Lec 21: Language, Memory & Sleep

Question 1

Antagonistic Interactions

Heart Rate
GI System
Respiratory System

Answer 1

PNS: slows down heart rate
SNS: accelerate heart rate

PNS: ↑ secretion, motility, blood flow; ↓constrictions
SNS: ↓ gastric acid production, digestive enzyme release, gallbladder function; ↑ insulin and glucose levels

PNS: ↓ Respiratory rate
SNS: ↑ Respiratory Rate

Question 2

Actions handled only by one branch of the ANS

SNS and Vascular Tone

No action for PNS

Answer 2

SNS is the effector of neurogenic control of vascular tone, inducing mainly vasoconstriction of small resistance arteries

Question 3

Actions handled only by one branch of the ANS

PNS and Heart

Answer 3

At rest, has a tonic slowing effect on the heart at the level of the sinoatrial nod

Question 4

SNS regulation only

Answer 4

adrenal medulla, sweat glands, arrector pili
muscles of hair follicles, kidneys, most blood vessels, hermoregulatory responses to heat, renin release from kidneys

Question 5

Metabolic effects

Answer 5

(i) increases metabolic rate of body cells
(ii) raises blood glucose levels
(iii) stimulates mobilization of fats
(iv) increases mental alertness
(v) increases speed/strength of muscle contraction

Question 6

Neurotransmitters and Receptors

Acetylcholine

Answer 6

plays a role in memory, learning, attention, arousal and involuntary muscle movement

Medical conditions associated with low acetylcholine levels include Alzheimer’s disease and myasthenia gravis

Question 7

Neurotransmitters and Receptors

Nicotinic Receptors

Answer 7

found on all ganglionic neurons of both the SNS and PNS and the hormone- producing cells of the adrenal medulla

ACh binding to nicotinic receptors is always stimulatory

Question 8

Muscarinic Receptors

Answer 8

On all effector cells innervated by postganglionic cholinergic fibers

Depends on the subclass of receptor as to whether the effect of ACh
binding is stimulatory or inhibitory

Question 9

Norepinephrine

Answer 9

• Adrenergic receptors; NE is released only by postganglionic fibers of SNS
• 2 major types: alpha (α) and beta (β)
• Effects can be stimulatory or inhibitory depending on receptor subtype and organ

Question 10

REMEMBER

Hypothalamus

Answer 10

> anterior regions are parasympathetic
posterior area is sympathetic

Question 11

How are ANS and Hypothalamus related

Answer 11

contains centres to coordinate heart
activity, blood pressure, body temp, water balance,endocrine activity; also centres that help mediate emotions & biological drives

Question 12

Language

Answer 12

involves almost all of the association cortex on the left side of the brain in some way

Broca-Wernicke loop is also functional in individuals who are deaf
and use sign language

Question 13

Damage to Broca’s area

Answer 13

can understand language but have
difficulty speaking, possibly also with writing and sign language

Question 14

Damage to Wernicke’s area

Answer 14

can speak but speech is often a “word
salad” and they have trouble understanding language as well

Question 15

Paul Broca

Answer 15

In 1861 when autopsying brain of
a patient who could understand spoken language but could not communicate by
speaking or writing, PB identified area of
lesion.

Question 16

Carl Wernicke

Answer 16

In 1871,CW identified area of lesion found in
brains of people who could speak but whose
speech was often incoherent, didn’t make sense.

Question 17

Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas interact with ___ and function

Answer 17

basal nuclei in order to
create a language implementation system that analyzes both incoming and outgoing word sounds as well as grammatical structures

Question 18

Right side

Answer 18

body language, gestures, tone of voice and emotional context of speech

Question 19

Memory

Answer 19

• the storage and retrieval of information
• need memories so we can learn, so we can adjust behaviour based on experience

Question 20

Different kinds of memory

Answer 20

1. Declarative (fact-based) memory: names, faces, words, dates
2. Procedural (skill-based) memory: playing an instrument, typing on a keyboard
3. Motor memory: e.g. riding a bike
4. Emotional memory: e.g. fear when you hear what sounds like a shotgun

Question 21

Declarative Memory

Answer 21

2 stages:
* short-term (working) memory – temporary (15-30 sec) holding bin; limited to 7-8
chunks
* long-term memory (storage) – limitless capacity but can forget things with time

Question 22

The Process

Answer 22

we may or may not choose to
transfer that to LTM – this is
influenced by:
* emotional state – helped by
release of NE
* rehearsal
* association
* and some it just happens
automatically

Question 23

Consolidation

Answer 23

involves considerable passing information from various cortical areas through the hippocampus; the hippocampus sorts them by
comparing with previous recorded ones, creates associations and then sends them back to be stored as memory traces

Question 24

Skill memory

Answer 24

involves motor activity and is acquired through practice; involves communication between the basal nuclei and the premotor cortex
as well as release of dopamine by the substantia nigra; results are automatic connections between a stimulus and a motor response

Question 25

Mechanisms of Memory

Answer 25

• neuronal RNA content is altered
• dendritic spines change shape
• extracellular proteins deposited at synapses involved in LTM
• number and size of presynaptic terminals may increase
• more NT is released by presynaptic neurons
• new hippocampal neurons appea

Question 26

Four Types of Brain Waves

Answer 26

1. Alpha waves: (8-13 Hz)
2. Beta waves: (14-30 Hz)
3. Theta waves: (4-7 Hz)
4. Delta waves: (4 Hz or less)

Question 27

Alpha Waves

Answer 27

waves are regular and rhythmic; a brain that is “idling”

Question 28

Beta Waves

Answer 28

waves also rhythmic but less regular and higher frequency; mentally alert, concentrating on something

Question 29

Theta Waves

Answer 29

more irregular; common in children but rare in adults; seen sometimes when concentrating

Question 30

Delta Waves

Answer 30

high amplitude waves characteristic of deep sleep and when RAS is suppressed (e.g. during anaesthesia); if seen in an awake
adult, are indicative of brain damage

Question 31

Consciousness

Answer 31

encompasses perception of sensations, voluntary initiation and control of
movement, and capabilities associated with higher mental processing (memory,
logic, judgement, perseverance, and so on)

Question 32

4 levels of Consciousness

Answer 32

1. alertness
2. drowsiness or lethargy
3. stupor
4. coma

Question 33

Sleep and Sleep-Awake Cycles

Answer 33

Question 34

Sleep and Sleep-Awake Cycles (explained)

Answer 34

Question 35

Sleep Disorders

Narcolepsy

Answer 35

sudden lapsing into
sleep from the awake state at any time
of day; also extreme daytime
sleepiness; suggested to be an
autoimmune disease in which
hypothalamic orexins are destroyed by
the immune system

Question 36

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia

Answer 36

chronic inability to obtain
sufficient sleep/sleep quality (usually 7-
8 hours for adults); can result from
anxiety, depression, overuse of
caffeine, using screens close to
bedtime

Question 37

Sleep Disorders

Sleep Apnea

Answer 37

temporary cessation of breathing during sleep – often due to muscle relaxation and obstruction of air pathway