Sem 2 W2- The Cerebral Cortex - Functional Anatomy

Question 1

Describe the structure and function of the cerebral cortex

Answer 1

** Overall function** of cerebral cortex includes: sensory amnalysis, viluntary motor iniation, conciousness, thouvh and langauge

Structure:

• Made up of two hemispheres ( is 80% of brain weight)
• Has both grey matter shell covering white matter
• Grey matter shell consists of cell bodies, dendrites and glia cells
• Grey matter where synapses are and processing occurs
• White matter is made up of myelinated axons , forming tracts taking information form one part of the brain to another
• The outer overall strucute of the grey matter is convulated with peaks ( gyri) and troughs ( sulci) - this increases surface area for increased information processing
• Convulution is proportional to its complexity

Question 2

Describe how each hemisphere of the brain interact in control over the body

Answer 2

• The brain contralaterally controls the body with each hemisphere in charge of the opposite side
• brain hemispheres are connected together by corpus callosum
• Both hemispheres are not symmetrical in structure and function certain ones such as langugae are exclusive to one side ( left)

Question 3

Describe the lobes and major functions within the left cerebral cortex

Answer 3

Occipital lobe - important in vision contsind visula cortex
Primary visual cortext take the information from the eyes ( retina) takne into brain for processing
Secondary ( association afre) - further processing of this info

Temporal - auditory cortex
Primary
Secondary - ( association areas)

Parietal lobe - sensoru
Primary somatosensory corxx

Frontal - motor function

Pfimary
Secondary

Preffrontal area- Decision making

Question 4

Describe the structure and function of the somatosensory cortex

Answer 4

1. **Function- ** somatosensoryy cortex analyses input from these receptors: mechanoreceptors ( touch, stretch), thermoreceptors and nociceptors ( pain) from the muuscle, joints and internla organs

2- Location - - in parietal lobe of cerebral cortex

3- Sensory cortex recieves information of th opposite side of the body
* Each area of the somatosensory cortex takes information from a specific body area - known as ( somatotopic organisation)

Question 5

Describe how nueron plasticity affects how the somatosensory cortex processes information

Answer 5

• The area of the cortex for each body part is proportional (in size) to the amount of information recieved from the area
• The plasticity of the nuerons in the somatosensory cortex is use dependant so if the stimulation of that area is increased so it the size of the information processing area in the cortex

-

Question 6

Describe how information is processed in the somatosensory cortex

Answer 6

• Information passes to secondary association areas and then combined with other sensory input and information from past experience

Question 7

Describe the structure and function of the motor Cortex

Answer 7

1. Location - in the Frontal lobe
2. Function- responsible for voluntary movement
3. Also has a stimulation proportional to use dependancy for cortical space
   - Movement as a result of stimulation is as a result of colateral side
4. Pre frontal cortex involved in motor informing processing

Question 8

Describe the process of motor control

Answer 8

1. Motor cortex send signals to the alpha motor nuerons
2. Then motor cortex then has input from the following areas of the brian:
   - Supplementary motor area
   - Premotor cortex
   - Posterior parietal cortex
   - Basal ganglia
   - Thalamus
   - Cerbebellum

Question 9

Name and describe the cortical areas involved in language