Unit 1 - LAA - Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What kind of awareness does the brain provide?
conscious
The brain is involved in what kind of processes?
internal mental processes - thoughts
What type of neurons is the brain made up of a vast number of?
Interconnected neurons
What is the brain separated into?
two hemispheres
What are the two half of the brain referred to as?
Hemispheres
Where does the brain receive info from and why?
From various sensory organs to give information about the body
What is meant by localisation of function?
Specific areas of the brain have specific jobs/functions
What is meant by lateralisation of function?
Brain is split into two halves, left and right. Each hemisphere has a different function.
What is the corpus collosum?
collection of nerve cells that connects the two hemispheres
What does the spinal cord do?
Connects the brain via the brain stem to the rest of the body and transfers messages between them
What is meant by plasticity?
The brain is ‘flexible’ enough to change and adapt as a result of new experiences, learning or brain damage throughout our lives. This involves the growth of new connections (synapses).
What is synaptic pruning?
Where as neurons develop we build synaptic connections. As we get older these connections are either deleted or strengthened to take on new demands
Why is the biological approach reductionist?
reductionist
Which hemisphere in the brain is responsible for what function?
Left for language, Right for recognition.
damage to the LH would result in
difficulty speaking
damage to the RH would result in
difficulty recognising information/people
what is meant by contralateral control ?
the arrangement of the brain whereby each hemisphere controls the opposite sides of the body
describe the function of the cortex
The brains 3mm outer layer that covers the inner structures where higher mental processes occur.
describe the function of the motor area
Controls voluntary movements of the opposite side of the body (contralateral control).
- MOTOR AREA ON RH controls movement on left hand side of the body.
- MOTOR AREA ON LH controls movement on right hand side of the body.
describe the function of the somatosensory area
Controls touch information collected from the skin on the opposite side of the body. Over half of the area is devoted to receiving signals from the face and hands (very sensitive).
damage to the somatosensory area causes…
sensory problems (numbness, tingling)
describe the function of the visual area
Each eye sends information to the corresponding visual area.
Right eye sends information to the left visual area.
Left eye sends information to the right visual area.
damage to one visual area causes…
partial blindness in one eye
what is functional recovery?
Healthy brain areas can often adapt and ‘take over’ functions of damaged areas or areas of trauma.
New connections are formed close to the damaged areas or a matching area in the other hemisphere takes over.
Name the four areas of the brain we are required to know
Cortex, motor area, somatosensory area, visual area.
