Cortical Organisation and Function Flashcards by Meley Gdey

What is the cerebral cortex?

Covers the entire surface of the brain

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What does the cerebral cortex contain?

deep nuclei

grey matter

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The cerebral cortex is folded into…

gyri

sulci

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How is the cerebral cortex organised?

into lobes

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Cerebral cortex is organised into what on a microscopic level?

Layers

Columns

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List the layers of the cerebral cortex.

Molecular
External granular
External pyramidal
Internal granular
Internal pyramidal 
Multiform

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What is cytoarchitecture?

Grouping of regions based on cell size, spacing, packing density and layers

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List the lobes of the brain.

Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital

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What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Regulating/initiating motor function, language, cognitive function, attention, memory

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What is the function of the parietal lobe?

Sensation (touch, pain)
Sensory aspects of language
Spatial orientation and self perception

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What is the function of the occipital lobe?

Processing visual information

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What is the function of the temporal lobe?

Processing auditory information, emotions, memories

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The limbic lobe includes?

Amygdala
Hippocampus
Mammillary body
Cingulate gyrus

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The limbic lobe is concerned with?

Learning
Memory
Motivation
Reward

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Insular cortex lies where?

Deep within lateral fissure

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The insular cortex is concerned with?

Visceral sensation
Autonomic control
Interoception
Auditory processing
Visual-vestibular integration

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What makes up the grey matter?

Neuronal cell bodies

Glial cells

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What makes up the white matter?

Myelinated neuronal axons arranged into tracts

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White matter tracts connect?

Cortical areas

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Association fibres connect?

Areas within the same hemisphere

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Commissural fibres connect?

Homologous structures in left and right hemispheres

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Projection fibres connect?

Cortex with lower brain structures (thalamus, brain stem, spinal cord)

Superior longitudinal fasciculus connects which lobes?

Frontal

Occipital

The accurate fasciculus connects which two lobes?

Frontal and temporal

The inferior longitudinal fasciculus connects which two lobes?

Temporal | Occipital

The uncinate fasciculus connects which two lobes?

Frontal and temporal

List examples of commissural fibres.

Corpus callosum | Anterior commissure

Corona radiata?

a white matter sheet that continues inferiorly as the internal capsule and superiorly as the centrum semiovale

Projection fibres converge through (?) between (?) and (?).

Internal capsule Thalamus Basal ganglia

Compare/contrast primary and secondary(association) cortices.

1’ function predictable, organised topographically, symmetry between left and right 2’ function less predictable, not organised topographically, left/right symmetry weak or absent

List motor areas in the frontal lobe.

Primary motor cortex Supplementary area Premotor area

Primary motor cortex controls?

Fine, discrete, precise voluntary movement

Supplementary area is involved in?

Planning movement

Premotor area involved in?

Planning complex movements

List important sensory cortices in the parietal lobe

Primary somatosensory | Somatosensory association

Function of primary somatosensory cortex?

Process sensations from receptors e.g. fine touch, vibration, proprioception, pain, temp, two point discrimination

Somatosensory association cortex function?

Interpret significance of sensory info, awareness of self and personal space

List cortices in the occipital lobe.

Primary visual | Visual association

List cortices in the temporal lobe.

Primary auditory | Auditory association

List other important association areas.

Broca’s area Prefrontal cortex Wernicke’s area

Function of Broca’s area

Production of language

Function of wernicke’s area?

Understanding of language

Function of prefrontal cortex

Attention, adjusting social behaviour, planning, personality expression, decision making,

Symptoms of frontal lobe lesions?

Changes in personality, inappropriate behaviour

Symptoms of parietal lobe lesions?

Contralateral neglect, lack of awareness of self/extra personal space

Cortical function after lesion in lateral temporal lobe

Agnosia, inability to recognise

Cortical function after lesion in medial temporal lobe

Can’t form new memories, anterograde amnesia

Lesions to Broca’s area causes?

Expressive aphasia

Lesions to Wernicke’s area causes?

Receptive aphasia

Lesions in primary visual cortex causes?

Blindness in corresponding part of visual field

Lesions visual association cortex?

Deficit in interpretation of visual info e.g. face blindness (prosopagnosia)

Two types of imaging for assessing cortical function

PET scan > blood flow to certain region | fMRI > amount of blood oxygen in region

Two types of encephalography for assessing cortical function

EEG measures electrical signals in the brain | MEG measure magnetic signals in the brain

Two types of brain stimulation for assessing cortical function

TMS | tDCS