S8) Higher Cortical Function Flashcards
Information is processed in the complex synaptic network found between inputs and outputs.
Describe the fine structure of the cortex in terms of inputs and outputs
- Most inputs are from the thalamus and other cortical areas
- Most outputs are from pyramidal cells and project to widespread areas
Identify 6 functions of the frontal lobe
- Motor
- Expression of speech (usually left hemisphere)
- Behavioural regulation / judgement
- Cognition
- Eye movements
- Continence (medial)
How might one test the higher cognitive ability of the frontal lobe?
Ask a patient to count down in 7s from 100
Identify 5 functions of the parietal lobe
- Sensory
- Comprehension of speech (usually left hemisphere)
- Body image
- Awareness of external environment (attention)
- Calculation and writing
What is hemispatial neglect?
- Hemispatial neglect is a neuropsychological condition occurring due to damage to one hemisphere of the brain
- There is a deficit in attention to/awareness of one side of the visual field and the patient is unable to process and perceive stimuli on one side of the body or environment
Identify 4 functions of the temporal lobe
- Hearing
- Olfaction
- Memory
- Emotion
In terms of cerebral dominance, state which form of processing is over-represented in the different cerebral hemispheres (in 95% of people)
- Left: sequential processing
- Right: ‘whole picture’ processing
Sequential processing is dominant in the left hemisphere.
Which two functions does this include?
- Language
- Mathematics/logic
Whole picture processing is dominant in the right hemisphere.
Which four functions does this include?
- Body image
- Visuospatial awareness
- Emotion
- Music
Language pathways are primarily found in the left hemisphere.
In light of this, what is Broca’s area and what does it do?
Broca’s area (inferolateral frontal lobe) – production of speech
Language pathways are primarily found in the left hemisphere.
In light of this, what is Wernicke’s area and what does it do?
Wernicke’s area (superior temporal lobe) – interpretation of language
How are Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area connected?
Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area are connected to each other via the arcuate fasciculus
Describe the pathway for repeating a heard word
Cochlea → auditory cortex → Wernicke’s area → arcuate fasciculus → Broca’s area → motor cortex
Describe the pathway for speaking a written word
Eyes → visual cortex → Wernicke’s area → arcuate fasciculus → Broca’s area → motor cortex
Describe the pathway for speaking a thought
All over the brain → Wernicke’s → arcuate fasciculus → Broca’s area → motor cortex
What is Wernicke’s aphasia (aka receptive aphasia)?
Wernicke’s aphasia is form of aphasia wherein the ability to grasp the meaning of spoken words and sentences is impaired, while the ease of producing connected speech is not very affected
What is Broca’s aphasia (aka expressive aphasia)?
- Broca’s aphasia is a form of aphasia wherein a patient has trouble speaking fluently but their comprehension can be relatively preserved
- Patients have difficulty producing grammatical sentences and their speech is limited mainly to short utterances of less than four words
What types of memory are there?
- Declarative – explicit, facts
- Non declarative – implicit, motor skills and emotions
Where in the brain is memory stored?
- Declarative – cerebral cortex
- Non declarative – cerebellum
How are memories stored?
Short term memory (seconds to minutes) becomes long term memory (up to a lifetime) when it is consolidated, depending upon emotional context, rehearsal and association
Which part of the brain is responsible for memory consolidation?
The hippocampus is crucial for consolidating declarative memories
