Chapter 1 (AI) Flashcards
What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
- Occipital lobe
- Parietal lobe
- Temporal lobe
- Frontal lobe
How many distinct laminae does the human cerebral cortex contain?
Up to six distinct laminae
What is the primary function of the basal ganglia?
- Planning of motor movement
- Aspects of memory
- Emotional expression
- Critical for gradual learning of skills and habits
What structures are included in the diencephalon?
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
What is the role of the thalamus?
Relay station from the sensory organs; main source of input to the cortex
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
- Conveys messages to the pituitary gland
- Associated with behaviors such as eating, drinking, and sexual behavior
Which structures are part of the limbic system?
- Olfactory bulb
- Hypothalamus
- Hippocampus
- Amygdala
- Cingulate gyrus
What is the primary function of the cerebral cortex?
The most prominent part of the mammalian brain; involved in higher-order processing
What are the two types of matter in the spinal cord?
- Gray matter
- White matter
Fill in the blank: The _______ is a clear fluid found in the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What are the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
- Sympathetic nervous system
- Parasympathetic nervous system
True or False: The cerebral cortex receives sensory information from the thalamus for all senses.
False
What is the function of the meninges?
Membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, containing pain receptors
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
Joins the two halves of the cerebral hemispheres
What anatomical term refers to ‘toward the back’?
Dorsal
What anatomical term refers to ‘toward the front’?
Anterior
Fill in the blank: The _______ controls voluntary muscles and conveys sensory information to the CNS.
Somatic nervous system
What are the components of gray matter in the spinal cord?
Densely packed with cell bodies and dendrites
What is the role of the EEG?
Records electrical activity produced by various brain regions
What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?
Involved in executive functions, decision making, and motor control
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
Processing visual information
What is the primary function of the temporal lobe?
Involvement in auditory processing and memory
What is the primary function of the parietal lobe?
Processing sensory information related to touch, temperature, and pain
True or False: The spinal cord sends motor commands to the brain.
False
What is the main source of cerebrospinal fluid?
The ventricles
What term describes structures that lie perpendicular to the laminae in the cortex?
Columns
What sensation reaches the cerebral cortex without passing through the thalamus?
Olfaction
Olfaction is the sense of smell, which is unique in that it bypasses the thalamus.
What are the two types of roots in the spinal cord and their functions?
- Dorsal roots: carry sensory information
- Ventral roots: carry motor information
Dorsal roots bring sensory signals from the body to the spinal cord, while ventral roots send motor signals from the spinal cord to the body.
What is the role of the hippocampus?
Critical for certain types of memory, especially memories for individual events
The hippocampus is located between the thalamus and cerebral cortex.
Define ‘tract’ in the context of the nervous system.
A set of axons within the CNS, also known as a projection.
Tracts connect different parts of the nervous system, allowing for communication between them.
What is ‘optogenetics’?
A technique that allows researchers to turn on activity in targeted neurons using a laser.
This method is used primarily in laboratory settings and can provide insights into neuronal function.
What is the binding problem in neuroscience?
Refers to how the brain integrates different sensory inputs to perceive a single object.
The binding problem is significant for understanding how the brain processes multi-sensory information.