Chapter 2 P2: Introduction to the Vertebrate Brain

Question 1

What 3 main regions of the brain can be identified in the Early Embryo Stage?

Answer 1

The Hindbrain, Midbrain, and Forebrain (bottom - up)

Question 2

What does the Hindbrain develop into in the Late Embryo Stage?

Answer 2

The Hindbrain develops into the Myelencephalon and the Metencephalon at this stage.

Question 3

What does the Myelencephalon develop into in adulthood?

Answer 3

The Myelencephalon turns into the Medulla oblongata.

Question 4

What does the Metencephalon develop into in adulthood?

Answer 4

The Metencephalonturns into the Cerebellum and Pons.

Question 5

What functions does the Hindbrain (and the developed parts of it) have?

Answer 5

The Hindbrain is associated with basic survival (e.g. the Medulla oblongata controls heart rate, the Cerebellum controls automatic/involuntary coordination and the Pons is associated with breathing.)

Question 6

What does the Midbrain develop into in the Late Embryo Stage?

Answer 6

The Midbrain develops into the Mesencephalon at this stage.

Question 7

What does the Mesencephalon develop into in adulthood?

Answer 7

The Mesencephalon develops into the Optic Lobes and Midbrain nuclei.

Question 8

What functions does the Midbrain (and the developed parts of it) have?

Answer 8

The Midbrain is associated with higher complexity sensory and processing of motor commands. (e.g. Optic lobes integrate visual information with other sensory inputs, Midbrain nuclei is associated with processing incoming sensation and outgoing motor demands.)

Question 9

What does the Forebrain develop into in the Late Embryo Stage?

Answer 9

The Forebrain develops into Diencephalon and Telencephalon in this stage.

Question 10

What does the Diencephalon develop into in adulthood?

Answer 10

The Diencephalon develops into the Thalamus and Hypothalamus.

Question 11

What does the Telencephalon develop into in adulthood?

Answer 11

The Telencephalon develops into the Cerebrum.

Question 12

What functions does the Forebrain (and the developed parts of it) have?

Answer 12

The Forebrain is associated with higher level cognition and motor control. (e.g. The Thalamus relays sensory and motor signals, and regulates consciousness/awareness, the Hypothalamus is associated with releasing hormones, regulating emotional responses and sex drive, and the Cerebrum controls movement as well as speech, thought, emotion and learning, etc.)

Question 13

What is gyri and sulci?

Answer 13

Gyrus: A ridged or raised portion of a convoluted brain surface. Imagine a grin - :) - it goes up
Sulcus: A furrow of a convoluted brain surface. Imagine a sulk - :( - it goes down.

Question 14

What is a Cerebral Commissure/Corpus Callosum?

Answer 14

White matter that interconnects the greatest portion of the cerebral hemispheres (right and left hemispheres), permitting the cerebral cortex to operate as a whole. (draw picture)

Question 15

What are the 6 cortical lobes? (label them too)

Answer 15

1) Brain stem
2) Cerebellum
3) Occipital Lobe
4) Temporal lobe
5) Parietal lobe
6) Frontal Lobe

Question 16

What cortical lobe is responsible of basic vital functions such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, etc.?

Answer 16

The Brain Stem

Question 17

What are the functions of the Cerebellum?

Answer 17

Associated with involuntary coordination, balance and muscle movement.

Question 18

Which cortical lobe is responsible for visual information and processing?

Answer 18

The Occipital lobe

Question 19

What are the functions of the Temporal lobe?

Answer 19

Auditory information, emotion and language processing as well as encoding memory.

Question 20

What are the functions of the Parietal lobe?

Answer 20

Sensory input and processing of pain, heat, pressure, etc., and body and spatial awareness.

Question 21

What are the functions of the Frontal Lobe?

Answer 21

Motor cortex - voluntary motor activity
Premotor cortex- storage of motor patterns
Prefrontal cortex (PFC): high-order cognition. Planning, emotion regulation, judgment, inhibition, attention, perspective taking and cognitive flexibility. (all high-order cognitive activities)

Question 22

What 4 parts of the brain make up the Limbic System? What are their functions?

Answer 22

1) Thalamus: alertness + sensory and motor signal relaying
2) Hypothalamus: emotional responses, hormone modulation, sexdrive
3) Amygdala: emotional processing and threat detection
4) Hippocampus: memory and spatial navigation

Question 23

What is the name of a group of subcortical nuclei that play role in control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, habit learning, eye movements, cognition, emotion, motivation and reward system?

Answer 23

Basal Ganglia

Question 24

What parts does the Basal Ganglia consist of?

Answer 24

The Caudate and Putamen

Question 25

What is the largest part of the mammal brain that facilitates its most complex and evolved functions?

Answer 25

The Telencephalon (cerebrum)

Question 26

Why do convolutions help brain activity?

Answer 26

Because they increase surface area while in a small space, leading to more effective neuronal communication.

Question 27

What is the largest tract of white matter that connects the two hemispheres of the brain?

Answer 27

the Corpus Commissure/Corpus Callosum

Question 28

What are 2 subcortical structures in the Telencephalon/Cerebrum?

Answer 28

The Limbic System and The Basal Ganglia