Neurobiology and Behaviour Flashcards
Identify the function of the cerebrum.
Responsible for all voluntary
behaviour, memory, personality, learning and reasoning.
Identify the function of the cerebellum.
Controls muscle
coordination and
non-voluntary movement
(e.g. balance, posture).
Identify the function of the Hypothalamus.
Control centre for autonomic nervous system
Responsible for hormone production,
regulation of the water potential of body
fluids and control of behavioural patterns Hypothalamus
* Links nervous and endocrine systems
Identify the function of the Medulla Oblongata.
Regulates autonomic
activities such as ventilation,
heart rate and peristalsis.
What are the meninges?
Three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
What is inflammation of the meninges known as?
Meningitis
Name the fluid that fills the four ventricles of the brain. What is its function?
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- Supplies oxygen and nutrients to the
neurones
Describe the three main regions of the brain.
Hindbrain - medulla oblongata and cerebrum
Midbrain - nerve fibres that connect forebrain
and midbrain
Forebrain - hypothalamus, thalamus and cerebrum
What is the thalamus?
Small structure located above the
brainstem
Sends and receives information to and
from the cerebral cortex
What is the role of the hippocampus?
It is involved in learning, memory, reasoning and personality.
What do the thalamus, hypothalamus and hippocampus constitute?
The limbic system
Name the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system.
- Sympathetic
- Parasympathetic
Act antagonistically to regulate response of effectors, e.g. heart rate.
What is the autonomic nervous system?
Branch of the motor nervous system
Carries nerve impulses to muscles and glands
Controls involuntary activities
Describe the sympathetic nervous system.
Usually stimulates effectors (coordinates
fight-or-flight response)
Neurotransmitter noradrenaline
* Ganglia are located near CNS
Describe the parasympathetic nervous system.
Usually inhibits effectors (coordinates rest and digest response)
Neurotransmitter acetylcholine
Ganglia located far from CNS
Describe the structure of the cerebrum.
Largest region of the brain, consisting of two hemispheres
Hemispheres connected by a bundle of nerve fibres, the corpus callosum
Thin outer covering, the cerebral cortex
Describe the structure and function of the cerebral cortex.
- Highly folded layer of nerve cell bodies (grey matter)
- Responsible for most conscious thoughts and actions
Compare grey and white matter.
- Grey matter - darker tissue of the CNS which lies centrally and consists of relay and motor neurone cell bodies
- White matter - lighter tissue of the CNS which
surrounds grey matter and consists of myelinated axons
Name the four cerebral lobes and state their function.
Frontal lobe - involved in planning, decision making, problem solving, emotions, speech and movement
Temporal lobe language, learning and memory
Occipital lobe - visual processing centre
Parietal lobe - processes sensory information and is concerned with
orientation, movement, sensation and aspects of memory and recognition
State the three divisions of the cerebral cortex.
- Sensory areas
- Motor areas
- Association areas
What are sensory areas?
Areas of the brain that receive and
process sensory information from receptors in the body.
What are motor areas?
Areas of the brain involved in the control of voluntary movements
They send nerve impulses to effectors on the opposite side of the body via motor neurones
What are association areas?
- Regions that receive information from sensory areas and relate this information to previous experiences
- They initiate responses, sending impulses to the appropriate motor areas
Describe the relationship between the the nerve supply of a body part and the size of the corresponding area of the cerebrum.
Positive relationship
How can the relationship between the nerve supply of a body part and the size of the relevant area of the cerebrum be represented?
Using sensory and motor homunculi.
Describe the sensory homunculus.
- Represents the primary somatosensory cortex
- Highly innervated areas such as the tongue, lips and fingertips are depicted in an exaggerated fashion
Describe the motor homunculus.
- Represents the primary motor cortex
- Highly innervated areas such as the muscles of the hands and face are depicted in an exaggerated fashion
Name the two main areas for speech in the brain.
- Wernicke’s area
- Broca’s area
What division of the cerebral cortex includes Broca’s area?
Motor area
What is Broca’s area?
The area of the cerebrum that has motor control over speech production.
What division of the cerebral cortex includes Wernicke’s area?
Association area
What is the function of Wernicke’s area?
Comprehension of written and spoken language.
How are Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area linked?
Linked by the nerve fibre bundle arcuate fasciculus.
Name 5 brain imaging techniques.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Computerised tomography (CT)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
How does an MRI scan work?
Uses a powerful magnetic field to cause protons from hydrogen atoms in water molecules to align, Radio waves then knock protons out of alignment. Radio waves turned off. Protons realign and emit radiation to receivers. Signals used to produce a 3D cross-sectional image.