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Flashcards in Exam 1 Deck (136)
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1
Q

Who created the neuron doctrine? What did he study to do this?

A

Cajal (in 1890’s)

Using golgi stain on brains of new born animals

2
Q

What are the 4 rules of the neuron doctrine

A
  1. Neuron fundamental structure in brain
  2. Terminal of one axon communicate with dendrites of another (specialized sites-later termed synapses)
  3. Connections are specific
  4. Dynamic (unidirectional) polarization
3
Q

True or false; Cajal won the nobel prize for his work making the neuron doctrine

A

True

4
Q

True or false; every cubic inch of cerebral cortex has about 10,000 miles of nerve fiber in it

A

true

5
Q

True or false; the number of neurons in the brain is about 100x greater than the population of earth

A

False; it is about 30x greater (~180 billion)

6
Q

A typical neuron is wired to about how many of its neighbors in the cortex

A

~1000-2000

7
Q

True or false; most cortical neurons don’t converge much with other neurons

A

False

There is a HUGE amount of convergence between cortical neurons. This is how humans can process sensory information.

8
Q

What is the first layer of the cerebral cortex called? What is situated here

A

Molecular layer

mostly axons

9
Q

What is the second layer of the cerebral cortex called? What is situated here

A

External granule layer

granule (stellate) cells

10
Q

What is the third layer of the cerebral cortex called? What is situated here

A

External pyramidal layer

primary pyramidal cells

11
Q

What is the fourth layer of the cerebral cortex called? What is situated here

A

internal granule layer

main granular cell layer

12
Q

What is the fifth layer of the cerebral cortex called? What is situated here

A

internal pyramidal layer

dominated by giant pyramidal cells

13
Q

What is the sixth layer of the cerebral cortex called? What is situated here

A

multiform layer

all types of cells; pyramidal, stellate, fusiform

14
Q

What are the three major cells types of the cerebral cortex

A

Pyramidal
Granule
Fusiform

15
Q

What kind of major cerebral cortex cell is associated with corticospinal projections, and are major efferent cells

A

Pyramidal cells

16
Q

What kind of major cerebral cortex cell is associated with short axons, intra cortical processing, excitatory release of glutamate and inhibitory release of GABA

A

Granule cells

17
Q

What kind of major cerebral cortex cell is least numerous and gives rise to output fibers from cortex

A

Fusiform cells

18
Q

Most output leaving cortex, leave from what layers?

A

V and VI

19
Q

Spinal cord tracts originate in which cortical layer? What about thalamic connections?

A

Spinal-V

Thalamus-VI

20
Q

Where do most incoming sensory signals terminate in cortex

A

Layer VI

21
Q

Most intracortical communications are associated with which layers?

A

I, II, III

22
Q

True or false; all areas of the cerebral cortex have extensive afferent and efferent connections with deeper structures of brain (thalamus, basal ganglia, etc)

A

True

23
Q

True or false; cortical neurons cannot change their function regardless of demand changes

A

False; if demand increases, cortical neurons can change their function to meet needs

24
Q

True or false; the association cortex which integrates information from diverse sources makes up a large % of the cortex

A

True

25
Q

What would a lesion in the association cortex cause?

A

Subtle and unpredictable phenotypes

26
Q

Elaboration of thoughts, executive functions of behavior, working memory, and processing of emotion are all associated with what area of the cortex

A

Prefrontal association area

27
Q

What is the limbic association area control?

A

Behavior
Emotions
Motivation

28
Q

Analysis of spatial coordinates of body, area of language comprehension, recognition of faces, and naming objects are all associated with what area of the cortex

A

Parieto-occipitotemporal association area

29
Q

True or false; auditory, visual, and somatic all feed into Wernickes (language comprehension) area

A

True

30
Q

True or false; the angular gyrus which functions as a higher order visual signal processing area is located just in front of Wernickes area

A

False; it is located just behind Wernickes

31
Q

Loss of ability to solve complex problems, inability to string together tasks, loss of morals, inappropriate social responses, and decreased aggression are all results of what surgical technique

A

Prefrontal lobotomy

32
Q

After identifying an object/face; projections from fusiform gyrus to amygdala allow person to what?

A

Gage emotional significance to what they just saw

33
Q

What is Capgras syndrome? What are patients with this like?

A

Connections between fusiform gyrus and amygdala are damaged rendering patient unable to tie emotion to objects or people

Patients don’t recognize family and think they are impostors (this only occurs when visualizing them, i.e. would still recognize a voice)

34
Q

What is the best known form of specific language impairment?

A

Dyslexia

35
Q

What % of the U.S. population is affected by Dyslexia

A

5-17%

36
Q

What happened to Phineas Gage (railroad worker)

A

A tamping iron went through his face, skull and brain

Survived, but damaged ventromedial region of both frontal lobes

Personality was severely altered, post-accident irresponsible, impudent

37
Q

What do ventromedial regions of the frontal lobes involved with?

A

Basic biologic regulation, emotional processing, social cognition and behavior (ventromedial regions connected with subcortical nuclei like amygdala and hypothalamus)

38
Q

High concentrations of serotonin S2 receptors in monkey’s ventromedial regions of their frontal lobes are associated with what? What about monkeys with low concentrations in this area?

A

Monkeys with socially adapted behavior

Low concentrations=aggression and socially uncooperative

39
Q

In ~95% of the population, general interpretive functions of Wernicke’s and angular gyrus as well as speech and motor control are more developed in which hemisphere

A

Left

40
Q

True or false; if the dominant hemisphere of a person’s language is damaged at a early age, the brain will delegate the work to the healthy hemisphere

A

True, this is an example of neuroplasticity

41
Q

If a person is left or mixed handed, what probabilities will there be for which hemisphere they will show lingual dominance

A

Left-70%
Right-15%
Both-15%

42
Q

If a person is right handed, what probabilities will there be for which hemisphere they will show lingual dominance

A

Left-96%
Right-4%
Both-0%

43
Q

Generally, what actions/interpretation of information are delegated to the left hemisphere

A
language based functions
interpreting symbols, speech, written words
analytical functions (math)
44
Q

Generally, what actions/interpretation of information are delegated to the right hemisphere

A

Music
non verbal visual experiences (body language)
spatial relations

45
Q

What is the function of the corpus callosum? Is there a limit to where it can work?

A

Bilateral communication between hemispheres

Yes, anterior portions of the temporal lobe are non connected by corpus callosum, they’re connected by the anterior commissure

46
Q

What does the anterior commissure connected?

A

Bilateral communication between anterior portions of the temporal lobe (amygdala-emtional response transfer)

47
Q

Why would a surgeon sever the corpus callosum

A

To prevent the spread of seizures in patients with severe epilepsy

48
Q

True or false; the allocortex is made up of the archicortex and paleocortex

A

True

49
Q

What 3 cortical layers make up the hippocampus

A

I, V, VI

50
Q

What 3 cortical layers make up the dentate gyrus

A

I, IV, VI

51
Q

What kind of memory is the hippocampal formation associated with?

A

Declarative-making declarative statements of memory (Episodic or daily memory, and semantic or factual info)

52
Q

How does the hippocampus have a function in episodic memory

A

It has bidirectional connections with parahippocampal regions

53
Q

True or false; memory functions can be localized to specific regions of brain

A

True; i.e. hippocampus and hippocampal gyrus

54
Q

How does memory form?

A

Caused by changes in sensitivity of synaptic transmission between neurons as a result of previous mental activity “memory traces”

55
Q

True or false; “memory traces” can occur at all levels of the nervous system from spinal cord to cortex?

A

True

56
Q

What is positive memory associated with? What about negative memories

A

Positive- associated with facilitation

Negative- associated with habituation (suppression)

57
Q

What is the difference between short term, intermediate long term, and long term memory

A

Short- last seconds to minutes
Intermediate- last days to weeks
Long- last years to lifetime

58
Q

What is the NMDA receptor associated with? What does it bind?

A

Associated with synaptic learning/memory

Binds glutamate

59
Q

True or false; memory has stages and is continually changing

A

True; long term-plastic changes

60
Q

True or false; long term memory and declarative/reflexive memory involved the same neuronal pathways

A

False; they do not

61
Q

What is conscious memory? What part of the brain does it involve?

A

Memory of details of an integrated thought
Memory of surroundings, time relationships

Involves the hippocampal gyrus (evaluation, comparison, inference)

62
Q

What is Hyperthymestic syndrome? How many people worldwide have this? What is unique about their brain

A

Person has total recall of every memory in their lives
Only 10 people have been identified

Have large caudate nucleus

63
Q

True or false; reflexive memory is associated with conscious motor activities

A

False; associated with unconscious motor activities

64
Q

What is the difference between episodic and semantic memory? What area of the brain do they both involve

A

Episodic- remembering daily episodes
Semantic- factual (2+2=4)

hippocampus and parahippocampal areas

Hippocampus and temporal lobe areas thought to process newly learned things before transferring to cortex

65
Q

True or false; the hippocampus may store long term memory for weeks before transferring to cortex

A

true

66
Q

Bilateral removal of hippocampus is associated with what

A

profound deficits in memory

loss of capacity to form new long term memories
loss of ability to transfer most types of learning from short term to long term

67
Q

What memory capability is spared following bilateral lesions of temporal lobe (hippocampal formation)

A

Learning tasks that have two things in common - tasks tend to be reflexive and involve habits, motor, or perceptual skills - do not require conscious awareness

68
Q

What is habituation?

A

Decrease in response to report benign stimulus

69
Q

What is sensitization (pseudo conditioning)

A

Strengthening of responses to a wide variety of stimuli following and intense stimulus

70
Q

What is imitative learning very important in?

A

Learning language (mirror neurons)

71
Q

Where are mirror neurons found?

A

Ventral premotor cortex and inferior parietal lobe

72
Q

What are the two kinds of associative learning

A

Classical conditioning and Operant conditioning

73
Q

What is operant conditioning?

A

When a dog learns if it poops in the house it will be punished

74
Q

True or false; if you don’t use neurons you lose them

A

True; during young life especially neurons are looking to make meaningful connections and if they do they will flourish, if they do not, they will perish

75
Q

What is the possible % of the cortex you can lose if you don’t use it?

A

50%

76
Q

True or false; storage of memory is associated with structural changes in the brain

A

True; increase in both # of transmitter vesicles and release sites, increase in synaptic connections (neural plasticity)

77
Q

If protein kinase M zeta is blocked, what else is blocked?

A

Long term memory

78
Q

Difference between learning and memory

A

Learning- process by which we acquire knowledge about the world

Memory- process by which knowledge is encoded, stored and retrieved

79
Q

True or false; all learning is beneficial

A

False; some can be detrimental

80
Q

True or false; in extreme cases learning can cause psychological disorders

A

true

81
Q

Difference between implicit memory and explicit

A

Implicit- unconscious memory

Explicit- conscious memory

82
Q

What area of the brain is the general area that controls overall excitement

A

Reticular excitatory area (reticular formation of pons and midbrain)

83
Q

In diffuse stimulation of the cerebrum via the thalamus, where do rapid short lasting signals come from? What is released? What about long lasting?

A

Short- magnocellular releasing ACH

Long- from many small nuclei releasing glutamate

84
Q

True or false; the reticular excitatory areas transmit excitatory signals to spinal cord

A

true; maintains tone of antigravity muscles

85
Q

If the reticular excitatory area (reticular formation pons) was cut what would you expect to see from a patient

A

Coma

86
Q

What promotes wakefulness

A

pontomesencephalic cells located in locus ceruleus and dorsolateral pontine tegmentum

87
Q

What kind of cells do you find in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum (associated with wakefulness)

A

dopaminergic cells

noradrenergic cells

88
Q

Both the caudal mesencephalic cholinergic (ACH) cells and oral pontine reticular formation (glutaminergic cells) are associated with maintaining what?

A

Wakefulness

89
Q

True or false; caudal mesencephalic cholinergic (ACH) cells and oral pontine reticular formation (glutaminergic cells) contribute to wakefulness primarily through ascending projections to the thalamus

A

true; they also communicate with hypothalamus and basal forebrain

90
Q

In regards to wakefulness; thalamocortical projections contain what neurotransmitter

A

Glutamate

91
Q

In regards to wakefulness; basal forebrain projections contain what neurotransmitter

A

ACH

92
Q

The reticular inhibitory area, located in the medulla in reticular formation inhibits the reticular excitatory area via what kind of projections?

A

Serotonergic projections (raphe)

93
Q

True or false; the norepinephrine system (locus ceruleus) is the most wide spread-generally stimulatory neurohormone

A

true

94
Q

True or false; the dopamine system (substania nigra, arcuate nucleus) can increase or decrease neuroendocrine behavior

A

true

95
Q

What system is involved in the raphe nuclei involved in

A

Serotonin system (usually inhibitory, induction of sleep)

96
Q

What system is the gigantocelluar involved in?

A

ACH system (usually excitatory)

97
Q

What area of the brain is most important in episodic memory

A

hippocampus

98
Q

In hyperthymestic syndrome, what brain structure is enlarged?

A

Caudate nucleus

99
Q

What would be the result of bilateral ablation of the hippocampus

A

retrograde amnesia

100
Q

What cortical neurons fire when we observe someone doing something

A

mirror neurons in ventral premotor area

101
Q

What neural circuit is associated with emotion?

A

papez circuit

102
Q

What is the Papez circuit

A

anatomic basis for connections of limbic system with higher cortical areas (bidirectional) (emotion)

103
Q

The cortex, cingulate gyrus, hippocampal formation, amygdala, mammillary body, hypothalamus, and thalamus are all involved in what circuit?

A

Papez circuit (emotion)

104
Q

What are the 2 basic emotional states

A

Arousal and Conservation

105
Q

Which basic emotional state is associated with sympathetic functions, steep tropistic gradient

A

Arousal

106
Q

Which basic emotional state is associated with parasympathetic functions, apathy, decreased muscle tone

A

conservation

107
Q

What is the major output pathway and one of the central elements of the limbic system?

A

Hypothalamus

108
Q

What part of the limbic system is associated with behavior control (reward and punishment) control of vegetative functions (body temp, osmolaity, motivational drives, thirst and hunger) endocrine control (ant. pituitary) and some immune function

A

Hypothalamus

109
Q

True or false; the hypothalamus has vegetative controls like cardiovascular regulation, regulation of body temp, body water, uterine contractility and milk ejection

A

true

110
Q

The lateral hypothalamus is associated with what?

A

Thirst, eating, increased level of activity, rage and fighting

111
Q

The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus is associated with what?

A

satiety, and tranquility

112
Q

Periventricular nucleus (central gray) part of hypothalamus is associated with what

A

fear and punishment reactions

113
Q

Extreme anterior and posterior regions of the hypothalamus is associated with what

A

sexual drive

114
Q

Where would you find reward centers

A

along medial forebrain in lateral nuclei of hypothalamus (positive reinforcement)

115
Q

Where would you find punishment centers

A

central gray around aqueduct of sylvius in mesencephalon extending into perioventricular zones of hypothalamus and thalamus (negative reinforcement)

116
Q

True or false; the medial forebrain pleasure circuit is self stimulated

A

true

117
Q

Where is pleasure perceived in the brain

A

medial forebrain pleasure circuit

118
Q

What is associated with “want more, like less” “tolerance, craving, withdrawal”

A

addiction

119
Q

True or false; endogenous opiate receptors have highest density in cerebral cortex

A

false; they have lowest density here

Highest density in amygdala and hypothalamus

120
Q

What is Kluver-Bucy syndrome

A

Bilateral ablation of amygdala

Loss of fear
Excessive sexual drive

121
Q

What constitutes about 1/2 the volume of the brain and outnumber neurons 10:1

A

Glial cells

122
Q

What are the 3 major glial cells in the CNS

A

Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglia

123
Q

True or false; glial cells can proliferate throughout life

A

true; injury stimulates

124
Q

True or false; glial cells do not function with neurons often

A

false; they are partners in practically every function

125
Q

Which glial cell is closely associated with blood vessels and neurons

A

Astrocytes

126
Q

Which glial cells store virtually all the glycogen present in the brain

A

Astrocytes (contain enzymes for metabolizing glycogen)

127
Q

True or false; astrocytes can supply fuel to neurons in the form of lactate derived from glucose

A

true (glucose is taken up by astrocytes and converted to lactic acid)

128
Q

Are astrocytes permeable to K+

A

yes

129
Q

Do astrocytes have similar NT receptors of identical neurons

A

yes (astrocytes have high infinity for uptake of large # of NT like glutamate and GABA)

130
Q

Which glial cell is associated with Ca+ waves causing changes in activity in nearby neurons

A

astrocytes

131
Q

What glial cells, is present in all areas of the CNS, makes and sustains myelin

A

Oligodendrocytes

132
Q

True or false; oligodendrocytes are involved in pH regulation

A

true; they contain most of the carbonic anhydrase in brain

133
Q

True or false; oligodendrocytes are involved in Cu metabolism

A

false; they are involved in iron metabolism

contain ferritin, transferritin

134
Q

What are considered the macrophages of the CNS

A

Microglia

135
Q

What makes up about 20% of the glial cells in the brain, mediates immune responses

A

microglia

136
Q

What is the most effective antigen presenting cell in the brain and rapidly activates by injury where they rapidly proliferate

A

microglia