NeuroAnatomy - Lecture Three Objectives POSTERIOR association areas

Question 1

Where are the posterior association areas of the brain located?

Answer 1

Parietal lobe

Question 2

What is the blood supply of the posterior association areas of the brain?

Answer 2

Inferior branch of the MCA

Question 3

What are the four categories of the overall posterior association areas’ functions?

Answer 3

1. Understanding communication
2. Directing attention
3. Understanding spatial relationships
4. Thinking/Analysis

Question 4

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Thinking/Analysis?

Answer 4

linear thinking, convergent problem solving (one answer), math calculations
deductive reasoning, logical thinking

Question 5

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Understanding Communication?

Answer 5

comprehending linguistic components of communication (listening, reading, braille, etc.)

Question 6

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Directing Attention?

Answer 6

focuses cognitive attention and awareness on “tasks or past events”
creates awareness of tasks/events that need to be done
*left hemisphere gives limited attention to body and being in the moment

Question 7

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Understanding Spatial Relationships?

Answer 7

ability to process and distinguish right-left orientation
orientation of shapes, letters, numbers, objects
“organizes” the right-left sides of the body to perform tasks

Question 8

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Understanding Communication?

Answer 8

• agraphia
• alexia / dyslexia
• Wernicke’s aphasia
• apraxia

Question 9

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Directing Attention?

Answer 9

• difficulty directing attention on past/future tasks

Question 10

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Understanding Spatial Relationships?

Answer 10

impaired right-left orientation
finger/toe agnosia

Question 11

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the dominant hemisphere for Thinking/Analysis?

Answer 11

• loss of linear thinking, convergent problem solving, and/or deductive reasoning
• acalculia

Question 12

What is Gerstmann’s Syndrome?

Answer 12

Lesion in the dominant hemisphere in the posterior association area that spares linguistic comprehension of language

Question 13

What are the four classic signs of Gerstmann’s Syndrome?

Answer 13

• acalculia
• impaired right-left orientation
• finger/toe agnosia
• agraphia

Question 14

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for Thinking/Analysis?

Answer 14

• non-linear thinking
• creative, artistic, divergent thinking

Question 15

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for Understanding Communication?

Answer 15

non-linguistics (tone, gestures, etc.)
interpreting/reacting to “how” someone is communicating

Question 16

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for Directing Attention?

Answer 16

directs attention to being in the moment (enjoying hobbies, participating in/watching events)
- directs attention/awareness to left/right side of body

Question 17

What is the primary function of the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for Understanding Spatial Relationships?

Answer 17

understanding where the body and objects are in relation to the environment

Question 18

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for Understanding Communication?

Answer 18

sensory dysprosodia

Question 19

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for Understanding Spatial Relationships?

Answer 19

difficulty understanding relationship between body and environment
- constructional apraxia
- inability to draw, build, or assemble 3D objects

Question 20

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for thinking/analysis?

Answer 20

•loss of creativity, non-linear thinking, divergent problem solving

Question 21

What symptoms would arise if a stroke occurred in the posterior association area in the non-dominant hemisphere for directing attention?

Answer 21

left sided neglect
- inability to explore or respond to stimuli on left side of the body

anosognosia - lack of awareness that a deficit exists or lack of insight into existing deficit / without knowledge of disease