Unit 4: Higher Cortical Functions Flashcards
Primary Somatosensory Cortex (location and function)
postcentral gyrus, areas 3,1,2 contralateral sensation
Primary Motor Cortex (location and function)
precentral gyrus, area 4 contralateral motor
Primary Visual Cortex (location and function)
cuneus and lingual gyri, area 17 vision
Primary auditory cortex(location and function)
transverse gyri of herscll , area 41 and 42 processes auditory information
Broca’s area (location and function)
part of inferior frontal gyrus, area 44, 45, Left dominant motor area of speech
Premotor cortex (location and function)
part of frontal cortex, area 6 motor
supramarginal gyrus (location and function)
parietal lobe, area 40 stereognosis (mainly L hemi) = ability to perceive and recognize the form of an object with tactile sense only
angular gyrus (location and function)
parietal lobe, area 39 complex language functions (i.e. reading, writing and interpretation of what is written) , spatial understanding
Suprachiasmic nucleus
circadian rhythm regulation lesion/Alz dx/shift work –> insomnia
secondary visual cortex, V3, V4, etc (location and function)
association cortical area of occipital lobe
Wernicke’s area
assoc. cortex of temporal lobe, area 22 (post part of sup temporal gyrus) language comprehension (L dominant)
Lateral hypothalamic area
induces feeding lesion –> anorexia, starvation
Tuberomammilary Nucleus
attention, arousal, inhibit sleeping
Anterior nucleus
Thermoregulatory: senses heat, dissipates heat to regulate cooling Lesion/pyrogens –> hyperthermia
Posterior nucleus
thermoregulatory: senses cold temps lesion –> inability to thermoregulate
Supraoptic nucleus
regulates synthesis of vasopressin and oxytocin
Ventromedial nucleus
satiety Lesion –> obesity and *savage/aggression
Arcuate nucleus
regulates releases of hormones from anterior pituitary; regulates feeding
Medial preoptic nucleus
reg gonadotropic release, sex function in males
Dorsomedial nucleus
regulates BP, savage/aggression when stimulated
Paraventricular nucleus
regulates release of vasopressin, oxytocin, and CRH from posterior pituitary
Fornix pathway
connects hippocampus to mammilary bodies
Mammilothalamic tract
mammilary bodies –> ant nuclues of thalamus –> Papez circuit
Stria terminalis
connects amygdala to medial zone of hypothalamus
Medial Forebrain Bundle
extends the entire lateral hypothalamic zone
Supraopticohypophyseal tract
confucts neuronal fibers from supraoptic/paraventricular nuclei –> post pit (neurohypophysis)
Tuberoinfundibular tract
arcuate fibers –> hypophyseal portal system –> anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis)
Hypothalmospinal tract
paraventricular nucleus –> desc fibers to SC preganglion neurons
periaqueductal gray (functions of the 3 diff columns)
implements behavior mode based on safe vs threat in environment (Dorsolateral/lateral columns evoke active coping to controllable threats) (ventrolateral column evokes passive coping to non-controllable threats)
Amygdala
storage of emotional memories: integration of emotions, fear and memory ; give affective significance to visual stimuli; important for normal social interactions
Anterior cingulate
emotion and motor function
Posterior cingulate
visuospatial and memory function
Hypothalamus
primitive emotional responses: fighting,feeding, fleeing, mating
Frontal cortex
control over emotions, judgement calls, decision making, morality, compassion,
Prefrontal Cortex
expression of self , ‘‘the world according to me” : personality,executive function, problem solving, etc
production and appreciation of art/beauty as an emotion
Hippocampus
episodic memory = emotional memories, activated and inactivated by emotionality
laying down new memories
Left vs right cerebral hemispheres
left: language dominant, decoding and analytics right: visuospatial dominant, larger context/meanings, understanding
Wernicke’s area
posterior superior termporal gyrus for speech comprehension
Broca’s area
posterior inferior frontal lobe for speech production and fluency
Arcuate fasciculus
connects broca’s to wernicke’s for repetition speech
Orbitofrontal cortex
contextual behavior, including emotions and memory\
personality, behavrious control, self awareness
lesion –> disinhibitions
Medial Frontal Cortex
resiliency and adaptability
near mictruition center
Somatosensory association cortex
stereognosis and graphesthesia
Right non dominant side : attention to the world (“map of the world”) complex motor planning, neglect
Upper vs lower cortex
upper = external life (space, environ, present/future, goals)
lower = internal life (body, visceral sensation, memory, emotions, past)
