Lecture 9: The Cerebral Cortex Flashcards
(TL) What are the Temporal Lobes?
The lateral portions of each hemisphere. Both temporal lobes are connected to other lobes, sensory systems, limbic system and Basal Gangia
(TL) What are the 3 functions of the Temporal Lobes?
Memory, emotion and mood, auditory and some visual perception
(TL-Memory) What part of the brain is crucial for memory?
Hippocampus
(TL-Memory) What is the case study used for memory?
HM - surgery for epilepsy. Hippocampus damaged. Unable to make new memories but STM undamaged
(TL-E+M) What is the role of the Amydgala in Emotion and Mood?
Involved in emotional processing. Activated in response to emotional stimuli. Damage often results in inability to show appropriate responses and recognising emotions in others
(TL-A+VP) What does Auditory and Visual Perception focus on?
Attention on relevant auditory info, perception of music and speech.
(TL-A+VP) What is Wernicke’s Aphasia?
Inability to understand words and arrange them
(FL) What are the Frontal Lobes?
They are extended from the Central Sulcus and cover anterior of brain
(FL) What are the Key areas of the Frontal Lobes?
Primary Motor Cortex
Premotor Cortex
Frontal Cortex and Prefrontal
Broca’s Area
(FL) What is Broca’s Area?
Treated patient who lost ability to speak fluently but understood speech. Autopsy revealed damage localised in left hemisphere of frontal cortex (Broca’s area)
(FL) What is Broca’s Aphasia?
Damage results in Broca’s aphasia. Slow deliberate speech that is not fluent. But comprehension of speech can be unimpaired
(FL) How is the Motor Cortex divided?
Divided into sections. Each section is responsible for movement of different body areas through neuronal connections
(FL) What is the Movement Control?
It is mostly Contralateral (opposite side of body to brain area)
(FL) How big is the Prefrontal Cortex?
Covers 1/3 of the frontal lobes
(FL) What are the roles of the prefrontal cortex?
Mostly involved in higher order processes.
- Planning and Evaluation
- Event Monitoring
- Monitoring Emotions
- Working Memory (retaining info for short periods of time)
(FL) What is an example of accidental damage to the prefrontal cortex?
Phineas Gage
(FL) What is intentional damage to the prefrontal cortex?
Prefrontal lobotomies - surgical disconnection of the PFC
Rationale - lobotomised primates became tamer with fewer side effects. Applied the same to humans with range of psychiatric problems
(FL) What are the results to damage of the PFC?
It calmed people down (not as much as hoped)
But, loss of social inhibitions and emotional expression, increased apathy, problems with working memory, unable to plan
How many layers is the Cerebral Cortex made up of?
6 layers (laminae)
What is Laminae?
It varies in thickness and prominence in different parts of the cortex depending on purpose
What is Laminae 5?
Relates to muscle control. It is thickest in Motor Cortex
What is Laminae 4?
Relates to the senses. It is thickest in sensory cortex. Extremely thin in motor cortex where less functional.
How are the Laminae stacked?
In columns. Cells that perform similar functions are arranged in same column. So all cells in a particular column respond to same stimuli
What are Macro-Columns?
General functions
What are Micro-Columns?
More specific functions
What is the cortex divisions based on?
Thickness of the laminaes and the structure of cells within each laminae. Structures can then be related to brain functions and behaviours.
(OL) What are the Occipital Lobes?
The most posterior part of the cortex. Compromises the primary visual cortex.
(OL) What can destruction of the striate cortex cause?
Cortica blindness in related part of visual field (left damaged = right blindness)
(PL) Where are the Parietal Lobes?
Lie between the Occipital lobe and central sulcus
(PL) What do the Parietal Lobes involve?
Sensation and Perception
(PL) What is sensation?
It is contralateral. The right hemisphere contains sensroy info for the left body and vice versa
(PL) What can damage to the Parietal Lobes cause?
- Deficits in the tactile function
- Disorders of body image
- Right-left confusion
- Problems with spatial ability
- Sensory neglect
(PL) What is the Somatosensory Cortex?
Areas of the somatosensory cortex correspond to senses in different parts of the body
