Higher Cognition & cortex Flashcards
Explain the concept and functions of association cortex.
the association cortex combines multiple sensory modalities to complete higher order thinking like language
involves parieto-temporal-occipital area, orbitofrontal area, and limbic area
Name three cortical regions involved with higher order functions
- parietal-temporal-occipital area
- orbitofrontal area
- limbic area
Define the function of the corpus callosum
allows communication between the two cortices
severing it can prevent full epileptic seizures
Describe lateralization of function in the cerebral cortex and be able to name several functions that are lateralized to the left or right side.
certain hemispheres do certain things
left hemisphere: handedness, language, calculatory math
right hemisphere: music, emotion, spatial processing, estimating math
Describe the significance of the planum temporale
on dorsal temporal lobe, within Wernicke’s area,
Name regions of cortex in the left hemisphere that control speech and the pathway that connects them; report the function of each
wernicke’s area is in planum temporale, does speech recognition, superior temporal gyrus and angular gyrus
broca’s area does motor control of speech, pars opercularis and pars triangularis
arcuate fasciculus (aka superior longitudinal fasciculus) connects Wernicke’s to Broca’s area, lesion to this causes conduction aphasia (can’t repeat phrases or words but otherwise mild aphasia)
Describe the effects of a lesion in the right parietal lobe.
contalateral neglect
unawareness of left visual field
Understand the role of the prefrontal cortex in higher order functions
concentration. delaying gratification, abstract reasoning, spontaneity, working memory, integrating sensory info to make decisions, learning new things
what’s apraxia?
inability to learn a sequence of movements, like using a new tool
