L9 - Higher cortical functions

Question 1

Inputs to the cerebral cortex

Answer 1

Mainly from the thalamus

Also from the cortex itself

Question 2

Pyramidal cells

Answer 2

Many dendrites as many synapses 
Outputs to the cortex itself, tracts to:
- brainstem 
- spinal cord 
- cerebellum 
- basal ganglia

Question 3

Frontal lobe functions

Answer 3

Motor function - primary motor cortex
Speech production - Broca’s area
Behavioural regulation or judgement
Cognition
Eye movements - contains the occulomotor nuclei
Continence - contains UMNs that supply external anal/urinary sphincters

Question 4

Parietal lobe functions

Answer 4

Sensory - primary sensory cortex
Understanding speech - wernicke’s area in left hemisphere
Body image - left hemisphere controls right side
Awareness of external environment (attention)
Calculation and writing
Superior optic radiations project through the white matter

Question 5

Hemisensory neglect

Answer 5

Not aware of other side of body

E.g lesion in right parietal lobe - not aware of left side of body therefore shave only on right side of face

Question 6

Temporal lobe functions

Answer 6

Hearing - primary auditory cortex 
Olfaction - primary olfactory cortex 
Memory - hippocampus 
Emotion 
Inferior optic radiations project through the white matter

Question 7

Concept cells and boundary cells

Answer 7

Concept cells

• unique to humans
• stimulated by concepts
• concept neurone for each person known

Boundary cells

• geographical awareness
• stimulates e.g. by getting to close to a wall

Question 8

Left hemisphere dominance

Answer 8

Sequential processing e.g.

• language
• mathematics and logic

Dominant in 95% of people

Question 9

Right hemisphere dominance

Answer 9

Whole picture processing

• body image
• visuospatial awareness
• emotion
• music

Question 10

Left hemisphere damage

Answer 10

The right hemisphere attends to both halves of space but the left hemisphere only attends to the right half of space therefore the right hand side awareness can still be intact as the right hemisphere compensates

Question 11

Corpus callosum

Answer 11

Bundle of white matter connecting the two hemispheres
Supplied by the anterior cerebral artery
Lesion can cause alien hand syndrome

Question 12

Where are language pathways?

Answer 12

Primarily in the dominant left hemisphere (95% people)

Question 13

Where is the Broca’s area situated?

Answer 13

Inferior lateral frontal lobe in the left hemisphere
In close proximity to the pre central gyrus (primary motor cortex) as can send impulses to instruct the correct muscle contractions for speech

Question 14

What does the Broca’s area do?

Answer 14

Controls speech production

Question 15

Wernicke’s area location

Answer 15

Left hemisphere
Superior temporal lobe in the junction between the parietal and temporal lobe
Close proximity to the primary auditory cortex

Question 16

Function of Wernicke’s area

Answer 16

Speech comprehension

Question 17

Arcuate fasciculus

Answer 17

Region of white matter tracts that connect the Wernicke’s area to the Broca’s area

Question 18

Pathway for repeating a heard word

Answer 18

1. The primary auditory cortex in the superior temporal lobe sends imputes to the Wernicke’s area
2. The Wernicke’s area translates vibrations from the cochlear into language
3. The Wernicke’s area sends impulses via the arcuate fasciculus to the Broca’s area
4. The Broca’s area communicates with the primary motor cortex to instruct the right sequence of muscle contractions for speech

Question 19

Pathway for speaking a written word

Answer 19

1. The primary visual cortex sends impulses to the Wernicke’s area
2. The Wernicke’s area translates the pattern of words into language
3. The Wernicke’s area sends impulses to the Broca’s area via the arcuate fasciculus
4. The Broca’s area sends impulses to the primary motor cortex to control the sequence of muscle contractions for speech

Question 20

Pathway for speaking a thought

Answer 20

1. Inputs from all over the cortex are sent to the Wernicke’s area
2. The Wernicke’s area translates thoughts into language and sends the impulses to the Broca’s area via the arcuate fasciculus
3. The Broca’s area sends impulses to the primary motor cortex for speech

Question 21

Wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 21

Wernicke’s area damaged - speech does not make sense
Broca’s area intact - can produce speech correctly

• are not distressed

Question 22

Broca’s area

Answer 22

Broca’s area damaged - can not produce speech properly
Wernicke’s area intact- does make sense

• distressed as understand that speech is not correct

Question 23

Classification of memory

Answer 23

Declarative: explicit:
- facts

Nondeclarative: implicit

• motor skills - behaviours
• emotions

Question 24

Where are memories stored

Answer 24

Memories are distributed throughout the brain

Explicit - cerebral hemispheres

Implicit - cerebellum and basal ganglia

Question 25

Learning new skills

Answer 25

Majority of the memories are in the cerebral cortex as are using the primary motor cortex and primary sensory cortex

As the skill is learnt, the memories are transferred to the cerebellum for automaticity so recall is more rapid

Question 26

How are memories stored

Answer 26

1. First in short term memory
2. Consolidated and rehearsed into long term memory
3. Depends on emotion, rehearsal and association

Question 27

Hippocampus

Answer 27

Consolidates declarative memories

Receives inputs from all over the brain e.g visual and auditory system and converges them to make associations

Question 28

Where is the hippocampus

Answer 28

Deep in the temporal lobe

Question 29

Neuroplasticity and memory

Answer 29

Long term potentiation can strengthen synaptic connections therefore making memories