lecture 3- Brain Function Flashcards
describe granular (stellate) cortical neurons
short axons, interneurons, both excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA)
describe fusiform cortical neurons
smaller output neurons
describe pyramidal cortical neurons
large output neurons
describe the 4th cerebral cortex layer
termination of most incoming specific sensory signals
describe the 5th and 6th cerebral cortical layers
origin of most output signals, fibers to thalamus from 6
describe the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cerebral cortex layers
intracortical association functions
describe primary motor cortical areas
direction connections with specific muscles
describe primary sensory cortical areas
detects specific sensations
describe secondary motor cortical areas
provide patterns of motor activity
describe secondary sensory cortical areas
analyze meanings of specific sensory signals
define association areas
receive and analyze signals simultaneously from multiple motor and sensory cortices
what are the sub-areas of the parieto-occipitotemporal association area
area for analysis of spatial coordinates, wernicke’s area, angular gyrus area, area for naming objects
describe the prefrontal association area
receives pro analyzes sensory info necessary for planning effective movements, output passes through caudate portion of basal ganglia,
carries out “thought” processes in the mind
describes Broca’s area
provides circuitry for word formation, works closely with wernicke’s area
what is the limbic association area concerned with
behavior, emotions and motivation
describe wernicke’s area
involved in language comprehension,
area where somatic, visual and auditory association areas all meet one another in the posterior part of the superior temporal lobe
where is the occipital portion of facial recognition area located
next to visual cortex
what is the temporal portion of the facial recognition area associated with
the limbic system
extensive damage to what area causes prosopagnosia
facial recognition area
what does cutting the corpus callosum result in
blocking of transfer of info from wernicke’s area to non dominant motor cortex,
prevention of the transfer of somatic and visual info from right hemisphere into wernicke’s area,
results in 2 entirely separate conscious portions of the brain
define declarative memory
memory of various details of an integrated though
what type of memories might be included in declarative memory
memory of: surroundings, time relationships, causes and meanings of experience, deduction as a result of experience
define reflexive (skill) memory
associated with motor activities
define short-term memory
exemplified by memory of a telephone number: lasts only as long as a person thinks of numbers or facts
intermediate long-term memory
lasts minutes to weeks; may become long term memory if memory traces are activated enough
what structural changes occur as a result of long-term memory formation
increase in vesicle release sites for secretion of transmitter substance, increase in number of transmitter vesicles released, increase in number of presynaptic terminals, changes in structures of the dendritic spines
