Brain Structure Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is the neocortex?
The neocortex is the largest structure in the human brain and is essential for higher-order processing.
What does “cortex” mean in Greek, and why is it relevant?
“Cortex” means bark in Greek, reflecting how it covers the rest of the brain like bark on a tree.
Why is the human neocortex folded, and how does it differ from other mammals?
The neocortex is folded to fit within the skull. Other mammals, like dogs, have fewer folds due to having less cortex.
These folds are known as convolutions
What distinguishes the human neocortex from animals like dogs?
The human neocortex is responsible for higher-order processing, while animals like dogs can function without it.
Who divided the cortex into areas, and what method was used?
Brodmann divided the cortex into areas using Nissl staining, based on small differences in the layout of cells.
What is the function of the occipital cortex?
The occipital cortex is responsible for visual processing.
What happens if the occipital cortex is damaged or removed?
Damage to the occipital cortex can result in blindness or loss of specific visual functions like color vision or motion detection.
What functions are handled by the side (medial) areas of the cortex?
The medial areas are involved in auditory processing, higher visual processing, and speech processing.
What are the effects of damage to the medial cortex?
Damage to the medical part of the cortex can lead to deficits in object recognition, auditory processing, or language comprehension.
Towards the top of the medial was brain function are involved here?
Somatosensory input, motor planning and motor input.
What role does the frontal cortex play in brain function?
The frontal cortex is involved in short-term memory, planning, integration of thoughts, and decision making.
What are the consequences of damage to the frontal cortex?
Damage to the frontal cortex can impair working memory, decision-making, and goal-oriented behavior. Severe damage (like in frontal lobotomy) can result in a loss of personality and long-term goals.
What can lesions in small parts of the cortex lead to?
Lesions in small parts of the cortex can lead to specific deficits such as loss of color vision, calculation ability, or language skills.
How does the layout of the nervous system in mammals compare to insects?
Insects have a fixed nervous system layout, while mammals, including humans, show variation in cortical regions across individuals.
What happens in the brain after a stroke or damage, particularly in young children?
After brain damage or a stroke, other parts of the brain can compensate, especially in young children, where spared parts may take over lost functions.
What is the Cerebellum’s function?
This highly convolved structure which contains more than half of the neurons of the brain is used for precise timing functions, in particular motor control.
What does the Cerebellum directly translate into?
Small Brain
What is the Hippocampus function?
Located deep in the brain it is assumed it works as an association area which processes and associates information from different sources and temporally memorises it before storing it in the cortex
What happens when the hippocampus is removed?
In humans, this causes anterograde amnesia. Where
What function do the Glials cells play?
These non-computation cells provide support to neurones. Keep neurotransmitter levels controlled and provide myelin sheets around the axons of neurons.
How do neurons differ from other cells outside the brain?
The blood-brain barrier separates the blood from the brain protecting the cells from harmful substances. There are very few areas in the brain that produce new neurons too.
How do neurons communicate?
Via Spikes, a brief excursion of the neuron membrane voltage
Where are SPIKES generated?
These are mainly generated in the axon-hillock
What is the purpose of the myelinated sheets?
The insulate the axons increasing the speed of signal propagation.
