Cortical organisation and function

Question 1

How is the brain organized on a microscopic level?

Answer 1

Organised into 6 layers and columns

Question 2

what is the name given to the structure that seperates the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain?

Answer 2

central sulcus

Question 3

what is the name and primary function of the structure located directly anteriorly to the central sulcus?

Answer 3

pre-central gyrus, primary motor cortex.

Question 4

what is the name and primary function of the structure located directly posteriorly to the central sulcus?

Answer 4

post-central sulcus, primary somatosensory cortex

Question 5

what are the 5 main functions of the frontal lobe?

Answer 5

regulation and initiation of motor function. language. cognitive functions. attention. memory

Question 6

what are the 4 main functions of the parietal lobe?

Answer 6

sensation, senory aspects of language, spatial orientation and self-perception

Question 7

what is the main function of the occipital lobe?

Answer 7

processing visual information

Question 8

what are the three main functions of the temporal lobe?

Answer 8

processing auditory information, emotions and memories

Question 9

What parts of the brain is the limbic lobe composed of?

Answer 9

amyglada, hippocampus, mamillary body and cingulate gyrus

Question 10

what is the function of the limbic lobe?

Answer 10

is concerned with learning, memory, emotion, motivation and reward

Question 11

where is the insular cortex located?

Answer 11

deep within the lateral fissure

Question 12

what is the function of the insular cortex?

Answer 12

concerned with visceral sensations, autonomic control, interoception, auditory processing, visual-vestibular integration (sense of reality)

Question 13

What is grey matter composed of?

Answer 13

neuronal cell bodies and glial cells.

Question 14

what is white matter composed of?

Answer 14

myelinated neuronal axons

Question 15

How are cortical areas connected?

Answer 15

by white matter tracts

Question 16

what are association fibres?

Answer 16

connect areas within the same hemisphere

Question 17

what are commisural fibres?

Answer 17

connect homologous structures in left and right hemispheres

Question 18

what are projection fibres?

Answer 18

connect cortex with lower brain structures (thalamus, brain stem and spinal cord)

Question 19

which specific fibre tract connects frontal and occipital lobes?

Answer 19

superior longitudinal fasciculus

Question 20

which specific fibre tract connects frontal and temporal lobes?

Answer 20

arcuate fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus

Question 21

which specific fibre tract connects temporal and occipital lobes?

Answer 21

inferior longitudinal tract

Question 22

what are the two main commissural fibres?

Answer 22

corpus callosum and anterior commissure

Question 23

in what direction do afferent projection fibres go?

Answer 23

towards cortex

Question 24

in what direction do efferent projection fibres travel?

Answer 24

away from cortex

Question 25

describe what happens to projection fibres as they move deeper to the cortex

Answer 25

radiate as the corona radiata and converge through internal capsule between thalamus and basal ganglia

Question 26

what is the difference between primary cortices and secondary/association cortices?

Answer 26

primary cortices have a predictable function, secondary less so. Primary are organised topographically, secondary are not. primary cortices show symmetry between left and right hemispheres, secondary have a weak or absent symmetry

Question 27

what is the function of the primary motor cortex?

Answer 27

control of fine, discrete, precise voluntary movements. Provides descending signals to execute movements.

Question 28

what is the function of the supplementary motor area?

Answer 28

involved in planning complex movements (internally cued)

Question 29

what is the function of the premotor area?

Answer 29

involved in planning movements (externally cued)

Question 30

what is the function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

Answer 30

processes somatic sensations arising from receptors in the body (fine touch, vibration, propioception, pain and temperature)

Question 31

what is the function of the somatosensory association area?

Answer 31

interpret significance of sensory information e.g. recognizing an object placed in hand. awareness of self and personal space

Question 32

what is the function of the primary visual area?

Answer 32

process visual stimuli

Question 33

what is the function of the visual associated area?

Answer 33

gives meaning and interpretation of visual input

Question 34

what is the function of the primary auditory lobe?

Answer 34

processes auditory stimuli

Question 35

what is the function of the auditory association area?

Answer 35

gives meaning and interpretation of auditory input?

Question 36

what is the function of Brocas area (association)?

Answer 36

production of language

Question 37

what is the function of the prefrontal cortex (association area)?

Answer 37

attention, adjusting behaviour, planning, personality expression, decision making

Question 38

what is the function of Wernickes area?

Answer 38

understanding of language

Question 39

What do frontal lobe lesions cause?

Answer 39

changes in personality and inapropiate behaviour

Question 40

what do parietal lobe lesions cause?

Answer 40

contralateral neglect, lack of awareness of self and awareness of extrapersonal space

Question 41

what do temporal lobe lesions cause?

Answer 41

agnosia- inability to recognise

Question 42

what occurs following a lesion to Brocas area?

Answer 42

Expressive aphasia - poor production of speech but communication intact

Question 43

what occurs following a lesion to Wernickes area?

Answer 43

Receptive aphasia - poor comprehension of speech, production is fine

Question 44

What occurs following a lesion to the primary visual cortex?

Answer 44

blindness in the corresponding part of visual field

Question 45

what occurs following a lesion to the visual association area?

Answer 45

deficits in interpretation of visual information e.g. prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize familiar faces or learn new faces

Question 46

What are the three ways in which cortical function can be assessed?

Answer 46

imaging, encephalography, brain stimulation

Question 47

What happens in a positron emission tomography (PET) scan?

Answer 47

radioactively labelled glucose injected into blood. person asked to undertake a task, blood flows directly into that brain region

Question 48

What is tested for during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) test?

Answer 48

amount of blood oxygen a region of the brain is receiving

Question 49

What is an ECG used to measure?

Answer 49

electrical signals produced by the brain

Question 50

what is an MEG used to measure?

Answer 50

magnetic signals produced by the brain

Question 51

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) used to assess?

Answer 51

functional integrity of the neural circuits using electromagnetic induction to stimulate neurons