Week 2 - The Functional Localisation of the Brain

Question 1

What are the three main divisions of the brain?

Answer 1

• Forebrain
• Midbrain
• Hindbrain

Question 2

What is the primary function of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 2

Covers the brain’s surface and comprises gray matter where neuron cell bodies are located

Question 3

What structural feature of the cerebral cortex accommodates the high number of neurons?

Answer 3

Highly folded forming gyri and sulci

Question 4

How many layers does the neocortex have?

Answer 4

6 layers (I to VI)

Question 5

What are the three main types of neurons found in the cerebral cortex?

Answer 5

• Granular (stellate)
• Pyramidal
• Fusiform/multiform cells

Question 6

What is the role of granular cells in the cortex?

Answer 6

Function mainly as interneurons transmitting signals short distances

Question 7

Where are pyramidal cells primarily located?

Answer 7

Layers III and V of the cortex

Question 8

What do pyramidal cells project to?

Answer 8

• Other regions of the brain
• Spinal cord
• Thalamus
• Brainstem

Question 9

What are association fibers responsible for?

Answer 9

Interconnect areas of the cortex within one hemisphere

Question 10

What is the largest commissural fiber in the brain?

Answer 10

Corpus callosum

Question 11

What is the function of projection fibers?

Answer 11

Travel to and from the cortex, connecting to the thalamus and descending to the spinal cord

Question 12

What are Brodmann’s areas?

Answer 12

Numbered cortical areas that share similar cryoarchitecture and correlate with different functions

Question 13

Where is the primary motor area located?

Answer 13

Precentral gyrus of the frontal lobes

Question 14

What does the motor homunculus represent?

Answer 14

The size of body parts correlating to the size of neuron pools supplying the musculature

Question 15

What is the function of the supplementary motor area?

Answer 15

Contains motor maps for posture and sends efferents to innervate limbs and trunk musculature

Question 16

What is the role of the premotor area?

Answer 16

Integrates and interprets motor information and helps plan voluntary movements

Question 17

What is the primary somatosensory cortex responsible for?

Answer 17

Processes sensory information from the contralateral peripheral receptors

Question 18

The internal capsule is divided into which three parts?

Answer 18

• Anterior limb
• Posterior limb
• Genu

Question 19

True or False: The cortex consists mainly of primary cortical areas.

Answer 19

False

Question 20

Fill in the blank: The _______ connects the anterior temporal lobes and olfactory bulbs.

Answer 20

Anterior commissure

Question 21

What is the primary sensory area of the parietal lobe responsible for?

Answer 21

It is responsible for processing sensory information from the body and creating a sensory map known as the sensory homunculus.

Question 22

What are the two nuclei of the thalamus involved in sensory processing?

Answer 22

• Ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus
• Ventral posteromedial (VPM) nucleus

Question 23

What is tactile agnosia?

Answer 23

A deficit in the ability to combine touch, pressure, and proprioceptive input to interpret the significance of sensory information.

Question 24

What is the primary visual cortex and where is it located?

Answer 24

It consists of an area of cortex on either side of the calcarine sulcus on the medial side of the occipital lobe.

Question 25

What is visual agnosia?

Answer 25

A deficit in the ability to recognize objects in the opposite visual field despite intact vision.

Question 26

Where is the primary auditory area located?

Answer 26

Deep within the lateral sulcus on the superior surface of the superior temporal gyri (Heschl’s convolutions) of the temporal lobes.

Question 27

What is the function of Wernicke's area?

Answer 27

It is critical for the understanding of language and allows us to interpret and assign meaning to symbols.

Question 28

What is Broca's area responsible for?

Answer 28

It is dedicated to the production of language, including spoken, written, and sign language.

Question 29

What type of aphasia is associated with damage to Broca's area?

Answer 29

Expressive or productive aphasia.

Question 30

What are the characteristics of Wernicke's aphasia?

Answer 30

* Fluent speech * Intact syntax and grammar * Inability to understand language * Content of speech is flawed

Question 31

What is conduction aphasia?

Answer 31

A condition where damage to the arcuate fasciculus leads to an inability to repeat words despite intact comprehension and expression.

Question 32

Fill in the blank: The arcuate fasciculus connects _______ and _______.

Answer 32

[Wernicke’s area], [Broca’s area]

Question 33

True or False: Damage to Wernicke's area does not affect the fluency of speech.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

What is astereognosis?

Answer 34

The inability to recognize an object placed in the hand.

Question 35

What type of organization does the primary auditory cortex exhibit?

Answer 35

Tonotopic arrangement.

Question 36

What results from a lesion in the auditory association area?

Answer 36

Word deafness or acoustic verbal agnosia.

Question 37

What is the significance of the sensory homunculus?

Answer 37

It represents the size of cortical representation of body parts correlated to tactile sensation.

Question 38

What happens to patients with damage to Broca's area?

Answer 38

They exhibit sparse, halting language and have difficulty with syntax and grammar.

Question 39

Where do fibres from the retina project to in the thalamus?

Answer 39

Lateral geniculate nucleus.