Higher function Flashcards
Every cubic inch of the cerebral cortex has how man miles of nerve fibers within it?
10,000
The number of neurons in the brain outnumbers number of people on earth by how much?
30 x greater neurons in brain than humans on earth.
A typical neuron is wired to how many of it’s neighbors?
1,000 - 2,000
What determines what the brain does?
The pattern of neuron connections in the brain
T/F
Neurons outnumber glia 10:1
False,
Glia outnumber neurons 10:1
Most cortical neurons are a site of what?
Converging input and diverging output from and to many other neurons.
What is a cortical silence area?
Parts of the cortex (a good majority of it) that does not respond in an obvious way to simple sensory +, nor produces movements when electrically +.
What is layer I of the cortex?
Molecular layer (mostly axons).
What is layer II of the cortex?
External granule layer. Populated by granule (stellate) cells (stars above the pyramids)
What is layer III of the cortex?
External pyramidal layer. Primary pyramidal cells
What is layer IV of the cortex?
Internal granule layer. Main granule cell layer
What is layer V of the cortex?
Internal pyramidal layer. Dominated by giant pyramidal cells
What is layer VI of the cortex?
Multiform layer. All types of cells, granule, stellate, fusiform
What are the three major cells types of the cebebral cortex?
Pyramidal, granule, fusiform
What is unique about the pyramidal cells of the cortex?
Major efferent cell. Source of corticospinal projections
What is the function of Granule cells?
Short axons that function as interneurons (intra cortical processing)
What are the primary excitatory and inhibitory NT’s released by granule cells in the cortex?
Excitatory: glutamate.
Inhibitory: GABA
What is unique about fusiform cells and what role do they play in cortical processing?
They are least numerous of the 3 major cell types. They give rise to the output fibers of the cortex.
What layers does most of cortical output come from?
Layers V and VI
What layer do spinal cord tracts originate?
V
Where do most incoming sensory signals terminate?
Layer VI
What layer hosts thalamic connections
Layer VI
What are the intracortical association function layers?
I,II,III
Which of the intracortical association function layers has the most number of neurons?
II and III (short horizontal connections with adjacent cortical areas)
T/F
Some areas of the cerebral cortex have extensive efferent and afferent connection with deeper structures of the brain?
False. ALL areas of the cortex have these relationships with lower areas (e.g. basal ganglia, thalamus).
T/F
Cortical neurons (esp. in associate areas) can change their function as functional demands change
True
T/F
Resultant network of links between neurons in the cortex mimics relationships between things in the outside world
True.
Probabilistic model of the world in the brain which can predict what is likely to happen next
What is the secret of the CC concerning observed associations of the outside world?
The mechanism for making the strength of these connections change to reflect these observed associations.
What have we been able to identify physically about the mostly not understood mechanism of the CC to make strong connects and change them to reflect changes in the observable world?
Creating physical connections between neurons that are often active simultaneously “fire together, wire together
T/F
Lesions in association areas of the cortex have subtle and predictable quality
False.
Subtle and UNpredictable quality