Higher CNS functioning Lecture 27

Question 1

Functions of the Dominant Hemisphere

Answer 1

• usually the Left hemisphere
• Logical And functional
• Language and speech
• Math ability
• Problem solving analytical sequential and logical manner
• Visual sign language

Question 2

Functions of Non Dominant Hemisphere

Answer 2

• Simple spatial relationships
• Face recognition
• Elements of Music and poetry
• Artistic ability
• Aspects of emotion

Question 3

What is corpus callosum

Answer 3

Connects the left and right hemisphere of brain
larger and more developed in females
Females tend to use both hemispheres due to the more developed corpus callosum

Question 4

Function of Parieto-occipitotemporal Association area

Answer 4

• Attention and perceptual awareness
• Area for language comprehension
• Area for initial processing of visual language
• Area for naming objects
• Face recognition

Question 5

Function of prefrontal Association area

Answer 5

• Sequential thoughts
• Working(short term) memory
• Motor movement

Question 6

Function of Limbic association area

Answer 6

• Behavior
• Emotion
• Motivation

Question 7

What is Language proesses

Answer 7

involves integration of Comprehension and expression

Question 8

What is Wernicke’s language area?

Answer 8

Sensory speech area

Question 9

What is Broca’s language area

Answer 9

Motor speech area

Question 10

What is the pathway for speaking a heard word?

Answer 10

Hear the word–> primary auditory area–> Wernicke’s area to make sense of what the sound is –> arcuate fasciculus–> Broca’s area to say the word–> motor cortex

Question 11

what is the pathway for speaking a written word?

Answer 11

see the word–> primary visual area–> angular gyrus–> Wernicke’s area–> arcuate fasciculus–> Broca area–> motor cortex

Question 12

what is Receptive Aphasia?

Answer 12

Poor language comprehension but can still speak… what they say doesn’t make sense damage to wernicke but broca still works

Question 13

what is Expressive Aphasia

Answer 13

good comprehension of language but cant speak the word… lot stuttering and cutting off
damage to Broca’s area but wernicke is still intact.

Question 14

What is Conduction Aphasia

Answer 14

damage to arcuate fasciculus nerve signals connecting broca’s and Wernicke’s communication is damaged. mix up words when speaking cant repeat a spoken word, snowball–> snowall

Question 15

What is Alexia

Answer 15

inability to read

Question 16

What is agraphia

Answer 16

inability to write

Question 17

What is Dyslexia

Answer 17

reading impairment

Question 18

What is Dysgraphia

Answer 18

difficulty writing

Question 19

What is Sensory memory?

Answer 19

immediate very short does not reach consciousness allows for the ability to hold ongoing experiences

Question 20

What is Short term memory?

Answer 20

ability to hold information in consciousness for seconds to minutes. must be constantly repeated otherwise you forget it.

Question 21

What is intermediate memory?

Answer 21

transition between short term and long-term memory. can be retained for a few hours. EX: cramming for a test

Question 22

What is memory consolidaiton

Answer 22

transfer of items from short term–> intermediate or from intermediate–> long-term
if an item does not pass through consolidation its permanently forgotten. temporary inability to remember something = problem with retrieval of memory or recall.

Question 23

what is reverberating circuits

Answer 23

thought to be the mechanism for short term memory: as long as neuronal activity is firing within a closed loop you remember if you break/ stop the circuit you forget

Question 24

What is Habituation?

Answer 24

repetitive indifferent stimulus (clock ticking)–> closing of ca channels in presynaptic neuron–> decreased ca2+ influx–> decreased output of transmitter from presynaptic neuron–> decrease postsynaptic potential in efferent neuron –> reduced behavioral response to indifferent stimuli( stop noticing it)

Question 25

What is Sensitization?

Answer 25

Strong Noxious stimuli(annoying/painful poking)–> release of serotonin from interneuron)–> increase cAMP in presynaptic neuron–> blockage of K+ channels in presynaptic neuron–> prolonged AP in presynaptic neuron–> ca+ channels kept open longer–> increase in CA+ influx–> increase output of transmitter from presynaptic neuron–> increase postsynaptic potential in efferent neuron–> enhanced behavioral response to mild stimuli

Question 26

What impacts long term memory?

Answer 26

Number of synapses- there are permanent changes in nervous system that involve formation of new synaptic connections or altered neurotransmitter synthesis
Strength of synapses- LTP: long term potential- produce long lasting increases in synaptic strength
LTD: long lasting decrease in strength–> forgetting

Question 27

What is declarative memory

Answer 27

Explicit/ declarative is visual auditory can be described and factual memories it involves the hippocampus

Question 28

What is Procedural memory

Answer 28

Implicit/ procedural is like riding a bike its motor memory and involves the cerebellum and basal ganglia

Question 29

What is the importance of the hippocampus?

Answer 29

Located in temporal lobe part of the limbic system and it temporarily stores new memories and consolidates them into long term memories and transfers them into other cortical regions during sleep

Question 30

What is the importance of the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 30

major site for working/short term memory and accessing and manipulating long term memories especially declarative memories(facts)

Question 31

What is importance of cerebellum?

Answer 31

important for procedural memories involving motor behavior that uses repetitive training ( playing piano riding bike)

Question 32

What happens if there is damage to hippocampus?

Answer 32

difficulties with declarative memories ( memories involving facts) but procedural memories still intact

Question 33

What happens if there is damage to the cerebellum?

Answer 33

difficulty with procedural memories but can recall facts normally