Frontal lobes

Question 1

Anatomical location, boundaries

Answer 1

Everything in front of the central sulcus: superior, middle and inferior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus

Question 2

Main distinct regions

Answer 2

1) Motor cortex (BA 4, precentral gyrus)
2) Premotor cortex (BA 6)
3) Prefrontal cortex

Question 3

Function of the Motor cortex

Answer 3

provides the mechanisms for executing motor functions in the contralateral side of the body

Question 4

damage to the motor cortex leads to…

Answer 4

fine movement impairment
impairment of voluntary movements
loss of movement speed and strength

Question 5

Distinct parts of the premotor cortex

Answer 5

PMA (premotor area) and SMA (supplementary area)

Question 6

Function of the premotor cortex

Answer 6

selects and plans movement
SMA controls responses to external cues, e.g. reactions
PMA controls responses to internal cues, e.g. raising a hand to ask a question

Question 7

Function and effects of damage of BA 8

Answer 7

planning and directing gaze of the eyes

damage results in loss of voluntary gaze

Question 8

Function of BA 44

Answer 8

Broca’s area

selecting words for speech

Question 9

Distinct parts of the prefrontal cortex

Answer 9

dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9 and 46)
inferior prefrontal cortex (orbital frontal, BA 11 and 12)
medial frontal cortex (often considered part of the cingulate cortex, BA 32 and 25)

Question 10

Functions of the prefrontal cortex

Answer 10

controls cognitive processes of higher cognitive functioning, e.g. planning, abstract thinking, short-term memory or working memory

Question 11

Damage to the prefrontal cortex leads to…

Answer 11

1) can cause the loss of divergent thinking
2) loss of planning, strategy formation or maybe even imagination
3) affects verbal as well as non-verbal tasks
4) change in personality (especially related to the orbital frontal cortex)

Question 12

divergent thinking

Answer 12

considering multiple possibilities of responses

Question 13

convergent thinking

Answer 13

only considering one response as correct

Question 14

Particularly damage to the dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex leads to…

Answer 14

1) inflexible behaviour
2) impaired working memory
3) response inhibition

Question 15

Particularly damage to the orbital frontal cortex leads to…

Answer 15

1) personality change

Question 16

Pseudodepression

Answer 16

can be caused by damage to the orbital frontal cortex, especially the left
behaviour change includes:
apathy, indifference, loss of initiative, reduced sexual interest, reduced verbal output

Question 17

Pseudopsychopathy

Answer 17

can be caused by damage to the orbital frontal cortex, especially the right
behaviour change includes:
immature behaviour, lack of tact, coarse language, promiscuous sexual behaviour, increased motor activity