Lecture 32- The Brain II Flashcards
What does the diencephalon consist of?
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Thalamus
Mediates sensation, motor activities,cortical arousal, learning and memory
acts as a relay station to conduct sensory impulses to the primary sensory areas of the cerebral cortex and transmits motor information from the cerebellum and basal nuclei to the primary motor area of the cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
Control centre of the body regulating autonomic nervous system activity
initiates physical responses to emotions, and regulates body temperature, food intake, water balance, thirst, sleep-wake cycles, and endocrine function.
It is the integration centre of the autonomic nervous system.
Regulates pituitary gland and produces oxytocin and anti diuretic hormone
What does brain stem consist of?
Midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata
Midbrain structures
cerebral peduncles, which contain pyramidal (corticospinal) motor tracts that descend toward the spinal cord.
Also within the midbrain are the corpora quadrigemina, which control visual and auditory startle behaviours.
Pons
contains fibre pathways between the brain and spinal cord, as well as giving rise to some cranial nerves, and contains some important nuclei, one that helps control breathing
Medulla oblongata
the location of the medullary pyramids, which act as crossover points for corticospinal motor tracts, resulting in the contralateral control of voluntary movements.
It also houses neurons controlling vital functions such as cardiac and respiratory rate.
Cerebellum
Second largest area of the brain
Adjusts motor output,ensuring coordination and balance
processes inputs from several structures and coordinates skeletal muscle contraction to produce smooth movement.
may also play a role in thinking, language, and emotion.
What does the cerebellum consist of?
Anterior and posterior lobes coordinate body movements, and the flocculonodular lobes adjust posture to maintain balance.
Three paired fibre tracts, the cerebellar peduncles, communicate between the cerebellum and the brain stem.
Grey matter is located in outer cortex (folia) and in deeper nuclei. White matter tracts are called arbor vitae
Limbic system
involved with emotions and is extensively connected throughout the brain, allowing it to integrate and respond to a wide variety of stimuli.
Reticular activating system
extends through the brain stem and keeps the cortex alert while suppressing familiar, repetitive, or weak sensory inputs. 99% of sensory input is not relayed to consciousness.
Ignores repeated and irrelevant things
Broca’s area and wernickes area
ability to both speak and understand language is produced in these areas
Memory
Storage and retrieval of info
Declarative memory (two stages)
Fact based
Two stages:
Short term memory- allows the memorization of a few units of information for a short period of time.
Long term memory- allows the memorization of potentially limitless amounts of information
for very long periods.
How can declarative memory be affected?
emotional state (best if alert, motivated, excited or surprised), rehearsal, association of new information with old, or the automatic formation of memory while concentrating on something else.
