Hierarchical + Neocortical Organization Flashcards
What are subcortical structures? Name 4 of them
Subcortical structures are structures beneath the cerebral cortex that can sometimes supplement complex behaviour when the cortex structures for that behaviour are missing
examples of a subcortical structure are the basal ganglia, the hypothalamus, the thalamus, and the amygdala

What can subcortical structures do in the absence of cortical structures?
Subcortical structures can mediate, and sometimes supplement complex behaviours when the cortex structures for that behaviour are damaged
What is the principle of Hierarchical Organization of Function?
The principle of hierarchical organization of function is that each level of brain organization doesn’t necessarily perform the same function, rather that they add a new dimension of function to each other, as the hierarchy goes on 
Mid-Brain versus Hind Brain
In terms of function behind brain can perform some units of movement by hissing, biting, chewing, licking, etc..
The mid brain is responsive to simple, visual, stimuli and performs subconscious action like grooming. 
Hypothalamus v Thalamus
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland, regulate body temperature, whore moans and homeostasis
thalamus intakes all sensory information, except for olfactory information and projects it onto the cortex 
Basal Ganglia
The basal ganglia is a cluster of nuclei that includes the caudate nuclei, the putamen, and Globus pallidus
the basal ganglia combines the automatic movements to voluntary movements, making them more biologically adaptive and easy for the specimen to do. This region is made up mostly of grey matter. 
Cortex
This refers to the cerebral cortex, which is a wrinkly top layer of the brain that is made up of mostly gray matter, and consists of gyri and sulci 
Define low decerebration. How does it compare to high decerebration?
Low décérébration is when the hind brain and spinal cord are disconnected from the rest of the brain. Sensory input stops going to the four brain and there is a constant loss of consciousness.
High discerebration is damaged to the diencephalon that disconnects it from portions of the midbrain that handle, coordinating vision, and hearing, and the tegmentum

Animals with high decelebration can only reply to visual and auditoris stimuli at a distance by moving towards them, they still have control of voluntary/appetite of movements. These movements get an animal from place to place and are used to satisfy needs like finding food they can they can also perform automatic movements, such as drinking water 
Describe the behavioral state and capacity iof a diencephaliuc animal
Diencephalic animals behaviour has affective and motivational dimensions to it, and the fact that their emotions can build and be calm energized, and they can be sustained. These emotions are often displaced, however, and seemingly random. 
Define Decortation? What does it cause?
Decortation is the removal of the cerebral cortex, keeping the basal ganglia and brainstem still intact. Decorticated animals are able to eat drink and have typical sleep cycles. They can run climb swim and even get through simple maze mazes. However, the cortex seems to control, forethought and intentional actions. Thus animals lose the ability to make nests, hoard food or have complex behaviors. 
What is Brodmann’s Map? why is it impoartant
A map of a cortex divided into primary secondary and tertiary zones by way of chronological myelin and development 
Spiny Nuerons v Aspiny Neurons
spiny neurons have dendritic spines which increase the surface area of the dendrites. They are generally excitable and use glutamate or aspirate as their primary neurotransmitter
Aspiny neurons lack destroying spines and are generally inhibitory- they use GABA as their primary neurotransmitter in combo with many other NT’s making Aspiny neurons very chemically and physically diverse
Pyramidal Cells v Stellate Cells
These are spiny neurons that
Pyramidal: has triangular cell bodies with long axons that send infor from cortical regions to other parts of the CNS
Stellate: smaller star shaped cells whose processes are generally contained to the area the cell inhabits
A Projection Map does…..
Shows areas of the cortex that process specific sensory information and produce movement and breaks the down into primary secondary and tertiary areas
Primary Areas v Secondary Areas v Tertiary Areas
Primary Areas recieve info from major sensory systems or send much data to motor systems
Secondary Areas are usually nearby the primary areas and help elaborate the info recieved by the primary areas
Tertiary Areas are the cortical areas that don’t have any specific specialized but assisted in multiple functions
Give an example of a secondary area and what it does
Pré motor cortex
Give an example of a tertiary area and what it does
List the cortical layers and their functions
Each of the four to six layers of the neocortex has different functions, different afferents, and different efferents. Cells of the middle cortical layers, especially in and around layer IV, constitute an input zone of sensory analysis: they re- ceive projections from other cortical areas and from other areas of the brain. The cells of layers V and VI constitute an output zone, sending axons to other cortical areas or other brain areas.
The thickness of a cortical layer depends on….
Whether it is motor or somatic and what Function it serves
Specific Afferent v Non-Specific
- Specific afferents bring information (e.g., sensory information) to an area of the cortex and terminate in relatively discrete cortical regions, usually in only one or two layers. Specific afferents include projections from the thalamus as well as from the amygdala. Most of these projections terminate in layer IV, although projections from the amygdala and certain thalamic nuclei may terminate in the more superficial layers
Nonspecific afferents presumably serve general functions, such as maintaining a level of activity or arousal so that the cortex can process information. They terminate diffusely over large regions of the cortex—in some cases, over all of it. Nonspecific afferents even release their trans- mitter substances into the extracellular spac
What are Cortical Columns
interactions between the cortical layers take place vertically, within the neurons directly above or below adjacent layers. Less interaction takes place with cells more than a couple of millimeters on either side. This vertical bias forms the basis for a second type of neocortical organization: columns or modules
Define Multimodal Cortex. Give an example
Principle connections of cortical hieracrhy in the Primary visual cortex are…
Define Subcortical Loops. Why are they important?
Reciprocal cortical-subcortical connections or feedback loops.
The neocortex above subcortical structures are constantly sending each other information looped between the neocortex, hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, and thalamus.
Subcortical loops presumably play some role in amplifying or modulating ongoing cortical activity
