Intro To Clinical Neuroscience

Question 1

Neuronal structure of the Brain?

Answer 1

• complex
• many convulsions of neuronal cortex (folds)
• connected through neurones

Question 2

2 Features of Neuronal cortex structure

Answer 2

• membrane is 4mm thick
• 6 layers

Question 3

What are the 6 layers of the neuronal cortex of human brain?

Answer 3

1) Dura
2) CSF
3) Pial arteries (penetrating arteries and arterioles)
4) Glial cells + astrocytes
5) Neurones
6) Microglia

Question 4

What were the 2 theories that were formed related to the functionality of the brain?

Answer 4

1) Encephalocentric theory (Hippocrates):
- brain is interpreter of info
- processes and understands info
- in charge of emotional, moral and aesthetic command

2) Cardiocentric theory (Aristotle):
- “the brain is the cooling agent of the body”

Question 5

What is the White matter of the brain?

Answer 5

• butterfly structure
• (50%) made up of bundles of axon (nerve fibres) and myelinated structures of the neurone
• myelin gives the white matter its colour
• found in the subcortical (deeper) part of brain

Question 6

What is Grey matter?

Answer 6

• surrounds the white butterfly matter
• ## made up of te cell body + dendrites of neurones

Question 7

The function of grey matter:

Answer 7

• controls movement
• regulates emotions
• retains memories
• it conducts, PROCESSES info, and sends various signals to the body

Question 8

The function of the White matter:

Answer 8

• as the white matter connects the grey matter to other parts of the brain: it can be said that the WHITE MATTER COORDINATES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE BRAIN
• controls the distribution of action potentials
• learning
• interprets sensory information

Question 9

Basic brain cell structure?

Answer 9

• Cell body (contain nucleus, mitochondria, cytoplasm etc)
• Dendrites (receive signals + grows as we make memories)
• Axon (contains water/protons/H+, transmits signals)
• Axon Hillocks (gathers/sums up all the signals received –> if total sum up of signals is greater than threshold –> action potential is triggered –> finally signal can be sent away from cell body)
• Axon terminals (distribute the signals to neighboring neurons)
• Myelin sheath (surrounds axon - made up of mostly lipid and also protein)
• Synaptic end bulbs (at the end of axon terminals, holds the neurotransmitters)
• Node of Ranvier ( the points on the axons that are not myelinated)

Question 10

Pareidolia (face)

Answer 10

The ability of the brain to identify facial features like the eyes, mouth, and nose and associate inanimate objects with faces
- this means brain is hard wired

Question 11

The Stroop test?

Answer 11

• a neuropsychological test
• which shows that the brain is subconsciously wired to read
• forced attentionality to colour is dominated by the brains subconscious ability to read/recognise words
• recognising colour takes longer as its a conscious activity

Question 12

Body part sizes in proportion with the SA of brain that receives signal

Answer 12

• mouth/tongue enlarged in homunculus – we are verbal
• hands enlarged - we are tool makers
• we use these sensory organs the most

Question 13

Glioblastoma?

Answer 13

• cancerous mutation creates tumor in the brain
• uncontrollable division of glial cells
• highly infiltrative damage

Question 14

Haemorrhagic Stroke?

Answer 14

• blood vessels damaged
• bleeding in the brain
• blockage of arteries TO brain
• lack of O2 supply
• localised damage

Question 15

Hippocampal sclerosis?

Answer 15

• Hippocampus gets smaller

Problems:
- Alzheimers/ Dementia
- memory problems
- spacial coordination problems