Cerebral Cortex

Question 1

pyramidal neurons
role and neurotransmitter

Answer 1

primary excitatory cells in cortex
glutamate

Question 2

small and medium pyramidal cells

Answer 2

project to areas of ipsilateral cortex

Question 3

large and giant pyramidal cells

Answer 3

project to ipsilateral and contralateral cortex
subcortical areas, brainstem and spinal cord

Question 4

non-pyramidal neurons role and neurotransmitter

Answer 4

mostly inhibitory
GABA

Question 5

layer III of the cortex

Answer 5

contains medium pyramidal cells whose axons project to the ipsilateral cortex

Question 6

layer IV of the cortex

Answer 6

major input layer
receives input form thalamus

Question 7

layer V of the cortex

Answer 7

major output layer
contains medium, large and giant pyramidal cells

Question 8

how many layers does the cortex have

Answer 8

6

Question 9

astrocyte glutamine recycling

Answer 9

Glutamate is reabsorbed by the astrocyte, converted to glutamine and transported to the axon where it is reconverted to glutamine

Question 10

vertical columns of cortex

Answer 10

functional units of cortex
each contains about 200 neurons

Question 11

what is Brodmann’s map based on

Answer 11

cellular histological differences between areas

Question 12

short association fibres

Answer 12

connect adjacent gyri within one hemisphere

Question 13

long association fibres
example

Answer 13

connect different cortical regions within one hemisphere
e.g. arcuate fasciculus

Question 14

commissural fibres

Answer 14

fibres that cross the midline

Question 15

corpus callosum

Answer 15

connects homologous regions of two hemispheres with commissural fibres

Question 16

projection fibres

Answer 16

connect cerebral cortex with subcortical brainstem and spinal cord regions

Question 17

corticopetal projection fibres

Answer 17

input fibres such as thalamocortical axons

Question 18

corticofugal projection fibres

Answer 18

out fibres such as corticospinal axons

Question 19

aminergic axons neurotransmitter examples

Answer 19

dopamine
serotonin
noradrenaline

Question 20

primary visual cortex location

Answer 20

area 17
located on both ‘banks’ of the calcarine sulcus on medial aspect of occipital lobe

Question 21

primary visual cortex function

Answer 21

receives primary visual information form contralateral visual field

Question 22

visual association area

Answer 22

surround primary cortical areas and are closely allied with them

Question 23

“what” stream of visual processing

Answer 23

areas 18 and 19 and extends into inferior part of temporal lobe
concerned with interpreting the visual impulses that reach area 17

Question 24

gnosis
agnosia

Answer 24

interpretation of objects

inability to recognise things when one sees them

Question 25

primary auditory cortex location

Answer 25

superior part of temporal lobe in areas 41 and 42 = Heschl's gyri

Question 26

function of primary auditory cortex

Answer 26

hearing receives primary auditory information form both ears

Question 27

auditory association area location

Answer 27

Wernicke's speech area in the left/dominant hemisphere located in the cortex behind the primary auditory cortex

Question 28

damage to auditory association area

Answer 28

deafness or auditory aphasia patient can hear speech but not understand meaning

Question 29

primary somatosensory cortex location

Answer 29

located on the postcentral gyrus of parietal lobe area 3, 1, 2

Question 30

somatosensory association area location

Answer 30

superior parietal lobule, areas 5, 7 has reciprocal connexions with primary somatosensory cortex and dorsal tier of lateral thalamic nuclei

Question 31

somatosensory association area role

Answer 31

discriminative sensation of shape, roughness, size and texture remembering positions of objects in space awareness of contralateral body image and location of its parts

Question 32

lesion to somatosensory association area

Answer 32

tactile agnosia may appear unaware of side of body opposite to lesion (hemineglect)

Question 33

multimodal area of parietal lobe

Answer 33

inferior parietal lobe, areas 39, 40 functions with pos sup part of temporal lobe

Question 34

damage to multimodal area of parietal lobe

Answer 34

word blindness (alexia) inability to copy sensory aphasia and inability to understand written and spoken word

Question 35

primary motor cortex location and role

Answer 35

precentral gyrus, area 4 initiating voluntary movement

Question 36

damage to primary motor cortex

Answer 36

affects contralateral side initial hypotonia, hyporeflexia or flaccid paralysis followed by hyperreflexia and spasticity Babinski sign

Question 37

premotor area

Answer 37

area 6 associated with area 4 increases in activity before a movement is carried out and helps with voluntary movements

Question 38

Broca's area location

Answer 38

inferior frontal gyrus in triangular and opercula regions areas 44 and 45

Question 39

Broca's area damage

Answer 39

unable to talk even though muscles are not paralysed garbled sound or one word over and over again

Question 39

frontal eye field location and role

Answer 39

area 8 concerns with voluntary conjugate movement of eyes

Question 40

prefrontal cortex function

Answer 40

frontal poles and areas surrounding them sites of personality affective behaviour and judgement

Question 41

prefrontal cortex damage

Answer 41

changes in mood behaviour and personality individual neglects appearance, laughs or cries inappropriately no appreciation of social norms

Question 42

dominant hemisphere

Answer 42

refers to language dominance most right handed individuals are left hemisphere dominant larger than non-dominant hemisphere

Question 43

non-dominant hemisphere

Answer 43

appreciation of spatial dimensions, totality of scene (including facial recognition) and non verbal symbolism right temporal stores tone memories

Question 44

damage to parietal lobe

Answer 44

hemi-neglect syndrome