Regions Of The Brain

Question 1

Reticular formation

Answer 1

The reticular formation is located in the brain stem. It controls the sleep wake cycle and is involved in filtering incoming stimuli.

Question 2

Corpus striatum

Answer 2

The corpus striatum consists of the caudate nucleus and the lentiform nucleus. The lentiform nucleus is divided into the putamen and the globus pallidus.

Question 3

Substantial nigra

Answer 3

The substantia nigra (in addition to the nucleus accumbens) plays an important role in reward, addiction, and movement.

Question 4

Basal ganglia

Answer 4

The basal ganglia are a group of subcortical structures. Its main function is the control of movement but it may also play a part in some cognitive processes.

The components of the basal ganglia are as follows:-

Striatum (caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens)
Subthalamic nucleus
Globus pallidus
Substantia nigra (divided into pars compacta and pars reticulate) - located in the midbrain and has important roles in movement, reward, addiction, and mood.

The putamen and globus pallidus are collectively referred to as the lenticular nucleus.

Question 5

Limbic system

Answer 5

The limbic system is a set of structures that together are involved in the control of emotion, behaviour, and memory.

The components of the limbic system are as follows:-

Amygdala
Hippocampus
Anterior thalamic nuclei
Septum,
Limbic cortex
Fornix

Question 6

You are asked to see a man on the neurosurgery ward who has undergone surgery for a ruptured aneurysm. You find him lying in bed alert, but with no facial expression. He makes no attempt to talk but is able to focus and follow your finger as you move it in front of him

Answer 6

Superior mesial frontal lobe. This presentation is consistent with akinetic mutism which results from damage to the mesial frontal lobes, specifically the cingulate gyrus and the supplementary motor area.

Question 7

A lady with a large brain tumour becomes unable to acquire the new factual knowledge

Answer 7

Medial temporal lobe. Semantic memory refers to the capacity for acquiring and recollecting facts and other general knowledge about the world. The ability to acquire new semantic knowledge is impaired following damage to the medial temporal lobe, which includes the hippocampal region, as well as the adjacent entorhinal, perirhinal, and parahippocampal cortices. Patients with damage limited to the hippocampus have moderate difficulty in acquiring semantic knowledge.

Question 8

Fusiform gyrus

Answer 8

Prosopagnosia (face blindness) is thought to result from damage to the right fusiform gyrus.