Lecture 1 - The Human Brain Flashcards

1
Q

What is the cerebrum covered by?

A

a layer of cells called the cerebral cortex
4-6mm
outer layer
grey matter

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2
Q

What changes as you go from simpler to most complicated mammal?

A

the forebrain develops faster than any other part of the brain.
simpler=more smooth
increasing in complex= relative amount of the forebrain increases
in doing so, the cerebral cortex folds to accommodate

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3
Q

What is the basic principle of the brain’s organisation?

A

Right side of the brain controls the left side of the body

Left side of the brain controls the right side of the body

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4
Q

What makes up the brainstem?

A

2x sections

  1. upper= midbrain
  2. lower= pons + medulla
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5
Q

What is the relative placement of the brain stem and cerebellum?

A

cerebellum is behind the brain stem

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6
Q

What is the role of the cerebellum?

A

co-ordinates movement

small convolutions

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7
Q

What makes up the hindbrain?

A

all red
cerebellum
pons
medulla

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8
Q

What are the four areas of the brain from medial view?

A

brain stem
forebrain
midbrain
hindbrain

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9
Q

What does Pons mean?

A

bridge

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10
Q

What is the role of the forebrain?

A

responsible for making us higher order animals
conscious cognitive thoughts
movement and sight

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11
Q

What is a gyrus?

A

folds of the forebrain

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12
Q

What is a sulcus?

A

border/gap between each gyrus

a. sulci=shallow grooves
b. fissures= deep grooves

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13
Q

What is the major fold present in everyone and separates lower and upper forebrain?

A

lateral sulcus (fissure) (deep crevasse)

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14
Q

What is the general principle pattern of folding?

A

consistent + slight variations (like a face)

  1. lateral fissure (deep, separates lower part of hemisphere from rest)
  2. central sulcus (lies roughly in centre)
  3. parietal-occipital sulcus (top/upper –> lateral/stops just short)

when joined, separate the brain into four lobes

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15
Q

What is the principle pattern of naming?

A

Geography

  1. Frontal Lobe
  2. Parietal Lobe
  3. Occipital Lobe (under the occipital bone of skull)
  4. Temporal Lobe (under temporal bone of skull)
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16
Q

Where is the parietal-occipital sulcus more apparent?

A

Medial view of hemisphere

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17
Q

What is the role of the longitudinal fissure?

A

separates the right and left hemispheres

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18
Q

What is present in the lower aspect of the brain?

A

Pre-occipital Notch

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19
Q

What is the role of the frontal lobe?

A

behavioural control

executive thinking

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20
Q

What does the Frontal Lobe consist of?

A

central sulcus + lateral fissure

  1. Pre-central gyrus
    (3x longitudinal gyri) Superior frontal gyrus
    Middle frontal gyrus
    Inferior frontal gyrus
  2. Triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus
  3. Pre-central sulcus
    superior frontal sulcus
    inferior frontal sulcus
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21
Q

Describe longitudinal gyri

A

complicated
vary between people
- consistent upper
-convoluted and variable middle

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22
Q

What does the Temporal Lobe consist of?

A

Lateral fissure + pre-occipital notch

  1. 3x longitudinal gyri
  2. 2x sulci
  3. HESCHI’S Gyrus
    - transverse temporal gyrus,
    - located in 1 primary auditory area
    - percusses sound
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23
Q

What does the Parietal Lobe consist of?

A

Complex folds
Central sulcus + parieto-occipital sulcus

  1. Post-central gyrus
    2x lobules
    - inferior lobule has a distinct pattern of lobule within it –> Supra Marginal Angular Gyrus
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24
Q

What does the Occipital Lobe consist of?

A

parieto-occipital sulcus + pre-occipital notch

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25
Q

What is the function of the pre-central gyrus?

A

functional name: primary motor cortex
in the frontal lobe
-primary function is to control the muscles on the opposite side of the body
control: very organised

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26
Q

What does gyri consist of?

A

gray matter + white matter

  1. outer layer of gray matter = 4-6mm
  2. under layer of white matter
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27
Q

Electrical stimulation of pre-motor areas

A

Lower–> upper
at any point of motor cortex causes contraction of specific skeletal muscle fibres on opposite side of the body

  1. face, eyes, vocalisation (head neck lips)
  2. fingers, head, arms
  3. small: trunk - thorax, abdomen
  4. large(large control): leg, thigh
  5. foot (medial side)
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28
Q

What does the pre-motor areas represented?

A

distorted representation of the area relative to amount of control

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29
Q

How is the pre central gyrus organised?

A

Somatotopically
according to body map
(somites/sequence of body)

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30
Q

What is the function of the post central gyrus?

A

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

primary function is the conscious perception of sensation (e.g. touch, pain, heat)

sensation - termination/end of all touch and pressure pathways from skin

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31
Q

Describe the post central gyrus

A

each region of the primary somatosensory cortex receives nerve impulses for touch, pressure, vibration,temperature,pain and joint+muscle position

size of cortical area which receives impulses from a particular part of the body depends on # of receptors (x not size of body)
–> larger region for lips and fingertips

can pinpoint somatic sensations
- similar somatopical organisation

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32
Q

Which regions are relatively larger in the pre-central gyrus?

A

leg and thigh

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33
Q

Which regions are relatively larger in the post-central gyrus?

A

lips and fingetips

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34
Q

How is the post-central gyrus organised?

A

Somatotopically
according to body map
(somites/sequence of the body)

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35
Q

How the central cortex organised?

A

Somatotopically

36
Q

What is the name of the area of the superior temporal gyrus?

A

Primary Auditory Area
extends deep into the fissure
- extension of the superior temporal gyrus which goes deep

Transverse gyrus of heschl

primary area which receives sound

37
Q

What is the role of the Primary Auditory area?

A

receives information for sound
auditory perception

organised Tonotopically
- according to tone/freq./pitch
–> front -> low freq.
back -> high freq.

38
Q

Which cortex is located in the occipital lobe?

A

Primary Visual Cortex

located on the POSTERIOR tip of the occipital lobe, on the MEDIAL SURFACE next to the LF

Arranged around the Calcarine Sulcus

39
Q

What is the role of the Primary Visual Cortex?

A

functional relationship with vision
processing information related to vision
receives visual information

40
Q

Which cortex is viewed better from the Medial Side?

A

Primary Visual Cortex

extend

41
Q

Which sulcus is the primary visual cortex arranged around?

A

Calcarine Sulcus

42
Q

How is the primary auditory area organised?

A

Tonotopically

43
Q

How is the Primary Visual Cortex organised?

A
Visuotopically
according to map of visual field 
Retinotopically 
organised
according to retina
44
Q

Describe the visual field

A
  1. Tip of cortex = central part of visual field = discriminative, upside down
  2. Deep section of cortex = peripheral vision = Right vision goes to left part of the brain

vision is highly acute

45
Q

Which part of the visual field do you use the most?

A

Central part of visual field at the tip/outer part of the cortex
=2/3 of primary visual field
=impulses passing through optic nerve
=discriminative reading

46
Q

What is a Lesion?

A

hole in the visual field opposite

47
Q

How are the right and left sides of the visual field connected?

A

By fibres from either sides which cross the midline

They combine to give a 3D Panoramic Vision

48
Q

What are the main Primary Motor and Sensory areas

A

Motor: Primary Motor Cortex

Sensory: Primary Somatosensory Cortex - Skin Sensations
Primary Auditory Area - Ear Sensations
Primary Visual Cortex - Eye Sensations

49
Q

What is the role of the Supplementary/Secondary Visual Cortex?

A

Processes the visual information in complicated ways
Adds to the image via:
a. colour b. recognises movement c. 3D analysis

50
Q

What is the Primary Visual Cortex Helped by?

A

Supplementary/Associated Visual Cortex

- can be quite complex

51
Q

What is the role of the Supplementary/Secondary Motor Area?

A

Plans movements

Stimulates cells to produce movements

52
Q

What is the Primary Motor Cortex helped by?

A

Supplementary/Secondary Motor Cortex

- can be quite complex

53
Q

Which hemispheres are dominant?

A

Left handed people= RH hemisphere is dominant

Right handed people= LH hemisphere is dominant

54
Q

What is another name for the Left Hemisphere?

A

Verbal Language Area

Dominant side of RH people

55
Q

Describe the Left Hemisphere

A
  1. Verbal Language Area
  2. is the Dominant side of RH people (99% of people)
  3. all functions regions which are related to SPEECH and LANGUAGE are present in ONE hemisphere ONLY
  4. speaking, hearing, reading, writing
56
Q

Who and how was Wernicke’s Area Discovered?

A

by Kyle Wernicke
by studying patients with stroke in this area
even though people could hear what was being said to them, but COULDNT UNDERSTAND

57
Q

What is the role of Wernicke’s Area?

A
  • UNDERSTANDING
  • speech recognition
  • comprehension
  • gives meaning
  • sensory analysis of speech: translates words into thoughts
  • fluent
  • ASSOCIATION AREA

Superior Temporal Gyrus

damage = Sensory/Fluent aphasia = unable to understand spoken word

58
Q

What is an Aphasia?

A

A disorder of speech associated with the brain

59
Q

Which muscles are used for smooth speech?

A

Pharynx
Larynx
Lung muscles
Respiratory Muscles

60
Q

What is Broca’s Area?

A

Triangular Area
Contains all Information which STIMULATION of muscles to pronounce words
- ARTICULATION of speech (motor speech area)
-relatively small
-more present in more complex beings

damage (tumour) = still pronounce (noise) but NOT CLEAR = Motor/Non-fluent/Speech/Expressive Aphasia = muscles aren’t co-ordinated for speech

61
Q

What is the Arcuate Fasciculus ?

A

the pathway which connects Wernicke’s and Broca’s Area

damage(tumour)= Individual will understand spoken word, but REPLY UNRELATED to the question = NOT CONNECTED= disconnection aphasia

62
Q

Where does a Motor Aphasia Occur?

A

In Broca’s Area

63
Q

Where does a Sensory Aphasia occur?

A

In Wernicke’s Area

64
Q

What is a stroke on the left side of the brain more likely to involve and why?

A

Speech Disorder
Motor Disorder
as Broca’s area is located on the left side of the brain and is related to speech pronunciation

65
Q

What is stroke on the right side of the brain more likely to involve and why?

A

Sensory Disorder
Fluent Disorder
as Wernicke’s Speech area is located in the right side of the brain and is related to understanding the spoken word

66
Q

What is another name for the Right Hemisphere?

A

Non-Verbal Language Area

Non-Dominant Side (for RH people)

67
Q

Describe the Right Hemisphere

A
NON-verbal Language Area
NON-dominant side
supra marginal angular gyrus
1. BODY Language
=90% of language/communication between people
1. non-verbal language (body language)
2. Emotional Expression (language)
3. Spatial Skills (identify 3D objects
4. Conceptual Understanding
5. Artistic Skills
6. Musical Skills
68
Q

What is the role of the SupraMarginal Angular Gyrus?

A

Reading + Writing
Input from = visual cortex + Wernicke’s Area
See the words in the back and transferred to the inferior parietal lobule

writing = 1. Transfers visual representation (stored) of WRITTEN words –> Exner’s Area –> 2. Motor Cortex (conveys muscles of right hand to write the word)

reading = 1. receiving input from primary visual cortex 2. processing visual information

69
Q

What are Association Areas?

A

Supplementary Areas which Process information that is received by primary cortexes
They are connected to each other via Association Tracts
Large remaining parts which are involved with complicated/high order brain functions

70
Q

What does the Frontal Association Cortex have a critical function in?

A
lies in front of the motor etc area
this large area is involved with a variety of functions (doesn't have simple mapping like 1 motor cortex)
intelligence-idea,movement
personality
behavioural profile
mood
cognitive function
71
Q

What does the Parietal Association Cortex have a critical function in?

A

spatial skills
3D Recognition
- shapes, faces, written word, concepts, abstract perception

72
Q

What does the Temporal Association Cortex have a critical function in?

A

wide expanse and goes down deep
memory-most important-past,present,future
mood
aggression
intelligence -each feature is not specifically localised (complicated relationship, 1 neuron has multiple outputs)
lesion: people become aggressive - alsiemers patients

73
Q

What is a stroke?

A

CerebroVascular Accident (CVA)
characterised by an abrupt onset, or persisting neurological symptoms e.g. - paralysis or loss of sensation
*intracerebral haemorrhage (from blood vessel)
*blood clots
*atherosclerosis: formation of cholesterol (contain plaques which block blood flow)

74
Q

Which three biological conditions can cause strokes?

A

intracerebral haemorrhage (from blood vessels)
blood clots
atherosclerosis (formation of cholesterol - containing plaques that block blood flow)

75
Q

Which side of the brain is affected when there is a stroke on the right side of the body?

A

opposite side of brain effects opposite side of body

left side of brain

76
Q

What are the four risk factors of strokes?

A

high blood pressure
high blood cholesterol
diabetes
smoking

77
Q

What affect does a stroke have on the primary motor cortex?

A

lesion would PARALYSE MUSCLE MOVEMENT(spastic) on the opposite side of the body
the muscles paralysed would depend on where (according to the homunculus) on 1/primary motor cortex

78
Q

What affect does a stroke have on the primary somatosensory cortex?

A

lesion would result in the LOSS OF SENSATION on the opposite side of the body
dependant on the mapping of the sensory cortex (according to the homunculus)

79
Q

What affect does a stoke have on the primary auditory area?

A

lesion would result in a LOSS OF HEARING in the opposite ear

80
Q

What is Ataxia?

A

a disorder in muscle co-ordination due to damage in cerebellum, such as trauma or disease

resulting in - uncoordinated movements or a loss in balance

81
Q

What can Ataxia result in?

A

uncoordinated movements

loss in balance

82
Q

What does Embryonic Development consist of?

A
increase in brain size
GRAY matter (functions/cell bodies) increase MORE than white matter (axons)
83
Q

What does the cerebral cortex consist of?

A

region of gray matter
is 2-4mm thick
contains billions of neurons (cell bodies)
increases more than white matter

84
Q

What happens when gray matter enlarges?

A

causes the cortical regions to fold and roll upon itself

85
Q

How do we know that Association areas are involved in higher order brain functions?

A

Due to how they are affected by injury

86
Q

What do association areas do?

A

Association areas bring together complicated functions