Cortical Organisation and Function Flashcards
What is the cerebral cortex?
Covers the entire surface of the brain
What does the cerebral cortex contain?
deep nuclei
grey matter
The cerebral cortex is folded into…
gyri
sulci
How is the cerebral cortex organised?
into lobes
Cerebral cortex is organised into what on a microscopic level?
Layers
Columns
List the layers of the cerebral cortex.
Molecular External granular External pyramidal Internal granular Internal pyramidal Multiform
What is cytoarchitecture?
Grouping of regions based on cell size, spacing, packing density and layers
List the lobes of the brain.
Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
Regulating/initiating motor function, language, cognitive function, attention, memory
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
Sensation (touch, pain)
Sensory aspects of language
Spatial orientation and self perception
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
Processing visual information
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
Processing auditory information, emotions, memories
The limbic lobe includes?
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Mammillary body
Cingulate gyrus
The limbic lobe is concerned with?
Learning
Memory
Motivation
Reward
Insular cortex lies where?
Deep within lateral fissure
The insular cortex is concerned with?
Visceral sensation Autonomic control Interoception Auditory processing Visual-vestibular integration
What makes up the grey matter?
Neuronal cell bodies
Glial cells
What makes up the white matter?
Myelinated neuronal axons arranged into tracts
White matter tracts connect?
Cortical areas
Association fibres connect?
Areas within the same hemisphere
Commissural fibres connect?
Homologous structures in left and right hemispheres
Projection fibres connect?
Cortex with lower brain structures (thalamus, brain stem, spinal cord)
Superior longitudinal fasciculus connects which lobes?
Frontal
Occipital
The accurate fasciculus connects which two lobes?
Frontal and temporal
The inferior longitudinal fasciculus connects which two lobes?
Temporal
Occipital
The uncinate fasciculus connects which two lobes?
Frontal and temporal
List examples of commissural fibres.
Corpus callosum
Anterior commissure
Corona radiata?
a white matter sheet that continues inferiorly as the internal capsule and superiorly as the centrum semiovale
Projection fibres converge through (?) between (?) and (?).
Internal capsule
Thalamus
Basal ganglia
Compare/contrast primary and secondary(association) cortices.
1’ function predictable, organised topographically, symmetry between left and right
2’ function less predictable, not organised topographically, left/right symmetry weak or absent
List motor areas in the frontal lobe.
Primary motor cortex
Supplementary area
Premotor area
Primary motor cortex controls?
Fine, discrete, precise voluntary movement
Supplementary area is involved in?
Planning movement
Premotor area involved in?
Planning complex movements
List important sensory cortices in the parietal lobe
Primary somatosensory
Somatosensory association
Function of primary somatosensory cortex?
Process sensations from receptors e.g. fine touch, vibration, proprioception, pain, temp, two point discrimination
Somatosensory association cortex function?
Interpret significance of sensory info, awareness of self and personal space
List cortices in the occipital lobe.
Primary visual
Visual association
List cortices in the temporal lobe.
Primary auditory
Auditory association
List other important association areas.
Broca’s area
Prefrontal cortex
Wernicke’s area
Function of Broca’s area
Production of language
Function of wernicke’s area?
Understanding of language
Function of prefrontal cortex
Attention, adjusting social behaviour, planning, personality expression, decision making,
Symptoms of frontal lobe lesions?
Changes in personality, inappropriate behaviour
Symptoms of parietal lobe lesions?
Contralateral neglect, lack of awareness of self/extra personal space
Cortical function after lesion in lateral temporal lobe
Agnosia, inability to recognise
Cortical function after lesion in medial temporal lobe
Can’t form new memories, anterograde amnesia
Lesions to Broca’s area causes?
Expressive aphasia
Lesions to Wernicke’s area causes?
Receptive aphasia
Lesions in primary visual cortex causes?
Blindness in corresponding part of visual field
Lesions visual association cortex?
Deficit in interpretation of visual info e.g. face blindness (prosopagnosia)
Two types of imaging for assessing cortical function
PET scan > blood flow to certain region
fMRI > amount of blood oxygen in region
Two types of encephalography for assessing cortical function
EEG measures electrical signals in the brain
MEG measure magnetic signals in the brain
Two types of brain stimulation for assessing cortical function
TMS
tDCS
