week 11

Question 1

Function of Thalamus

Answer 1

Regulates flow of information to cortex

Question 2

Functional groups of thalamus

Answer 2

Relay nuclei (afferent info) from basal ganglia, cerebellum, all sensory systems except olfaction
association nuclei-limbic system
nonspecific nuclei-consciousness, arousal, attention

Question 3

what is the VPL, VPM, LGN sensory nuclei?

Answer 3

ventral posertolateral-somatosensation from body below the neck
ventral posteromedial-somatosensation from the face and neck
lateral geniculate nucleus-visual pathway synapses

Question 4

What is the VL motor nuclei?

Answer 4

Ventral lateral-main motor nuclei integrating signals from the cerebellum and basal ganglia before sending them to motor cortex.

Question 5

Function of hypothalamus?

Answer 5

regulation of pituitary gland for the following functions:
maintain homeostasis
eating, reproduction, defensive behaviors
emotional expression of pleasure, rage, fear, aversion
regulation of circadian rhythms
endocrine regulation
activation of sympathetic nervous system

Question 6

Function of the limbic system?

Answer 6

emotions and behavior
emotional memory, declarative memory, procedural memory

Question 6

function of epithalamus

Answer 6

pineal gland-endocrine gland innervated by sympathetic fibers
regulates circadian rhythms by releasing melatonin

Question 7

function of subthalamus

Answer 7

nucleus of the basal ganglia
facilitation of basal ganglia output
located superior to substantia nigra

Question 8

layers of neocortex/function

Answer 8

pyramidal cell axons travel through white matter as projection, commissural or association fibers.
molecular layer->external granular layer->layer of small and medium-sized pyramids->internal granular layer->ganglionic layer->polymorphic cell layer->white matter

Question 9

Archicortex

Answer 9

olfactory cortex, medial temporal cortex (limbic system, hippocampus)

Question 10

What are brodmann’s areas?

Answer 10

regions of the cerebral cortex that are defined by their cell structure and connections, or cytoarchitecture
a way of mapping the cortex and its distinguished functions

Question 11

what are the primary areas of cortex?

Answer 11

primary somatosensory cortex-post central gyrus
primary auditory-lateral fissure/superior temporal gyrus
vestibular cortex-posterior to primary somatosensory
primary visual cortex-calcarine sulcus
primary motor cortex-precentral gyrus

Question 12

What is the unimodal association cortex?

Answer 12

sensory association
modality specific association cortex
projects primarily to primary motor cortex
Examples: primary somatosensory association cortex

Question 13

what is the heteromodal association cortex?

Answer 13

higher order association cortex
Examples: prefrontal cortex, parietal and temporal association cortex
bidirectional projections to sensory and motor cortex and limbic cortex

Question 14

What are the cortical motor planning areas?

Answer 14

supplementary motor cortex, premotor cortex, brocas area, brocas corresponding area in right hemisphere

Question 15

what is the supplementary motor cortex?

Answer 15

anterior to lower body region of primary motor cortex
initiation of movement, planning bimanual and sequential movement

Question 16

what is the premotor cortex?

Answer 16

anterior to upper body region of primary motor cortex
controls trunk and girdle muscles-medial LMN

Question 17

What is brocas area?

Answer 17

anterior to face region of primary motor cortex
planning movements of the mouth