Lecture 5: The association cortices

Question 1

Which hormones help with brain modulation via the brainstem?

Answer 1

Dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), noradrenaline (NA)

Question 2

What are the top 3 association cortices?

Answer 2

Parietal, temporal, frontal

Question 3

Which cortices lay ipsilateral to each other?

Answer 3

sensory, motor and association cortex

Question 4

Which cortical connections make interhemispheric connections possible?
(communication between the 2 hemispheres)

Answer 4

Subcortical and cortical connections

Question 5

What kind of information comes from the thalamus?

Answer 5

• Non-sensory information:
  From pulvinar to parietal lobe
  and medial dorsal to frontal
  lobe
• Sensory information that has already been processed by primary sensory and motor areas

Question 6

What is the output of the association cortices?

Answer 6

• Layer 2 & 3: other cortical ares (ipsi & contralateral)
• Layer 5: subcorticala structures (striatum, superior colliculus)
• Layer 6: Thalamus <3

Question 7

What is a neuro-technique in which you can make the internal fibrous structure of the brain visible?

Answer 7

DTI

Question 8

What happens in a unilateral parietal cortex lesion?

Answer 8

Makes person unaware of what half of your living space is
! Depends on location and size of lesion

Question 9

What is synesthesia?

Answer 9

Phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory/cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in another.
- Involves blending/crossing of the senses where stimulation in one sensory modality triggers a perception in a complete different sensory modality.

Question 10

What codes the temporal association cortex for and what are the 3 specialized areas for recognition of objects?

Answer 10

The temporal asssociation cortex codes for ‘WHAT’ the object is:
Specifically neurons in the inferior temporal cortex
- Parahippocampus: geographical locations and landmarks
- Fusiform gyrus: body shapes
- Fusiform gyrus/face area: faces

Question 11

What is visual agnosia?

Answer 11

A person can acknowledge the presence of a stimulus but is unable to report what it is.
- There is a lesion in the ‘WHAT’ area but fusiform gyrus is intact –> no object recognition, intact face recognition

Question 12

1. Dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex
2. Oribito-frontal prefrontal cortex
3. Ventro-medial prefrontal cortex
4. Anterio Cingulate cortex

What are the 4 important frontal area and their function:

Answer 12

1. Conscious choice in attention and thought
2. Inhibition of behaviour: The choice NOT to do something
3. Emotional and social control
4. Behavioral evaluation: What did I do and is that what I anticipated.

Question 13

What is the Wisconsin card sorting test used for?

Answer 13

To evaluate a person’s executive functions: Assess the cognitive flexibility and problem solving abilities
–> Frontal association cortex