Higher Cortical Functioning

Question 1

what functions are more dominant in the left hemisphere

Answer 1

language and maths

Question 2

what functions are more dominant in the right hemisphere

Answer 2

body image, emotion and music

Question 3

what functions are the frontal lobes involved in

Answer 3

motor, speech expression, cognition and eye movements

Question 4

what functions are the parietal lobes involved in

Answer 4

sensory function but also speech comprehension, body image and calculation

Question 5

what is the condition neglect

Answer 5

this is where you have damaged your parietal lobes and so body image is affected - it means you fail to acknowledge the left half of the world

Question 6

what functions are the temporal lobes involved in

Answer 6

hearing, olfaction, memory and emotion

Question 7

which hemisphere dominants in language pathways

Answer 7

left

Question 8

describe the language pathway involved in repeating a heard word

Answer 8

• auditory cortex get information from the cochlea via vibrations
• information sent to wernickes area which translates the vibrations into words
• information sent to Broca’s area via the arcuate fasciculus
• Broca’s area projects onto lateral motor cortex to drive muscles used for speech

Question 9

describe the language pathway involved in speaking a written word

Answer 9

• primary visual cortex in occipital lobe interprets written word
• information sent to wernickes area which translates the this into words
• information sent to Broca’s area via the arcuate fasciculus
• Broca’s area projects onto lateral motor cortex to drive muscles used for speech

Question 10

describe the language pathway involved in speaking a thought

Answer 10

• areas from all over the brain sends information to wernickes area which translates the this into words
• information sent to Broca’s area via the arcuate fasciculus
• Broca’s area projects onto lateral motor cortex to drive muscles used for speech

Question 11

what would result in damage to wernickes area

Answer 11

poor comprehension of language but can speak fluently

Question 12

what would result in damage to Broca’s area

Answer 12

good comprehension of language but cant speak fluently

Question 13

define arousal

Answer 13

emotional state associated with a goal or avoidance of something

Question 14

what is the reticular formation

Answer 14

a poorly defined region of grey matter made up of interneurones which helps to keep you conscious

Question 15

name 3 relays involved in sending information from the reticular formation to the cortex

Answer 15

basal forebrain nucleus
hypothalamus
thalamus

Question 16

what does the basal forebrain nucleus release to excite the cortex

Answer 16

ACh

Question 17

what does the hypothalamus use to excite the cortex from the reticular formation

Answer 17

histamine

Question 18

what does the thalamus use to excite the cortex from the reticular formation

Answer 18

glutamate

Question 19

what happens to the reticular formation during sleep

Answer 19

it is deactivated

Question 20

what is narcolepsy

Answer 20

where you struggle to stay awake due to problems in neurotransmission

Question 21

what is sleep apnoea

Answer 21

where the soft tissue from the neck obstructs the airways, making you become hypoxic and wake up

Question 22

what are the 2 types of memory

Answer 22

declarative (facts)

non-declarative (motor skills and emotion)

Question 23

where are declarative memories stored

Answer 23

they are distributed throughout the cerebral cortex

Question 24

where are non-declarative memories stored

Answer 24

in the cerebellum

Question 25

on an EEG what do therein waves look like when your eyes are open

Answer 25

high frequency beta waves

Question 26

on an EEG what do therein waves look like when your eyes are closed

Answer 26

alpha waves which are at a lower frequency and more synchronised

Question 27

on an EEG what do therein waves look like in stage 1 of sleep

Answer 27

a background of alpha waves with some theta waves

Question 28

on an EEG what do therein waves look like in stages 2/3 of sleep

Answer 28

background of theta waves
some k complexes (as the input from the cortex is removed so you get its intrinsic slow rate)
and sleep spindles (buzzes of activity from the thalamus trying to wake you up)

Question 29

on an EEG what do therein waves look like in stage 4 of sleep

Answer 29

dominated by delta waves

Question 30

on an EEG what do therein waves look like in REM

Answer 30

looks like beta waves as you are dreaming