L3 T1 cerebral cortex organization and function

Question 1

What are three types of cortical neurons?

Answer 1

Granular (stellate), fusiform, and pyramidal.

Question 2

What is true of granular (stellate) cortical neurons?

Answer 2

They have short axons, they tend to function as interneurons, and are both excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA).

Question 3

What is true of fusiform cortical neurons?

Answer 3

They are smaller output neurons

Question 4

What is true of pyramidal cortical neurons?

Answer 4

They are larger output neurons

Question 5

What is significant about layer IV (4) of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 5

Termination of most incoming specific sensory signals.

Question 6

What is significant about layers V (5) and VI (6) of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 6

Origin of most output signals.

Fibers to thalamus from VI (6).

Question 7

What is significant about layers I, II, and III of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 7

intracortical association functions.

Question 8

What occurs if thalamic connections are cut?

Answer 8

The functions of the corresponding cortical areas become almost lost entirely.

Question 9

What is the function of the primary motor area?

Answer 9

direct connections with specific muscles.

Question 10

What is the function of the primary sensory area?

Answer 10

detect specific sensation

Question 11

What is the function of the secondary motor area?

Answer 11

provide patterns of motor activity

Question 12

What is the function of the secondary sensory area?

Answer 12

analyze meanings of specific sensory signals

Question 13

What are the functions of the association areas in the brain?

Answer 13

Receive and analyze signals simultaneously from multiple motor and sensory cortices

Question 14

What are the association areas in the brain?

Answer 14

Parieto-occipitotemporal aa, prefrontal aa, limbic aa, Broca’s area, and Wenicke’s area.

Question 15

What is the subareas/function of the parieto-occipitotemporal aa?

Answer 15

area for analysis of spatial coordinates, Wernicke’s area, angular gyrus area, area for naming objects

Question 16

What is the function of the prefrontal aa?

Answer 16

• receives preanalyzed sensory info (esp for spatial coordinates) necessary for planning effective movements
• output passes through caudate portion of basal ganglia
• carries out “thought” processes in the mind

Question 17

What is the function of the limbic aa?

Answer 17

concerned with behavior, emotions, and motivation

Question 18

What is the function of Broca’s area?

Answer 18

• provides circuitry for word formation
• works closely with Wernicke’s area
• almost always dominant on left side of brain

Question 19

What is the function of Wernicke’s area

Answer 19

Language comprehension

Question 20

What association area plays the single greatest role of any part of the cerebral cortex for intelligence?

Answer 20

Wernicke’s area

Question 21

Activation of what association area may be able to call forth complicated memory patterns involving more than one sensory modality?

Answer 21

Activated Wernicke’s area