MODULE 15 Flashcards
what are the 7 functions of cognition?
- attention
- memory
- executive functions (planning, problem solving, self-monitoring, self-awareness, & meta-cognition)
- comprehension of speech & lang
- visual perception
- praxis (motor planning)
what is metacognition?
“thinking about thinking” - higher order thinking which enables understanding, analysis, and control of one’s cognitive processes
“thinking about others thinking” - allows us to predict and reflect on the thinking of others
what is functional cognition?
how an individual utilizes/integrates their thinking and processing skills in order to accomplish everyday activities
Name and briefly describe the 3 types of fibers found in the cortex:
- projection fibers (ascending and descending) - these fibers connect cortical and subcortical structures; aka all of the tracts we have learned ab
- callosal/commissural fibers - connect bilateral brain structures (like the corpus callosum)
- association/cortico-cortical fibers - fibers connecting gyri within the same hemisphere; 2 types:
- short: connect intra-lobular gyri
- long: connect inter-lobular gyri
List the 6 layers of the neocortex
Please Excuse Grandma. Ecstasy Pills “I Gave” In Private Metabolized Fast
I: plexiform
II: external granular
III: external pyramidal
IV: internal granular (“I Gave = input zone!)
V: internal pyramidal (output zone!)
VI: muliform layer
which layer of the neocortex gives rise to projection fibers?
layer IV (input zone) – makes sense bc projection fibers bring in input from subcortical structures
which layer of the neocortex gives rise to association (cortico-cortical) fibers?
II and III
describe granule cells vs pyramidal cells
granule cells are interneurons (help disseminate incoming information) that have shorter axons and remain within the cortex
pyramidal cells have long axons that project out of the cortex
describe the cytoarchitecture of the cortex:
homotypical: all 6 layers of the neocortex are clearly represented
heterotypical - layers vary in thickness; 2 types:
- granular heterotypical cortex = thick layer IV (input zone) and thin layer V (output zone)
- agranular cortex = thick layer V (output zone) and thin layer IV (input zone)
give an example of an area that is considered to be heterotypical granular cortex
Primary sensory cortex (lots of sensory info coming IN, want more granular cells to disseminate info)
give an example of an area that is considered to be heterotypical agranular cortex
primary motor cortex (lots of info sent OUT, want more pyramidal cells that project to subcortical structures to execute motor plans)
what are the 4 functional categories of the cerebral cortex?
- motor
- primary sensory
- unimodal association
- multimodal association
what are the 3 motor areas of the cortex?
- PMC
- PreMC
- SMA
list the 4 primary areas of the cortex
- primary motor cortex
- primary somatosensory cortex
- primary visual cortex
- primary auditory cortex
what is unimodal association? where are unimodal association areas located?
info is processed in a primary region and conveyed to association areas via cortico-cortical fibers to integrate basic info from primary areas w context and info from other areas to generate an overall perception
aunimodal association areas are loc adjacent to primary areas
list and briefly describe the 3 unimodal association cortices
- visual association cortex: integrates basic elements of visual perception into an overall perception of the visual world
- somatosensory association cortex: integrates somatosensory information into an overall perception of the body
- auditory association cortex: integrates basic elements of auditory sensation into an overall perception of auditory information
what is multimodal association?
larger areas of the cortex that receive info from many sensory modalities to create a broader, more complete understanding of ourselves/out env
what are the 5 functions of multimodal association?
- arousal and attention
- language
- visuospatial relations
- praxis (motor control)
- executive functions
Generally describe hemispheric lateralization
right brain –> big picture, explains context
left brain –> detail-oriented
list the specific lateralized functions of the left hemisphere:
- process sensory stimuli from RIGHT side of body
- motor control of RIGHT side of body
- speech, lang, and comprehension
- analysis and calculations
- time and sequencing
- recognition of words, letters, and numbers
list the specific lateralized functions of the right hemisphere:
- sensory stimulus from LEFT side of body
- motor control of LEFT side of body
- creativity
- spatial ability
- context/perception
- recognition of faces, places, and objects
which 5 functions are left hemisphere dominant?
- praxis (coordination of movement)
- comprehension
- speech
- verbal memory
- contralateral motor and sensory control
which 6 functions are right hemisphere dominant?
- attention/orientation
- emotions
- visuospatial processing
- musical ability
- visual and tactile memory
- contralateral motor and sensory control
what is the first step of attention? what mediates this step?
arousal/alertness, mediated by the reticular activating system
list and describe the 5 different types of attention:
- attentional capture: automatic or reflexive orienting to a stimulus
- selective attention: goal-oriented focus, able to ignore extraneous stimuli
- sustained attention: ability to keep focus over time (vigilance)
- divided attention: ability to perform 2 or more tasks or process stimuli from more than one source at the same time
- alternating attention: rapid switching bw tasks/skills/cognitive sets
What general areas of the brain are thought to be important for mediating attention?
frontal and parietal association areas
what specific areas are thought to be important for mediating attention, and what role do they play?
increased activity in ACC, RIGHT dlPFC, PFC, and right parietal cortex
REMEMBER: attention is right side dominant
*if ur giving me attention, u are in ur right mind (literally) (lol)
Where are expressive language functions localized in the cortex?
Broca’s area (LEFT inferior frontal gyrus)
*broca → boca (mouth, in spanish) → use mouth to speak → language expression)
*REMEMBER: Language is Left hemisphere dominant
Where are receptive language functions localized in the cortex?
Wernicke’s area (LEFT inferior parietal lobe and posterior temporal gyrus)
*REMEMBER: Language is Left hemisphere dominant
what cortical structures are involved in the processing of language that allow us to repeat a heard word?
Primary auditory cortex* –>
wernickes (left inferior parietal/posterior temporal gyri)–>
Sent thru arcuate fasciculus to Brocas (left inferior frontal gyrus)–>
primary motor cortex (posterior frontal)
what cortical structures are involved in the processing of language that allow us to speak a written word?
primary visual cortex* –>
wernickes (left inferior parietal/posterior temporal gyri)–>
Sent thru arcuate fasciculus to Brocas (left inferior frontal gyrus)–>
primary motor cortex (posterior frontal)
list the 4 types of aphasia
- fluent
- non-fluent
- conduction
- global
describe fluent aphasia
“receptive aphasia”
wernickes
damage to comprehension language functions –> speak fluently, but make no sense
list some of the clinical presentations of fluent aphasia
agraphia (impairments in writing)
alexia (inability to read)
clear speech, normal prosody, but unintelligible content
impaired awareness of deficit
describe non-fluent aphasia
“expressive aphasia”
broca’s
damage to speech language functions –>
understand what is said to them and what they want to say, but cannot express it
list some of the clinical presentations of non-fluent aphasia
Might still be able to get key words out, but the grammar is off
Might have problems with repeating words
Might have agraphia (impairments in writing)
Usually able to understand spoken and written words
These patients are usually aware of the deficits – they can UNDERSTAND they are not saying what they want to say, frequently frustrated by the deficit
describe conduction aphasia
disruption of the arcuate fasciculus which connects wernickes and brocas
spontaneous expression is intact and comprehension is functional, but have trouble repeating phrases or translating/interpreting what they have heard into an appropriate reply
describe global aphasia
damage to both Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, usually due to occlusion of the internal carotid artery
left hemispheric damage
Loss of virtually all language
May be able to use some gestures
what are the 2 types of apraxia
ideomotor and ideational
describe ideomotor apraxia and ADL impairments
loss of motor planning ability so that tasks cannot be performed but idea is present (ideation = in tact)
- performance problem; patients struggle w timing, sequence, amplitude, configuration, proprioception
Clumsy movement patterns
Difficulty readjusting arm/hand when crossing midline
Impaired manipulation
Awkward grasp patterns
Gross mobility impaired secondary to axial involvement (i.e. bed mobility)
describe ideational apraxia and ADL impairments
inability to coordinate activities w multiple sequential steps or movements
- conceptual problem; patients may be able to name a tool or verbally tell you what a tool is used for, but do not know what to do w it
Using razor to brush teeth
Eating egg w the shell
Lathering skin lotion into hair
Eating soap
Performance latency (delay in network communication)
Does not perform
what are ADL impairment examples for visuospatial relations dysfunction?
Can’t locate scissors in a cluttered drawer
Misjudges distance when placing toothbrush under running water.
Can’t orient shirt to self
Can’t find sleeve in a monochromatic shirt
Spills milk when pouring from container
Misjudges height of curb
