Lecture 13: Higher-Order Cerebral Function Flashcards
What is the neuroanatomical reason behind the presence of handedness?
- highly skilled complex motor tasks are programmed by dominant hemisphere
Where are language centers found in the brain?
predominantly on the left hemisphere
Do language centers vary at all between individuals?
- yes
- left hemisphere is dominant for language in over 95% of right-handers and 60-70% of left handers
- bi-lateral language representation in many left handers
Where is Broca’s Area located? What is its function?
- left lateral side of frontal lobe
- give ability to speak words - motor output
Where is Wernicke’s Area located? What is its function?
- left lateral temporal lobe right below Sylvian/lateral fissure
- speech comprehension, words making sense when speaking
How are Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas connected?
bi-directional arcuate fasciculus
What is the role of the Frontal Lobes during language processing?
- Higher-order motor aspects of speech formation, planning
- Syntax – arrange words/phrases into a language so that it makes sense
What is the role of the supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus during language processing?
- parietal and temporal lobes
- lexicon (VOCAB)
- writing
What is the role of the visual cortex and visual association cortex during language processing?
reading - visual input goes to occipital lobe, then processed by visual association cortex, then connects with supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus to help interpret what we are reading
What is the role of the non-dominant hemisphere during language processing?
- affective elements of speech
- can tell tone of voice (happy vs sad)
What is the role of the thalamus and basal ganglia during language processing?
thalamus - relay station for connections
basal ganglia - initiation and execution of movement for speech
What is aphasia?
- impairment of language production or reception or both
- due to physiological or cognitive disruption or both
What are common impairments associated with aphasia as a whole?
- trouble speaking clearly
- trouble understanding speech
- trouble writing clearly
- trouble understanding written words
- trouble remembering words
- trouble remembering object names
Describe characteristics of Broca’s Aphasia
- lose motor output of our speech - very effortful speech
- impaired language production
- aware of deficits
Describe characteristics of Wernicke’s Aphasia
- lose comprehension of speech
- can’t understand what you say to them and talk gibberish because they can’t form correct order of words they want to say
- unaware of deficits
Describe characteristics of Global Aphasia
have both Broca’s and Wernicke’s Aphasia
Define alexia
impairment in reading ability
How might alexia present when alongside Broca’s aphasia?
the patient will have difficulty reading out loud but they can read quietly to themselves
How might alexia present alongside Wernicke’s aphasia?
the patient will talk gibberish when reading out loud and can not understand what they are reading
Define agraphia
impairment in writing ability
How might agraphia present alongside Broca’s aphasia?
writing will be very labored, sparse, break down before finishing word they are trying to write
How might agraphia present alongside Wernicke’s aphasia?
the patient will write something totally off in left field
What is meant by the idea of perception? How does our brain perceive information?
- perceiving is the capacity to transform info from the senses and use it to interact appropriately to the environment
- perception is dictated by past experience, memory, problem solving, etc.
What is body scheme? How does it differ from body image?
- postural model of body
- How my body relates to itself and how my body relates to the rest of the environment and how its experiencing itself within the environment
- body image is just the visual and mental image of one’s body