Cortex & Higher Function Flashcards
Where do most inputs to the cortex come from?
The thalamus and other cortical areas
Where do most outputs from the cortex originate and go?
From the pyramidal cells and project to the basal ganglia, brainstem and spinal cord
Briefly describe the function of the frontal lobes, and any relevant specific locations within the lobe
Motor function Expression of speech- left hemisphere Behaviour regulation Cognitions Eye movements Continence- para central lobes
Briefly describe the function of the parietal lobes, and any relevant specific locations within the lobe
Sensory Comprehension of speech- left hemisphere Body image- right hemisphere Awareness of external environment Calculation and writing Visual pathways from the thalamus to the occipital lobe project through the parietal lobes
Briefly describe the function of the temporal lobes, and any relevant specific locations within the lobe
Hearing- superior lobe Olfactory- inferior lobe Memory- hippocampus Emotion Visual pathways from the lateral geniculate to the occipital lobe, project through the temporal lobes
What does the term cerebral dominance refer to? What is another term for this?
Cerebral lateralisation= the asymmetry in the functions of the left and right cerebral hemispheres
Briefly describe sequential processing and the hemisphere responsible for it
Left hemisphere:
Language
Mathematics/ logic
Briefly describe whole picture processing and the hemisphere responsible for it
Right hemisphere: Body image Visuospatial awareness Emotion Music
Why is visuospatial awareness only affected in right hemisphere damage?
Because the left hemisphere is responsible for right sided visuospatial awareness, whereas the right hemisphere is responsible for both left and right visuospatial awareness. This means left visuospatial awareness is lost in right hemisphere damage, but none is lost in left hemisphere damage.
Briefly describe how can you test the arcuate fasciculus?
Repeat a heard word.
Primary auditory cortex projects to Wernicke’s area which interprets it.
This then projects to Broca’s area via the arcuate fasciculus.
This projects the production of the word to the primary motor cortex for the face.
Briefly describe the storage of different types of memories
Memory is stored in a relative distributed fashion throughout large areas of the brain.
Explicit/ declarative- cerebral cortex
Implicit/ non-declarative- basal ganglia and cerebellum
What is the relevance of the hippocampus to memory
Important in associations.
This helps to consolidate declarative memories.
Briefly describe neuroplasticity
Mechanism of memory:
More terminals presynaptically
More neurotransmitter released
More neurotransmitter expressed in the synapse
Briefly describe the different areas of language pathways, locations and functions
Wernicke’s area - Superior temporal lobe - Near to primary auditory cortex - Interpretation of speech Broca’s area - Inferior lateral frontal lobe - Near to lateral primary motor cortex (control of face) - Production of speech Arcuate fasciculus - White matter - Connects Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area
