U4 Lecture 28 Flashcards
- describe the location and function of the specific functional areas of the cortex as described in lecture - describe the general location and function of the basal nuclei - describe the location and function of the cerebral white matter - describe hemispheric lateralization
What are the 3 functional areas of the cerebral cortex (grey matter)?
- Sensory areas
- Motor areas
- Association areas
Primary motor area location and function
Location: precentral gyrus in frontal lobe
Function: voluntary activation of skeletal muscles
Premotor area (motor association area) location and function
Location: anterior to primary motor area in the frontal lobe
Function: communicates with primary motor area and thalamus to coordinate complex learned movements
Primary somatosensory area location and function
Location: post central gyrus in parietal lobe
Function: receives sensory impulses from sensory receptors responding to touch, temperature and proprioception
Why are the sensory and motor areas important on the body?
- entire body can be represented on them
Define homunculus
Make believe sensory and motor men created to represent what parts of the body make up the most of the sensory and motor functions
Primary visual area location and function
Location: medial portion of occipital lobe
Function: nervous signals traveling along the optic nerve provide information about color, shape, and movement of visual stimuli
Visual association area location and function
Location: occipital lobe, anterior to the primary visual area
Function: visual memory
Primary auditory area location and function
Location: superior portion of temporal lobe
Function: receives signals from vestibulocochlear nerve about sound (pitch, rhythm, and loudness)
Auditory association area location and function
Location: temporal lobe, inferior and posterior to the primary auditory area (LEFT temporal lobe Only)
Function: interpretation and recognition of sound; determines if sound is speech, music or noise
Wernike’s Area (Auditory association) location and function
Location: temporal lobe, posterior to primary auditory area on LEFT lobe
Function: translates speech into thoughts
Broca’s Area (Motor Speech) location and function
Location: frontal lobe - LEFT side
Function: controls muscles of vocal cords to speak
Define aphasia
Acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language but does not affect intelligence
What is the most common cause of aphasia
Stroke
Broca’s aphasia vs. Wernicke’s aphasia
Broca’s = non-fluent aphasia
Wernicke’s = fluent aphasia
What is Basal (genglia) Nuclei
centers of cell bodies deep in the cerebral cortex
- grey matter spheres around the thalamus
Functions of basal nuclei
- helps starts and ends movements
- suppresses unwanted movements
- regulates muscle tone
- controls subconscious contractions of skeletal muscles
What cell bodies make up basal nuclei?
Caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus
What is cerebral white matter?
Myelinated axons that are bound into large tracts
Function of white matter
communicates between cerebral areas and other parts of the brain
What are the 3 tracts of white matter?
Association tracts, commissural tracts, and projection tracts
Function of association tract
Contain axons that conduct nerve impulses between gyri (plural gyrus) in the same hemisphere
Function of commissural tract
conducts nerve impulses between corresponding gyri from one hemisphere to another
Function of projection tract
Convey impulses to lower parts of the CNS (thalamus, brain stem, or spinal cord) or vice versa
What is the corpus callosum?
1/3 of commissural tracts
Thick band of axons that connects corresponding areas of the two hemispheres
What are the other two groups of the commissural tract?
anterior and posterior commissures
Define hemispheric laterization
each hemisphere specializes in performing unique functions
Left hemisphere
Language, Logic, and Reason
Right hemisphere
Music, Face recognition, Visual imagery, Spatial abilities
