 1 dendrite)
- Pyramidal neurons (pyramid-shaped cell bodies with apical and basilar dendrites, found in cortex and act as interneurons)
- Purkinje neurons (2D dendritic arbor, found in the cerebellum only)
What’s the benefit of having more dendrites on a neuron?
- More dendrites increase the surface area of a neuron, allowing for more synapses
Axon hillock?
- Junction of a soma and axon
Axon collateral?
- A branch coming out of an axon
Telodendria/terminal branches?
- End branches of an axon
Terminal button/end foot?
- Knob at the tip of an axon that conveys info to other neurons
Axon initial segment (AIS)?
- Signal integration centre for incoming potentials
What are the common terms used to differentiate different spaces in anatomy?
- Dorsal - Higher up
- Ventral - Lower
- Posterior - near the back
- Anterior - near the front
- Medial - near the middle
- Lateral - Near the side/exterior
What are the different imaging perspectives of the brain?
- Coronal section - takes a frontal view (can’t see posterior or anterior)
- Horizontal section - takes a dorsal view (can’t see dorsal or ventral)
- Saggital section - takes a medial view (can’t see lateral or medial)
Ipsilateral vs. unilateral?
- Ipsilateral - when two brain areas are found on the same side
- Unilateral - When a brain region is only found on one side of the brain
Contralateral vs. bilateral?
- Contralateral - When a brain region is found on the opposite side relative to another brain region
- Bilateral - when a brain region has a mirror image counterpart
What’s the outermost layer of the cerebrum called?
- The cerebral cortex
What are the different lobes and their major functions?
- Frontal - executive functions
- Parietal - somatosensations
- Temporal - audition, language, and memory
- Occipital - vision
*all together, referred to as the neocortex
Gyri vs. Sulci?
- Gyri - bumps
- Sulci - cracks
What brain matter makes up the first 6 layers of the neocortex?
- Grey matter
Reticular matter?
- Both grey and white matter mixed together.
What’s the order of grey and white matter in the brain and spinal cord?
- Brain - Grey matter on outside, white matter on inside
- Spinal cord - White matter on outside, grey matter on inside
What are the terms used to describe myelin in the CNS versus myelin in the PNS?
- In CNS: oligodendrocytes
- In PNS: Schwann cells
What terms are used to describe the CNS’s neuron clusters versus the PNS?
- In CNS: Nuclei
- IN PNS: Ganglia
What terms are used to describe collections of white matter in the CNS versus in the PNS?
- In CNS: Tracts
- In PNS: Nerves
What brain regions make up the allocortex?
- The hippocampus and amygdala
A fasciculus vs. a commissure?
- Fasciculus - white matter tracts that connect areas within the same hemisphere
- Commissure - white matter tracts that connect equivalent/homotopic between hemispheres
T/F: The spinal cord can act independently of the brain.
- TRUE
- Where spinal reflexes come into play (they’re automatic, hard to prevent). They move through interneurons in the spine
What are the five anatomical regions found along the spinal cord?
1) Cervical - head, arms
2) Thoracic - back
3) Lumber - lower back
4) Sacral - bum legs
5) Coccygeal
What’s a dermatome?
- A region of body surface that corresponds to a specific spinal segment
T/F: Spinal cord nerves work contralaterally.
- FALSE
- They work ipsilaterally
What does the Law of Bell Magendie claim?
- Posterior root - carries afferent, sensory info to the brain
- Anterior root - carries efferent, motor info from the brain and out to the body
- Backside of nerves take in sensory info while the frontside of nerves send out demands from the brain
What are the three major areas of the brainstem?
- Hindbrain (near spine)
- Midbrain
- Diencephalon (higher up)
What brain components make up the hindbrain and their respective functions?
- Reticular formation - sleep-wake behaviour and arousal
- Pons - acts as a bridge between the cerebellum and the rest of the brain, also helps with vital body movements
- Medulla - vital functions such as breathing, cardiovascular system
- Cerebellum - voluntary movements such as coordination, posture, and balance