Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Head and Neck Physiology > Higher Brain Functions > Flashcards

Higher Brain Functions Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the theory of localization of higher brain centers?

A

Theory that specific areas of the brain are associated with particular physical and physiological functions
1. Motor cortex -
2. somatosensory cortex - auditory
3. visual cortex -
4. auditory cortex -
5. Broca’s area - word formation
6. Wernicke’s area - language comprehension intelligence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe the hemispheric lateralization of the left hemisphere?

A

LEFT hemisphere - VALL (Language)
- Verbal aspects of consciousness
- Analytical reasoning
- Logic
- Linguistic Skills

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe the hemispheric lateralization of the right hemisphere?

A

RIGHT hemisphere - SHAME (Spatial)
- Spatial
- Holistic
- Artistic
- Musical
- Emotional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What 3 components of the nervous system influence behavior?

A
  1. The secretory hypothalamus
  2. The autonomic nervous system
  3. Diffuse modulatory systems
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the function of the secretory hypothalamus?

A

Regulates homeostasis by controlling hormonal release of the pituitary gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 3 functional zones of the hypothalamus?

A

Lateral
Medial
Periventricular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the cells in the periventricular zone of the hypothalamus?

A
  • suprachiasmatic nucleus (circadian rhythm)
  • cells that control the ANS and regulate the outflow of the autonomic innervation of the visceral organs
  • neurosecretory neurons that extend axons down toward the stalk of the pituitary gland
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe the function of the magnocellular neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus?

A

• Magnocellular neurosecretory cells release two neurohormones into the bloodstream :
1. Oxytocin: levels rise during sexual or intimate behaviors, promotes social bonding, stimulates uterine contractions, milk ejection
2. Vasopressin/antidiuretic hormone (ADH): regulates blood volume and salt concentration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the function of the parvocellular neurosecretory of the hypothalamus?

A

• Parvocellular neurosecretory cells control the anterior pituitary
- Their axons do not extend all the way into the anterior lobe so they secrete
hypophysiotropic hormones into the hypothalamo-pituitary portal circulation
> The hormones bind to specific receptors, causing pituitary cells to either secrete or stop secreting hormones
E.g. follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone/corticotropin, growth hormone, prolactin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the typical principles of diffuse modulators systems?

A
  1. Typically, the core of each system has a small set of neurons (several thousand).
  2. Neurons of the diffuse systems arise from the central core of the brain, most of them from the brain stem.
  3. Each neuron can influence many others because each one has an axon that may contact more than 100,000 postsynaptic neurons spread widely across the brain.
  4. The synapses made by many of these systems release transmitter molecules into the extracellular fluid, so they can diffuse to many neurons rather than be confined to the vicinity of the synaptic cleft.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe the noradrenergic diffuse modulatory system?

A

• arises from the locus coeruleus
• Besides being a neurotransmitter in the peripheral ANS, NE is also used by neurons of the tiny locus coeruleus in the pons
• Locus coeruleus cells are involved in the regulation of attention, arousal, and sleep-wake cycles, learning and memory, anxiety and pain, mood, and brain metabolism
- cells fire most rapidly during wakefulness and are most quiet during sleep

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the serotonergic diffuse modulators system?

A

•arise from raphe
• Serotonin-containing neurons are mostly clustered within the nine raphe nuclei
• Each nucleus projects to different regions of the CNS
- Those more caudal, in the medulla, innervate the spinal cord, where they modulate pain-related sensory signals
- Those more rostral, in the pons and midbrain, innervate most of the brain in much the same diffuse way as do the locus coeruleus neurons
• Similar to neurons of the locus coeruleus, raphe nuclei cells fire most rapidly during wakefulness and are most quiet during sleep

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the dopaminergic diffuse modulatory system?

A

•arises from the substantia nigra and the ventral regimental area
• The dopaminergic projection from the midbrain innervates the limbic system which is involved in reward and motivation behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the cholinergic diffuse modulatory system?

A

• arises from the basal forebrain and brain stem
1. Medial septal nuclei: provide the cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus,
2. Basal nucleus of Mevnert:
provides most of the cholinergic innervation of the neocortex
• Activation of these acetylcholine neurons leads to an acutely awake and excited nervous system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the function of the limbic system?

A

Responsible for those special types of behavior associated with emotion, learning and memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the central element of the limbic system from a physiological point of view?

A

Hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The limbic system circuits are characterized by?

A

The limbic system circuits are characterized by prolonged after-discharge
- This explains the fact that emotional responses are generally prolonged & continue long after the stimuli that initiate them

18
Q

What are the components of the limbic system?

A
  1. Limbic cortex
    - Cingulate gyrus
    - Parahippocampal gyrus
  2. Hypothalamus
  3. Hippocampal formation
    - The dentate gyrus
    - Hippocampus
    - Subicular Complex
  4. Amygdala
  5. Septal area
19
Q

What’s revive major projection targets if the hippocampal formations?

A
  1. The primary output is through the fornix to the diencephalon (i.e., medial hypothalamus, mammillary bodies, and anterior thalamic nucleus) via the
    postcommissural fornix and to the septal area via the precommissural fornix.
  2. Other connections shown include efferent fibers that synapse in entorhinal cortex, which, in turn, project to amygdala and cingulate gyrus
20
Q

Describe the olfactory function of the limbic system?

A

OIfaction
- The amygdala is involved in the emotional response to smell
- entorhinal cortex is concerned with olfactory memories

21
Q

Describe feeding behavior as a function of the limbic system?

A

The amygdala plays a role in food choice and emotional modulation of food intake
1. The lateral nucleus of the hypothalamus is the center for control of feeding
> damage to the lateral hypothalamus causes anorexia
2. the ventromedial nucleus functions as the satiety center
- damage to the ventromedial hypothalamus cause overeating

22
Q

Describe the autonomic and endocrine responses to emotion as a function of the limbic system?

A
  • Limbic stimulation causes changes in respiration and blood pressure
  • The fear and rage responses mediated by the limbic system cause stimulation of various parts of the hypothalamus, especially the lateral areas and produce diffuse sympathetic discharge (fight or flight response)
  • Stress via cortical and limbic connections causes release of corticotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus which mediates endocrine and immune responses
23
Q

Describe sexual behavior as a function of the limbic system?

A
  • Activation of oxytocinergic neurons originating in the paraventricular zone and projecting to extrahypothalamic brain areas, by dopamine and its agonists or oxytocin itself or by electrical stimulation leads to penile erection
  • The inhibition of these neurons by GABA and its agonists or by opioid peptides and opiate-like drugs inhibits this sexual response
24
Q

Describe fear and rage as a function of the limbic system?

A
  • Fear responses are produced by the stimulation of the hypothalamus and amygdala.
  • The amygdala is also responsible for learned fear
  • Amygdalar destruction abolishes fear and its autonomic and endocrine responses
  • Damage to the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei and septal nuclei may induce rage.
  • Bilateral destruction of the amygdala results in placidity (Klüver-Bucy syndrome)
25
Q

What necessities drive human actions?

A

Food
Sleep
Avoidance of pain
Rewards

26
Q

Describe motivation and the limbic system?

A

The limbus system contains areas whose stimulation gives a rewarding sensation or the sense of punishment or avoidance
- any object, even for activity cab be a reward if it motivates us, causes us to learn it elicits pleasurable feelings

27
Q

How does the limbic system control motivation?

A
  1. Dopaminergic neurons ventral tegmental area communicate with those in the nucleus accumbens in order to process rewards and to motivate behavior
  2. Dopamine also enhances reward-related memories in the hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex
28
Q

What is learning?

A

Acquisition of new knowledge

29
Q

What is memory?

A

Retention of learned information

30
Q

Formation and recall of memory involve which 4 stages?

A
  1. Reception of the information: sensory areas of the cerebral cortex
  2. Formation of a memory trace
  3. Consolidation of the memory trace: involves the hippocampus & its connections
  4. Recall of the memory trace
31
Q

What is procedural memory?

A

Involves learning a motor response (procedure) in reaction to a sensory input

32
Q

The formation of procedural memories occurs through which two categories of learning?

A
  1. Non associative learning
  2. Associative learning
33
Q

Describe non associative learning?

A
  1. Non-associative learning
    - A change in behavioral response that occurs over time in response to a single type of stimulus.
    - Habituation: learning to ignore a stimulus that lacks meaning
    - Sensitization: learning that intensifies the response to all stimuli, even ones that previously evoked little or no reaction
34
Q

Describe associative learning?

A

Associative learning
- Behavior is altered by the formation of associations between events
Classical conditioning: involves associating a stimulus that evokes a measurable response with a second stimulus that normally does not evoke this response
Instrumental/operant conditioning: an individual learns to associate a response, (a motor act) with a meaningful stimulus, typically a reward such as food

35
Q

What is declarative memory?

A
36
Q

How are stable long term memories formed?

A

Consolidation

37
Q

What is working memory?

A

Working memory is used to hold information “in mind” e.g. retaining a phone number in mind by repeating it to oneself
Working memory is distinguished from short-term memory by the very limited capacity, the need for repetition, and the very short duration

38
Q

What is amnesia and describe its causes?

A

Loss of memory (amnesia) can occur following traumatic brain injury or certain diseases
- Concussion, chronic alcoholism (Korsakoff’s syndrome), encephalitis, brain tumor, and stroke
• If amnesia is not accompanied by any other cognitive deficit, it is known as dissociated amnesia and can be retrograde or anterograde

39
Q

What is consciousness?

A

Consciousness is a very vague concept that lacks a specific and accurate definition
It can be described as our continuing stream of awareness o either our surroundings or our sequential thoughts.

40
Q

What are neural correlates of consciousness?

A

Neural correlates of consciousness
(NCC) are the minimal neuronal events sufficient for a specific conscious percept
- what happens to brain activity when one switches from one percept to another
NCCs can be studied using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Positron
Emission Tomography (PET)

41
Q

What are the 2 key features of consciousness?

A

• There are two key features of consciousness:
- the state of consciousness (i.e., wakefulness)
- the content of consciousness (i.e., awareness)
• Research on consciousness is difficult and the
definition of consciousness is very vague and includes many aspects, such as the disciplines of psychology, neurobiology, and philosophv

Head and Neck Physiology (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions