Higher cortical functions Flashcards
when thalamic connection is lost
cortical function stops
all sensory pathways pass through
the thalamus
- except for some olfactory signals
motor primary cortical region
origin of motor tracts
decussate at medulla and descend spinal cord to afferent motor neuron
discrete connection with specific effectors
sensory primary cortical region
termination of sensory tracts from specific sensory organs (labelled lines)
visual, auditory, somatic
primary cortical regions
point of first contact for M&S systems in cortex
secondary cortical regions
areas proximal to 1° areas
begin to ‘make sense’ out of signals to/form 1° areas
premotor/supplementary areas
2° sensory areas interpret meaning
premotor/supplementary areas
provide complex patterns of motor activity
broca’s area
word formation
area for language, comprehension, intelligence
wernickle’s area
area for behaviour, emotions, motivation
limbic association area
higher cortical functions
executve functions - planning, decision making, attention reasoning, memory, learning, language, muscial appreciation emotional feelings and expression motivation self-awareness, body image
process of association cortex
take in sensory information from multiple regions of the cortex
association cortex cross references with memories, and may store new memories
evaluate new sensory information with past experiences
sends to motor planning areas
sends to motor cortex
leads to overt behaviour
three major divisions of the association cortex
- parieto-occipito-temporal (POT) AA
- prefrontal AA
- Limbic AA
parieto-occipito-temporal (POT) AA
poly sensory integration and language
continuous analysis of spacial orientation
prefrontal AA
executive functions, motor planning, attention, working memory
limbic AA
memory, emotion, motivation
behaviour, judgement, insight, emotions and motivation
cortical part of the limbic system
damage to the POT AA
failure to plan movement of opposite side of body
lose reading language comprehension
intellectual functions of prefrontal AA
interacts with motor cortex + POT AA
motor and non motor thinking
plan consequences of actions before performed
lesions of the prefrontal cortex
causes inability to keep tract of simultaneous bits of information, easily distracted
lose complex problem solving, ability to perform sequential tasks, abiltity to learn to do parallel tasks
morals, social appropriateness
purpose
lesions of the limbic AA
difficulties with reasoning, judgement, mood
communication involves
sensory integration (audiovisual)
formation of thoughts > choice of words
motor control of vocalisation > vocalisation
formation of though and choice of words occurs at
wernickle;s area
broca’s area controls
the motor coordination required for speech
wernicke’s area
general interpretive area
language based intellectual functioon
feeds directly to broca’s area
