Lecture 3: Brain Function

Question 1

Granular cortical neurons

Answer 1

Short axons, interneurons, Both excitatory and inhibitory

Question 2

Fusiform cortical neurons

Answer 2

Smaller output neurons

Question 3

Pyramidal cortical neurons

Answer 3

Large output neurons

Question 4

Cortical Layer IV

Answer 4

Termination of most incoming specific sensory signals

Question 5

Cortical Layers V and VI

Answer 5

Origin of most output signals, fibers to thalamus from VI

Question 6

Cortical layers I, II, and III

Answer 6

Intracortical association functions

Question 7

What happens in the cerebral cortex when thalamic connections are cut?

Answer 7

Corresponding cortical areas become almost entirely lost

Question 8

Primary motor areas

Answer 8

Direct connections with specific muscles

Question 9

Primary sensory areas

Answer 9

Detect specific sensations

Question 10

Secondary motor areas

Answer 10

Provide patterns of motor acticity

Question 11

Secondary sensory areas

Answer 11

Analyze meanings of specific sensory signals

Question 12

Association areas

Answer 12

Receive and analyze signals almost simultaneously from multiple motor and sensory corticies

Question 13

Parieto-occipitotemporal association area

Answer 13

Includes area for analysis of spatial coordinates, Wernike’s area, Angular gyrus, Area for naming objects

Question 14

Prefrontal association area

Answer 14

Receives preanalyzed sensory information necessary for planning effective movements; “thought” processes

Question 15

Broca’s area

Answer 15

Circuitry for word formation, dominant on left side of brain

Question 16

Limbic association area

Answer 16

Concerned with behavior, emotions, motivation

Question 17

Wernike’s area

Answer 17

Language comprehension; located on left side in most right handed people; largely involved in intelligence

Question 18

Angular gyrus

Answer 18

Involved in language comprehension, memory, etc.

Question 19

What is the result of cutting the corpus callosum?

Answer 19

Blocking of transfer of information from Wernike’s area to nondominant motor cortex, prevention of transfer of somatic and visual information from right hemisphere to Wernike’s area; 2 entirely separate conscious portions of the brain

Question 20

Declarative memory

Answer 20

Memory of details of an integrated thought

Question 21

Reflexive memory

Answer 21

Associated with motor activities

Question 22

Facilitation

Answer 22

Increased synaptic activity in neurons

Question 23

What are some structural changes during long-term memory?

Answer 23

Increase in vesicle release sites for secretion of transmitter substance, increase in number of vesicles released, increased number of presynaptic terminals, change in dendritic spine structure