Sample exam Flashcards
which cortical lobe has a main function of processing visual input?
the Occipital Lobe
which region of the cortex regulates motor control of voluntary movement
Ipsilateral precentral gyrus to ipsilateral muscles
complement cascade is best regulated by
CD55 and CD59
find me signals on activated glia are
G protein coupled receptors
unipolar neurons present a challenge for many connectome mapping approaches because
their cell body is often separated from the axon and dendrites
a number of genetically encoded reporters, such as GFP and RFP, have been used to map connections in animal model symptoms. The common limitation with such genetic reporters is that they
typically do not label across synapses
which area of the cortex receives topographic input from the ventricle posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus
calcarine sulcus
describe the anatomy and function of the action-intention mirror neuron system in the monkey
Anatomy of Action-Intention Mirror Neuron System in Monkeys:
The action-intention mirror neuron system in monkeys comprises mirror neurons primarily found in the ventral premotor cortex and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) of the brain.
Function of Action-Intention Mirror Neuron System in Monkeys:
Action Understanding: These mirror neurons activate both when a monkey performs an action and when it observes others performing the same action, facilitating action recognition and understanding.
Imitation: Mirror neurons support imitation, enabling monkeys to mimic observed actions and learn socially from their peers.
Predicting Intentions: They assist in predicting others’ intentions by responding to the initial stages of observed actions, aiding in anticipation and response planning.
Social Cognition: The system contributes to empathy, social bonding, and the ability to interpret and share emotional states with others.
Communication: Mirror neurons may also play a role in processing communicative signals like facial expressions and vocalizations, enhancing social interactions.
briefly describe the major steps in phagocytosis, refer only to the processes that occur in the central nervous system
- recruitment of professional phagocytic to the site
- Recognition between phagocytes and the cell or cellular compartment
- Engulfment process
- digestion of the engulfed material
what are the key difference in the process of axon finding as opposed to synapse formation
In summary, axon finding involves the directional guidance of axon growth toward a specific target area, often over long distances, while synapse formation focuses on the local interactions between the axon terminal and the target neuron’s dendrites, leading to the establishment of functional synaptic connections.
explain the concept of the sensory homunculus in the primary somatosensory cortex of humans. How is it organsied along the medio-lateral axis? is it continuous or discontinous and how so? is it proportional or not and why?
The sensory homunculus is a concept that represents the organization of sensory information in the primary somatosensory cortex of humans. It’s a distorted representation of the human body, where body parts are depicted in proportion to the amount of sensory information they provide, not their actual physical size. The sensory homunculus is organized along the medio-lateral axis of the primary somatosensory cortex.
Organization along the Medio-Lateral Axis:
The primary somatosensory cortex is organized somatotopically, meaning that neighboring areas of the cortex represent neighboring body parts. Along the medio-lateral axis:
Medial (Central) Areas: These areas represent body parts with high tactile acuity and fine motor control, such as the fingers, lips, and tongue. These parts have a larger cortical representation due to their increased sensory input and precise motor control.
Lateral Areas: These areas represent body parts with lower tactile acuity and less fine motor control, such as the trunk and limbs. They have smaller cortical representations since they provide less sensory information and require less precision in motor control.
Continuity and Discontinuity:
The representation of body parts in the sensory homunculus is not continuous but rather is a distorted, “patchy” map. It reflects the density of sensory receptors and the amount of cortex devoted to processing information from different body regions. While the general arrangement follows the body’s anatomical layout, there are some discontinuities and distortions. For example, the hands and face have disproportionately large representations compared to their physical size.
Proportional or Not and Why:
The sensory homunculus is not proportional to the actual size of body parts because it emphasizes sensory acuity and motor control over physical size. Body regions with higher tactile sensitivity and finer motor skills, such as the hands and face, have larger representations. This disproportionate representation highlights the importance of these body parts for sensory perception and motor coordination. The brain allocates more cortical space to these regions to process the wealth of sensory information they provide and to enable precise motor control, reflecting their functional significance in our interactions with the environment.
