Lecture 3: Brain Function Flashcards
Granular cortical neurons
Short axons, interneurons, Both excitatory and inhibitory
Fusiform cortical neurons
Smaller output neurons
Pyramidal cortical neurons
Large output neurons
Cortical Layer IV
Termination of most incoming specific sensory signals
Cortical Layers V and VI
Origin of most output signals, fibers to thalamus from VI
Cortical layers I, II, and III
Intracortical association functions
What happens in the cerebral cortex when thalamic connections are cut?
Corresponding cortical areas become almost entirely lost
Primary motor areas
Direct connections with specific muscles
Primary sensory areas
Detect specific sensations
Secondary motor areas
Provide patterns of motor acticity
Secondary sensory areas
Analyze meanings of specific sensory signals
Association areas
Receive and analyze signals almost simultaneously from multiple motor and sensory corticies
Parieto-occipitotemporal association area
Includes area for analysis of spatial coordinates, Wernike’s area, Angular gyrus, Area for naming objects
Prefrontal association area
Receives preanalyzed sensory information necessary for planning effective movements; “thought” processes
Broca’s area
Circuitry for word formation, dominant on left side of brain
Limbic association area
Concerned with behavior, emotions, motivation
Wernike’s area
Language comprehension; located on left side in most right handed people; largely involved in intelligence
Angular gyrus
Involved in language comprehension, memory, etc.
What is the result of cutting the corpus callosum?
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
Declarative memory
Memory of details of an integrated thought
Reflexive memory
Associated with motor activities
Facilitation
Increased synaptic activity in neurons
What are some structural changes during long-term memory?
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
