neurobiology and behaviour

Question 1

what are the meninges

Answer 1

three membranes around the brain and spinal cord

Question 2

how many ventricles are in the brain and what are they filled with

Answer 2

• four

- filled with cerebro-spinal fluid

Question 3

outline the three main functions of the cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 3

• supply neurones with glucose
• supplies oxygen carried in solution
• contains antibodies and WBC to resist infection

Question 4

name the brain structures included in the forebrain

Answer 4

• hypothalamus
• thalamus
• cerebrum

Question 5

what structures are in the midbrain

Answer 5

nerve fibres connecting forebrain and hindbrain

Question 6

name the brain structures in the hindbrain

Answer 6

• cerebellum

- medulla oblongata

Question 7

outline the functions of the frontal lobe

Answer 7

• memory formation
• emotions
• reasoning
• personality

Question 8

outline the functions of the parietal lobe

Answer 8

• spatial awareness

- senses and sensations (touch)

Question 9

outline the functions of the occipital lobe

Answer 9

• vision - interpretation

- visual stimuli

Question 10

outline the functions of the temporal lobe

Answer 10

• hearing
• comprehension of language
• information retrieval

Question 11

outline the functions of the medulla

Answer 11

• ventilation
• maintaining blood pressure
• regulation of heart rate

Question 12

outline the functions of the hypothalamus

Answer 12

• co-ordinating centre between nervous system and endocrine system
• regulates: body temperature, blood solute potential, thirst, hunger, sleep
• controls secretion of hormones from endocrine glands

Question 13

outline the functions of the thalamus

Answer 13

• sending and receiving info to and from cerebral cortex

- correlates consciousness, sleep and sensory interpretation

Question 14

outline the functions of the hippocampus

Answer 14

• involved in learning, reasoning, personality
• forming new memories
• connecting senses and emotions to memories

Question 15

outline the functions of the cerebellum

Answer 15

• maintenance of posture

- coordination of complex movement and voluntary movement

Question 16

outline the functions of the cerebrum

Answer 16

higher mental activities:

• thinking
• language
• emotions
• personality
• planning

Question 17

what is the most common type of stroke and what causes it

Answer 17

• ischaemic strokes

- caused by blocked blood vessel

Question 18

what is the less common type of stroke and what is it caused by

Answer 18

• haemorrhagic strokes

- caused by bleeding in or around the brain

Question 19

what are the symptoms of a stroke

Answer 19

• paralysis on one side of the body
• loss of muscle tone
• drooping face

Question 20

what are the main risk factors for experiencing a stroke

Answer 20

• high blood pressure
• tobacco smoking
• obesity
• high blood cholesterol
• risk increases with age

Question 21

how is a stroke diagnosed

Answer 21

• physical examination and imaging

- eg. CT or MRI scan

Question 22

outline how a stroke may be treated

Answer 22

• clot-busting medication

- successful if started within 4.5 hours

Question 23

what are the four warning signs of a stroke

Answer 23

F - face drop
A - raise arms without one drifting?
S - slurred speech
T - time

Question 24

what is the cerebral cortex composed of

Answer 24

grey matter and many cell bodies

Question 25

what is the inner area of the cerebrum composed of

Answer 25

white matter and myelinated axons

Question 26

what is the job of the central nervous system and what is it made up of

Answer 26

- processes, stores and interprets information | - includes brain and spinal cord

Question 27

what is the job of the peripheral nervous system and what is it made up of

Answer 27

- transmit information to and from CNS | - includes somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system

Question 28

what is the role of the somatic nervous system

Answer 28

controlling skeletal muscles with conscious effort

Question 29

what is the role of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 29

involuntary responses of intercostal muscles and glands

Question 30

which two systems make up the autonomic nervous system

Answer 30

- sympathetic nervous system | - parasympathetic nervous system

Question 31

explain the role of the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 31

- motor neurones go to all organs around the body - releases noradrenaline - increases; heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, pupil dilation

Question 32

explain the role of the parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 32

- nerve pathways begin in the brain, top of spinal cord or base of spinal cord - releases acetylcholine - inhibitory effect on activities of organs

Question 33

explain how the heart rate is controlled

Answer 33

- sympathetic system increases heart rate - parasympathetic system decreases heart rate - both systems controlled by cardiac control centre in medulla oblongata - CCC stimulated by CO2 levels and blood pressure changes - CCC sends impulse through one of the systems to the sino atrial node - heart also controlled by adrenaline, noradrenaline and acetylcholine

Question 34

describe how the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems control the ventilation rate

Answer 34

- increases rate of respiration during exercise - causes the blood pH to decrease - detected by chemoreceptors in aortic and carotid bodies - more nerve impulses sent to inspiratory centre in medulla - more nerve impulses sent along intercostal nerve and phrenic nerve

Question 35

what is the function of the sensory area

Answer 35

- receive sensory information from receptors in the body - hemispheres receive information from opposite side of the body - primary sensory areas receive impulses first

Question 36

what is the function of the association areas

Answer 36

- process and interpret information from the primary sensory areas - provide memory, reasoning, judgement, emotions and verbalisation

Question 37

what is the function of the motor areas

Answer 37

- initiates responses - generates nerve impulses carried to appropriate effectors on opposite side of the body - motor neurones cross in the medulla

Question 38

where is the Broca's area located

Answer 38

left hemisphere of the frontal lobe

Question 39

what is the function of the Broca's area

Answer 39

- producing vocal sounds | - analysing grammar and help extract meaning

Question 40

what is the effect of an injury/stroke on the Broca's area

Answer 40

- Broca's aphasia - causes difficulty speaking - know what they want to say but cannot get it out

Question 41

where is the Wernicke's area located

Answer 41

temporal lobe of the left hemisphere

Question 42

what is the function of Wernicke's area

Answer 42

- construct and understand written and spoken language

Question 43

what is the effect of an injury or stroke on Wernicke's area

Answer 43

- Wernicke's aphasia - able to produce words, sounds or phrases but they do not make sense and there is no communication - cannot understand someone speaking to them although they perfectly hear them

Question 44

what does the sensory homunculus show

Answer 44

relative sensitivity of different parts of the body

Question 45

what does the motor homunculus show

Answer 45

motor control of different parts of the body