N8- Cerebral cortex and thalamus

Question 1

What is the role of cerebral cortex?

Answer 1

regional specialisation of function

Question 2

what is the role of the thalamus?

Answer 2

relay and integration en-route to cortex

Question 3

what is the basic cytoarchitecture of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 3

consists of neuronal cell bodies, axons and dendrites, arranged in layers (along with supporting glial cells)

Question 4

what are the 2 basic types of the cortex?

Answer 4

• allocortex

- neocortex

Question 5

Describe allocortex.

Answer 5

evolutionarily older and is only found in a small part of the brain

Question 6

Describe the neocortex.

Answer 6

consists of 6 layers of cells, although the layers are more obvious in some areas than others

Question 7

What are the 6 layers of the neocortex?

Answer 7

1- molecular layer
2- external granular layer
3- external pyramidal cell layer
4-internal granular layer
5-ganglionic layer (internal pyramidal cells)
6- multiform (polymorphic) cel layer

Question 8

Describe the molecular layer.

Answer 8

Few cells. Mostly horizontally arranged axons and dendrites of afferents, intercortical neurons and apical dendrites of pyramidal cells

Question 9

why is the molecular layer named?

Answer 9

The many processes make It look punctuate

Question 10

what are the input layers of the neocortex?

Answer 10

• external granular layer (local)

- internal granular layer (thalamus)

Question 11

What are the two output layers of the neocortex?

Answer 11

• external pyramidal layer (local)

- ganglionic layer (internal pyramidal cells) (BS/spinal cord)

Question 12

what are the 2 classes of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 12

• Primary cortex

- Association cortex

Question 13

Describe the primary cortex.

Answer 13

Exit (motor) and entry points (sensory)

Question 14

Describe the association cortex.

Answer 14

integration, complex

processing adjacent to primary (takes information and analyses it from the primary cortex)

Question 15

Describe the Brodmann’s areas.

Answer 15

Brodmann’s map divides the cortex into numbered areas based on subtle differences in the cytoarchitecture of the cortex

Question 16

What does the cytoarchitecture of each area in the brodmanns map link to?

Answer 16

Specific function

Question 17

What Brodmanns area is the primary visual cortex found>

Answer 17

17

Question 18

where does the primary motor area sit?

Answer 18

in pre central gyrus

Question 19

what does the primary motor area control?

Answer 19

More direct control of motor activity than other motor areas - force, direction and speed of muscle contraction

Question 20

what activates the primary motor cortex?

Answer 20

simple movement

Question 21

What is involved in planning complex tasks?

Answer 21

supplementary motor area

Question 22

Describe carrying out a complex movement.

Answer 22

Carry out a complex movement, both the primary and supplementary motor areas are activated

Question 23

How is the supplementary motor area activated alone?

Answer 23

Just rehearse in your mind carrying out a complex movement

Question 24

What is the role of the premotor cortex?

Answer 24

Preparation for action - posture and gait

integration of spatial information and planned movement

Question 25

In the post central gyrus, , how are different body regions represented in the primary somatosensory cortex?

Answer 25

represented as a body map -somatotopic

Question 26

where is the association somatosensory cortex found?

Answer 26

superior parietal lobule

Question 27

what is the role of the association somatosensory cortex?

Answer 27

Awareness/perception in space

Question 28

what does damage to the pre-frontal region of the association cortex lead to?

Answer 28

disorders of personality and motivation

Question 29

what are 5 features of frontal lobe damage?

Answer 29

1) Personality changes (2) Deficits in planning (3) Perseveration (4) Primitive reflexes (suckling reflex) (5) Abulia (lack of motivation; slowness of decision making)

Question 30

Where are language areas of the cerebral hemispheres found?

Answer 30

In about 95% of right handed people and about 65% of left handed people, language is centred in the left hemisphere

Question 31

What area programs to make speech?

Answer 31

Broca's area

Question 32

What is caused by a lesion In broca's area?

Answer 32

Expressive aphasia | -language is reduced to disjointed words and sentence construction is poor but comprehension is OK

Question 33

What area programs to understand/ comprehend speech?

Answer 33

Wernicke's area

Question 34

What is caused by a lesion in Wernicke's area?

Answer 34

Receptive aphasia | -unable to understand/generate meaningful language

Question 35

where does Wernicke's area sit in relation to the primary auditory area?

Answer 35

Posterior and inferior

Question 36

What is processed in the left hemisphere?

Answer 36

- Language | - Calculation

Question 37

What is processed in the right hemisphere?

Answer 37

- Drawing - Music - Spatial perception

Question 38

In the feel the keys experiment, what happens if the corpus callous is severed?

Answer 38

``` Left hand feels, right cortex recognises, but cannot activate the language centres in the left hemisphere to speak the word keys ```

Question 39

what is the thalamus made of?

Answer 39

collection of nuclei (grey matter)

Question 40

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 40

Relays and processes sensory and motor information en-route | to cortex

Question 41

What is the role of each. nucleus in the thalamus?

Answer 41

Each nucleus communicates (projects) to the cortex with related function

Question 42

what sits between the two sides of the thalamus?

Answer 42

3rd Ventricle

Question 43

What separates the putamen and thalamus?

Answer 43

Internal capsule

Question 44

What is the largest nuclei in the thalamus and when is it activated?

Answer 44

- Pulvinar | - activated when looking at something

Question 45

What nucleus communicates sensory information from the body to the cortex?

Answer 45

Ventroposteriolateral (VPL)

Question 46

What nucleus communicates sensory information from the head to the cortex?

Answer 46

Ventroposteriomedial (VPM)

Question 47

What is involved In communication with the primary visual cortex?

Answer 47

lateral geniculate body (input from optic nerves)

Question 48

What is involved In communication with the auditory cortex?

Answer 48

medial geniculate body (input from auditory system)

Question 49

With connections with the motor cortex, what provides motor feedback?

Answer 49

Basal ganglia and cerebellum

Question 50

what nucleus receives input from cerebellum?

Answer 50

Ventro lateral

Question 51

What nucleus receives input from basal ganglia?

Answer 51

Ventro anterior

Question 52

What is the anterior nucleus's function and what does it connect to?

Answer 52

Memory/instinctive behaviour | -connects with limbic system

Question 53

What is the intralaminar nucleus function and where does it receive input from?

Answer 53

Pain/arousal | -receive input from reticular system, pain pathways and project diffusely to cortex

Question 54

What is the function of the cortex?

Answer 54

regional specialisation of function

Question 55

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 55

relay and integration en-route to cortex