Chapter 26: Association Cortex and Cognition

Question 1

The association cortices include most of the cerebral surface of the human brain and are largely responsible for the complex processing that goes on between the arrival of input to the primary sensory cortices and the generation of behavior.

Answer 1

Recognition Consciousness Thoughts Planning

Question 2

neocortex

Answer 2

defined as cortex that has six cellular Layers, or Laminae. Each layer comprises more or less distinctive populations of cells based on their different densities, sizes, shapes, inputs,
and outputs.

Question 3

Despite significant variations among different cytoarchitectonic areas, the circuitry of all cortical regions has some common features.

Answer 3

First, each cortical layer has a primary source of inputs and a primary output target.

Second, each area has connections in the vertical axis (called columnar or radial connections) and connections in the horizontal axis (called lateral or horizontal connections).

Third, cells with similar functions tend to be arrayed in radially aligned groups that span all the cortical layers and receive inputs that are often segregated into radial bands or columns.

Finally, intemeurons within specific cortical layers
give rise to extensive local a.xons that extend horizontally in the cortex, often Linking functionally similar groups of cells.

Question 4

Lesions of the Parietal Association Cortex: Deficits of Attention

Answer 4

contralateral neglect syndrome. Loss of Awareness of space opposite site of damage.

contralateral neglect syndrome is typically associated with damage to the right parietal cortex

Question 5

contralateral neglect syndrome

Answer 5

The unequal distribution of this particular cognitive
function between the hemispheres is thought to arise because the right parietal cortex mediates attention to both left and right halves of the body and extrapersonal space, whereas the left hemisphere mediates attention primarily
to the right. Thus, left parietal lesions tend to be compensated by

Question 6

Parietal Association Cortex also receives inputs from the Visual and Auditory Areas

Answer 6

Remember v1 —> V2 —-V3a blah blah pathways.

TOR
PM

Question 7

Patient with damage to his right Posterior Parietal Cortex

Answer 7

No conscious awareness to left side of his body

Feel Pain, but not Aware of Pain

Question 8

Temporal Association Cortices

Answer 8

Left = Language

Right = Recognition, Identification

Question 9

Damage to Right Temporal Association Cortex

leads to Visual Agnosias (Deficit of Recognition)

Answer 9

Agnosias = Inability to recognize complex sensory stimulus as meaningful

Question 10

Prosopagnosia is an inability to recognize faces

Answer 10

“I can see the eyes, nose, and mouth quite clearly but they just don’t add up. They all seem chalked in, like on a blackboard. I have to tell by the clothes or voice whether it is a man or woman, as the faces are all neutral, a dirty grey color. The hair may help a lot, or if there is a moustache.”

Question 11

Lesions of the Frontal Association Cortex: Deficits of Planning

Answer 11

The functional deficits that result from damage to the human frontal lobe are diverse and devastating, particularly if both hemispheres are involved