The Association Cortices and Complex Brain Functions Flashcards
How many different types of neurons are there, based on their morphology?
- 4
There are 4 types of different neurons based on their morphology, what are they?
1 - unipolar
2 - bipolar
3 - pseudopolar
4 - multipolar
In relation to inside out cortical development, neurons are formed in one place and migrate to another. Where do they form and then migrate to?
1 - originate = hippocampus and migrate to = cortical (cortex) area
2 - originate = hypothalamus and migrate to = cortical (cortex) area
3 - originate = olfactory bulb and migrate to = cortical (cortex) area
4 - originate = ventricle zone and migrate to = cortical (cortex) area
4 - originate = ventricle zone and migrate to = cortical (cortex) area
In relation to inside out cortical development neurons are formed in the ventricle zone (lining of ventricular system) and migrate to the cortical (cortex) area. How many layers of cells are in the cortical area?
- 6 layers
In relation to inside out cortical development neurons are formed in the ventricle zone (lining of ventricular system) and migrate to the cortical (cortex) area. Which cells assist in the migration of neurons to the cortical area?
1 - astrocytes
2 - radial glial cells
3 - oligodendrocytes
4 - microglia
2 - radial glial cells
- movement of neurons is facilitated by the cytoskeleton and called radial glial cell migration
There are 6 layers in the cortex of the brain, although some areas do have only 3-4 layers. Of the 6 layers which layers are involved in input and output?
1 - input = layers III and V and output = IV
2 - input = layers I and I and output = VI
3 - input = layers I and IV and output = VI
4 - input = layers I and V and output = VI
1 - input = layers III and V and output = IV
- layers III (3) and V (5) are generally thicker as they send more information
In sensory pathways how many motor neurons are involved in the pathway?
- 3 motor neurons
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd order motor neuron
In descending motor pathways (corticospinal tract) how many motor neurons are involved in the pathway?
- 2 motor neurons
- upper and lower motor neurons
In the reflex arc pathways how many motor neurons are involved in the pathway?
- 2, that do not leave the spinal cord
- afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) neurons
Which blood vessels supplies the majority of the internal capsule
1 - anterior cerebral artery
2 - middle cerebral artery
3 - middle meningeal artery
4 - posterior cerebral artery
2 - middle cerebral artery
What is the homunculus of the brain?
- a topographical-organised map of the proportional representation of the contralateral somatosensory or motor neurones on the cortex or passing though a part of the brain
Which blood vessels supplies the majority of the cortex?
1 - anterior cerebral artery
2 - middle cerebral artery
3 - middle meningeal artery
4 - posterior cerebral artery
2 - middle cerebral artery
Which lobe and other structure of the brain are heavily involved in emotion, language, memory and auditory?
1 - frontal lobe and brain stem
2 - temporal lobe and cerebellar
3 - temporal lobe and brain stem
4 - temporal lobe and cortex
3 - temporal lobe and brain stem
Which lobe of the brain is heavily involved in motor control, behaviour and decision-making?
1 - frontal
2 - parietal
3 - occipital
4 - temporal
1 - frontal lobe
Which lobe of the brain is heavily involved in sensory control?
1 - frontal
2 - parietal
3 - occipital
4 - temporal
2 - parietal lobe
Which lobe of the brain is heavily involved in visual control?
1 - frontal
2 - parietal
3 - occipital
4 - temporal
3 - occipital lobe
Which part of the brain is heavily involved in fine motor control and balance?
1 - frontal
2 - parietal
3 - occipital
4 - cerebellum
4 - cerebellum
What does cortical plasticity, also referred to as neuroplasticity refer to?
- brains ability to form new neural connections and reorganise itself as required
Cortical plasticity, also referred to as neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections based on individual experiences, lifestyle and environment. Does the CNS or PNS posses a greater ability to do this?
- PNS
Cortical plasticity, also referred to as neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections based on individual experiences, lifestyle and environment. Although the PNS has a greater potential for cortical plasticity, how is stroke an example of this?
- in a stroke some brain tissue becomes ischaemic and dies
- ability to move that was associated with dead brain tissue is also lost
- during rehab the body is able to regain some of the lost movement
- this demonstrates that a new part of the brain is now able to control the movement
Is a Ischemic stroke or Hemorrhagic stroke more common?
- ischaemic stroke
What are the 2 most common causes of stroke?
- thrombosis = blood clot (called a thrombus) blocks the blood flow to parts of the brain.
- atherosclerosis is where artery lining becomes thickened and narrowed by plaque
In strokes we use the term ‘time is tissue’, what does that mean?
- a stroke will cause tissue furthest from blood vessel to die
- around stroke gets some blood but function is impaired
- aim is to try and re-fuse the tissue to save the brain
When we talk about speech, specifically language there are 2 terms that are used aphasia and dysphasia, what do these mean in relation to language?
- a = without and phasia = speech
= aphasia = full loss of language - dys = dysfunctional and phasia = speech
= partial loss of language
When we talk about speech, specifically language there are 2 terms that are used aphasia (full loss) and dysphasia (partial loss). What % of patients experience this following a stroke?
1 - 5-10%
2 - 15-25%
3 - 25-40%
4 - >40%
3 - 25-40%
Which hemisphere is the dominant one in relation to language?
- left hemisphere regardless of left or right handed
- left handed = 95% left hemisphere
- right handed = 70% left hemisphere
The 2 broadmanns areas 44 and 45 in the frontal lobe make up what?
- Broca’s area
- important for expressive language
- supplied by the middle cerebral artery
Broadmanns area 22 in the temporal lobe makes up what?
- wernickes area
- linked to speech, specifically comprehension of written and spoken language
- supplied by the middle cerebral artery
The 2 brodmanns areas 44 and 45 in the frontal lobe make up the Broca area and the brodmann area 22 makes up wernickes area. What is it that connects these 2 areas in the brain?
1 - corpus callosum
2 - mesolimbic system
3 - arcuate fascicules
4 - internal capsule
3 - arcuate fascicules
- white matter tract
The 2 brodmanns areas 44 and 45 in the frontal lobe make up the Broca area and the brodmanns area 22 is the wernickes area. The arcuate fascicules, a white matter tract connects these 2 areas in the brain, which is an association tract (connects same side of hemisphere). What can happen if there is a lesion in Brocas area, which is important for expressive language?
1 - patient can understand, knows what to reply but unable to speak properly
2 - patient cannot understand, does not know what to reply but is able to speak properly
3 - patient cannot understand, knows what to reply and is able to speak properly
4 - patient can understand, does not know what to reply and is unable to speak properly
1 - patient can understand, knows what to reply but unable to speak properly
The 2 brodmanns areas 44 and 45 in the frontal lobe make up the Broca area and the brodmanns area 22 is the wernickes area. The arcuate fascicules, a white matter tract connects these 2 areas in the brain. What happens if there is a lesion in Wernickes area, which is important in speech, specifically comprehension of written and spoken language.
1 - patient can understand, has preserved fluency and can speak
2 - patient cannot understand, loss of fluency but can repeat and speak
3 - patient can understand, has fluency but is unable to repeat
4 - patient can understand, does not know what to reply and is unable to speak properly
3 - patient can understand, has fluency but is unable to repeat
The most posterior part of the corpus callosum is called the splenium. If this is damaged or there is a lesion here, this can cause alexia. What is alexia (sounds like dyslexia)?
1 - inability to speak
2 - inability to read
3 - inability to repeat in speech
4 - inability to sing
2 - inability to read
- splenium is located in the occipital lobe
- splenium connects wernickes area, important for comprehension of written and spoken language and the visual cortex
- information does not move between wernickes area and visual cortex
- inability to comprehend written language (like reading) but can write from memory
What is the WADA test procedure?
- Intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (ISAP)
- sodium amobarbital infused into left or right internal carotid artery
- patient performs language and memory tests
- EEG confirms no electrical activity on side infused
The WADA test procedure is an intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (ISAP). Sodium amobarbital is infused into left or right internal carotid artery. The patient then performs language and memory tests and EEG activity is recorded, and this is repeated on both sides and compared. What is the WADA test useful for?
- to determine which side of the brain controls language and memory
- assists doctors in trying to preserve language and memory when performing neurosurgery for severe epilepsy for example
What is prosopagnosia (greek words for “face” and “lack of knowledge)?
1 - inability to recognise faces
2 - inability to read
3 - inability to repeat in speech
4 - inability to sing
1 - inability to recognise faces
- can occur from birth but can also occur if there is a lesion in the non-dominant hemisphere (fusiform gyrus)
What is Gerstmann syndrome?
- a rare disorder characterised by the loss of four specific neurological functions:
1 - inability to write (dysgraphia or agraphia)
2 - the loss of the ability to do mathematics (acalculia),
3 - the inability to identify one’s own or another’s fingers (finger agnosia)
4 - inability to make the distinction
Gerstmann syndrome is a rare disorder characterised by the loss of four specific neurological functions:
1 - inability to write (dysgraphia or agraphia)
2 - the loss of the ability to do mathematics (acalculia),
3 - the inability to identify one’s own or another’s fingers (finger agnosia)
4 - inability to make the distinction
Does it affect the dominant or non-dominant hemisphere?
- dominant hemisphere
Gerstmann syndrome is a rare disorder characterised by the loss of four specific neurological functions:
1 - inability to write (dysgraphia or agraphia)
2 - the loss of the ability to do mathematics (acalculia),
3 - the inability to identify one’s own or another’s fingers (finger agnosia)
4 - inability to make the distinction
Which lobe does it affect in the dominant hemisphere and which blood vessel that is the most common that occurs in strokes supplies it?
1 - frontal and middle cerebral artery
2 - parietal and middle cerebral artery
3 - occipital and middle cerebral artery
4 - temporal and middle cerebral artery
2 - parietal and middle cerebral artery
What is aprosody?
- a = lack of
- prosody = speech
- absence of the normal variations in the rhythm, stress, and pitch of speech,
- patients generally have a monotone speech
Aprosody is the absence of the normal variations in the rhythm, stress, and pitch of speech, meaning patients generally have a monotone speech. Is the dominant or non-dominant hemisphere generally affected?
- non dominant hemisphere
Aprosody is the absence of the normal variations in the rhythm, stress, and pitch of speech, meaning patients generally have a monotone speech. The dominant hemisphere is generally affected. What part of the brain is generally affected?
- broca’s (44 and 45 Brodmanns areas)
- wernicke’s areas (22 Brodmann area)
