Exploring the brain (2)

Question 1

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

Answer 1

Regulates several homeostatic processes such as feeding and drinking, links brain to endocrine system

Question 2

What structure carries information between the two hemispheres?

Answer 2

The corpus callosum

Question 3

What are three sub-cortical structures?

Answer 3

Hippocampus, basal ganglia, amygdala

Question 4

What are two computations of the basal ganglia?
1. C____ m____ (via d____ striatum)
2. M____ b____ (via v____ striatum)

Answer 4

Co-ordinating movement (via dorsal striatum)
Motivated behaviour (via ventral striatum)

Question 5

What does the amygdala have key connections with?
C____x, h____s, t____s, h____s, b____l g____a, b____m

Answer 5

Cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, brainstem

Question 6

Information loops from the cortex (and hippocampus) through what?

Answer 6

Basal ganglia, thalamus, back to cortex

Question 7

What computation is linked to the amygdala?

Answer 7

Emotional learning, especially fear conditioning - associate environment with emotive state - respond appropriately

Question 8

What are the main three subfields of the hippocampus?
1. D____e g____s
2. C____s a____s __
3. C____s a____s __

Answer 8

Dentate gyrus, Cornus ammonis 3 and CA1 (another name for the hippocampus)

Question 9

The hippocampus is thought to be involved in lots of things that involve learning r____ between f____, especially s____ n____ and e____ m____

Answer 9

relationships, features, spatial navigation, episodic memory

Question 10

Losing hippocampal function impairs what?

Answer 10

Memory

Question 11

How many lobes and hemispheres is the cerebral cortex made up of?

Answer 11

4 main lobes and 2 hemispheres
Neocortex has 6 layers

Question 12

What do the 6 different layers in the neocortex do?
1-3 i____ info from l____ and d____ c____ areas, receiving i____ and sending o____ to other cortical areas
4 receives s____ info
5-6 send info to s____ structures, t____ and s____ c____

Answer 12

1-3 integrate info from local and distance cortical areas, receiving inputs and sending outputs to other cortical areas
4 receives sensory info
5&6 send info to subcortical structures, thalamus and spinal cord

Question 13

What are some of the key aspects of cerebrospinal fluid?
CSF is produced from e____ cells that line the v____
CSF c____ around the b____ - between the m____ that surround the brain and along large b____ v____ as well as through the ventrivles
Also fills the small e____ space around n____
Its m____ controls the e____ experienced by cells
C____ brain from i____ to the head, also clears the brain of u____ products such as broken down p____

Answer 13

ependymal, ventricles (fluid-filled spaces in the brain)
circulates, brain, membranes, blood vessels
extracellular, neurons
makeup (conc. of substances in it), environment
cushions, impacts, unwanted, proteins

Question 14

What causes a stroke?

Answer 14

Blocked cerebral blood vessels starve the area fed by that vessel

Question 15

A neuron is a key i____-t____ brain cell.
T____ and p____ information using e____ s____

Answer 15

Key information-transmitting brain cell. Transmit and process information using electrical signals

Question 16

What are the following parts of a neuron for?
Dendrites - collects i____ from other n____
Soma - cell b____ - contains n____
Axon hillock - where nerve i____/a____ p____ triggered
Myelin sheath - increases s____ of t____
Axon terminal - where n____ is released to s____ to the next cell

Answer 16

D - collect inputs from other neurons
S - cell body - contains nucleus
A - axon hillock, where nerve impulse/action potential triggered (integrates all inputs)
M - increases speed of transmission
AT - where neurotransmitter is released to signal to the next cell

Question 17

What is the function of astrocytes?
Wrap p____ around s____ and n____, also contact b____ v____
Lots of s____ roles

Answer 17

Wrap processes around synapses and neurons, also contact blood vessels
Lots of supportive roles

Question 18

What is the function of oligodendrocytes?
Wrap m____ s____ around a____ to i____ the axon and allow i____ to travel f____

Answer 18

Wrap myelin sheath around axon to insulate the axon and allow impulses to travel faster

Question 19

What is the function of microglia?
The brains resident i____ cell - surveys brain for i____ or d____ and g____ up damaged tissue or infection

Answer 19

The brain’s resident immune cell - surveys brain for infection or damage and gobbles up damaged tissue or infection

Question 20

What are three ways we can label different cell types?

Answer 20

1. Fill them with dye by inserting an electrode and allowing dye to diffuse in
2. Label them with antibodies against certain proteins, only expressed by that cell type
3. Genetically modify mice to express a fluorescent protein (coloured protein) in cells that express specific proteins

Question 21

Meninges are m____ surrounding the b____:
D____, a____ and p____

Answer 21

Membranes, brain
dura (tough outer membrane), arachnoid and Pia (next to brain surface)

Question 22

What are the three types of glia cell?
1. A____tes
2. O____tes
3. M____lia

Answer 22

Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia