Cortical Organisation And Function Flashcards by Elizabeth Akeju

List the functions of the frontal lobe

Regulating and initiating motor function
Language
Cognitive functions, e.g. planning
Attention
Memory

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List the functions of the parietal lobe

Sensation - touch, pain
Sensory aspects of language
Spatial orientation and self-perception

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List the functions(s) of the occipital lobe

Processing visual information

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List the functions of the temporal lobe

Processing auditory information
Emotions
Memories

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What areas comprise the limbic lobe and what is its function?

Amygdala, hippocampus, mamillary body, and cingulate gyrus
Involved in learning, memory, emotion, motivation and reward

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Where is the insular cortex and what is its function?

Lies deeps within lateral fissure
Concerned with visceral sensations, autonomic control, and interoception, auditory processing and visual-vestibular integration

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What comprises the grey matter of the brain?

Neuronal cell bodies and glial cells

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What comprises the white matter of the brain?

Myelinated neuronal axons arranged in tracts

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What are the different types of white matter tract fibres and what do they do?

Association fibres - connect areas within the same hemisphere
Commissural fibres - connect homologous structure in left and right hemispheres
Projection fibres - connect cortex with lower brain structures (e.g. thalamus, brain stem and spinal cord)

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Name the different association fibres and what they connect

Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus - connects frontal and occipital lobes
Arcuate Fasciculus - connects frontal and temporal lobes
Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus - connects temporal and occipital lobes
Uncinate Fasciculus - connects anterior frontal and temporal lobes

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Give two examples of commissural fibres

Corpus callosum
Anterior commissure

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What can a corpus callosotomy/hemispherectomy be used to treat?

Severe epilepsy

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What do the terms ‘afferent’ and ‘efferent’ describe in terms of projection fibres?

Afferent - towards cortex
Efferent - away from cortex

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What do projection fibres radiate as deep to the cortex?

Corona radiata

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What do projection fibres converge to form?

Internal capsule between thalamus and basal ganglia

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What is the difference in localisation of function between primary and secondary/association cortices?

Primary:
- predictable function
- topographic organisation
- symmetry between left and right cortices
Secondary:
- function less predictable
- organisation not topographic
- weak or absent left-right symmetry

What is the function of the primary motor cortex?

Controls fine, discrete, precise voluntary movements
Provides descending signals to execute movements

What is the function of the supplementary motor area?

Involved in planning complex movements (e.g. internally cued)

What is the function of the premotor area?

Involved in planning movements (e.g. externally cued)

What is the function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

Processes somatic sensations arising from receptors in the body (e.g. fine touch, vibration, two-point discrimination, proprioception, pain and temperature)

What is the function of the somatosensory association area?

Interpret significance of sensory information, e.g. recognizing an object placed in the hand
Awareness of self and awareness of personal space

What is the difference between the function of the primary visual cortex and visual association area?

Primary visual - processing visual stimuli
Visual association - gives meaning and interpretation of visual input

What is the difference between the function of the primary auditory cortex and auditory association area?

Primary auditory - processing auditory stimuli
Auditory association - gives meaning and interpretation of auditory input

What is the prefrontal cortex involved in?

Attention
Adjusting social behaviour
Planning
Personality expression
Decision making

What is Broca’s area involved in?

Production of language

What is Wernicke’s area involved in?

Understanding of language

What are some consequences of frontal lobe lesions?

Changes in personality Inappropriate behaviour

What are some consequences of parietal lobe lesions?

Contralateral neglect - lack of awareness on side opposite to lesion - lack of awareness of extrapersonal space on contralateral side

What are some consequences of temporal lobe lesions?

Lateral and medial lesions Agnosia - inability to recognise Anterograde amnesia - can’t form new memories

What are the consequences of lesions to Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area?

Broca’s area - expressive aphasia - poor production of speech, however comprehension intact (can understand speech) Wernicke’s area - receptive aphasia - poor comprehension of speech, production is fine

What is a consequence of a lesion to the primary visual cortex?

Blindness in corresponding part of visual field

What is a consequence of a lesion to the visual association area?

Deficits in interpretation of visual information e.g. prosopagnosia: inability to recognise familiar faces or learn new faces (face blindness)

What are the different types of imaging used to assess cortical function and how do they work?

Positron emission tomography (PET) - shows blood flow directly to a brain region Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) - shows amount of blood oxygen in a brain region Electroencephalography (EEG) - measures electrical signals produced by the brain Magnetoencephalography – (MEG) - measures magnetic signals produced by the brain

What is the relevance of event-related/evoked potentials?

These potentials are stimulated (rather than just monitoring sleep or daily activities) to assess function as compared to the ‘normal’ function expected by a healthy individual - delays in potentials may suggest an issue with that area

What do somatosensory evoked potentials allow us to assess through encephalography?

Series of waves that reflect sequential activation of neural structures along the somatosensory pathways E.g. stimulus to median nerve: Can observe impulse arriving at shoulder, mid cervical cord activity, thalamic activity and somatosensory activity - can identify where they are delays

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation?

Use of electromagnetic induction to stimulate neurons Can assess the functional integrity of neural circuits

How does transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) work?

Uses low direct current over the scalp to increase or decrease neuronal firing rates

What is diffusion tension imaging (DTI) based on?

Based on diffusion of water molecules

What does DTI with tractography allow you to assess?

3D reconstruction Can assess neural tracts