BMB 2 - Neurophysiology of Brain Excitability; Cortical Regions and Basal Nuclei Reviews Flashcards
(76 cards)
What is an electroencephalogram?
A continuous record of summed electrical activity in the cerebral cortex
The amplitude of a segment of EEG activity depends on what two factors?
Number (of both action potentials and synaptic potentials)
Synchrony (synchronous neuronal firing = higher amplitude)
What are synaptic potentials?
The EPSPs and IPSPs summing in the post-synaptic, target neuron
Which contributes more to EEG activity, action potentials or synaptic potentials? (Why?)
Synaptic potentials (longer lasting, more synchronous, lower frequency, more synapses than neurons)
Name the brain waves seen on EEG from highest to lowest frequency.
Beta (β) > alpha (α) > theta (θ) > delta (δ)
Name the respective brain states in which the following waves are seen on EEG:
Beta –
Alpha –
Theta –
Delta –
Name the respective brain states in which the following waves are seen on EEG:
Beta – awake (desynchronous activity)
Alpha – drowsy
Theta – sleep (stage 1)
Delta – sleep (3 and 4)
Name the respective brain waves seen in the following brain states:
Awake, desynchronous activity –
Drowsy; eyes closed –
Stage 1 sleep –
Stage 2 sleep –
Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep –
REM –
Name the respective brain waves seen in the following brain states:
Awake, desynchronous activity – Beta
Drowsy; eyes closed – Alpha
Stage 1 sleep – Theta
Stage 2 sleep – Sleep spindles; K complexes
Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep – Delta
REM – Beta
Aging leads to increased sleep irregularity and decreased time spent in which sleep stage(s)?
Stages 3 and 4
As one ages, sleep becomes ______ (more/less) irregular and ____creased time is spent in sleep stages 3 and 4.
As one ages, sleep becomes more** irregular and **decreased time is spent in sleep stages 3 and 4.
In regards to action potential size, delay, and duration, describe what will happen in an individual’s somatosensory pathway if you provide a brief stimulus to the foot.
Longer delay (latency); less sharpness to peak
(Note: useful for infants, comatose patients, and others who cannot report responses.)
Describe the general locations of the various cortical structures of the brain.
Name two major cortical lobes which are deep to the superficial cortex.
Insula; limbic
Which portion of the frontal cortex is mainly responsible for movement?
The primary motor cortex
Which portion of the frontal cortex is mainly responsible for movement planning?
The supplementary motor cortex
Which portion of the frontal cortex is mainly responsible for executive function (e.g. regulation of cognitive processes)?
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Which portion of the frontal cortex is mainly responsible for behavioral control (e.g. recognition of appropriate vs. inappropriate behaviors)?
The orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex
What are the main processing functions of the temporal cortex?
Memory
Emotional (fear and anxiety)
Audition (primary auditory cortex)
Which portion of the parietal cortex is largely responsible for guiding planned movements?
The posterior parietal region
Which portion of the parietal cortex is largely responsible for spatial reasoning and attention?
The posterior parietal region
Which portion of the parietal cortex is largely responsible for typical sensation and higher-order sensation?
The primary somatosensory cortex
Which portion of the brain is largely responsible for visuospatial processing, distance/depth perception, and color determination?
The occipital cortex
Which portion of the brain is largely responsible for object and face recognition?
The occipital cortex
Which non-cortical portion (deep gray matter) of the brain is largely responsible for the intial step in movement initiation?
The caudate nucleus
Which non-cortical portion of the brain is largely responsible for motor gating (by inhibiting the thalamus)?
The globus pallidus
