higher cortical function

Question 1

what type of neurones are mostly output from the cortex ?

Answer 1

Pyramidal

Question 2

what are the types outputs from the cortex?

Answer 2

Projection fibres down brainstem
Commissural between hemispheres
Association fibres in the same hemisphere

Question 3

where do inputs come from ?

Answer 3

thalamus

Reticular formation = consciousness

Question 4

what can control memory, emotion and behaviour ?

Answer 4

interneurone connections

Question 5

what would you expect in terms of motor function if frontal lobe damaged ?

Answer 5

contralateral weakness

Question 6

what is the frontal lobe do for language ? what area is known for this?

Answer 6

expression of speech
broca’s area
usually left hemisphere

Question 7

what is difference between Broca’s and wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 7

Broca = cannot express
wernicke's = perception of language not understood = receptive

Question 8

What behavioural problems arise due to frontal lobe damage ?

Answer 8

impulsivity, disinhibition

agression and sexual inappropriateness

Question 9

what other problems may arises if the right frontal lobe is damaged ?

Answer 9

Complex problem solving

Question 10

what controls quick eye movements ?

Answer 10

frontal eye fields in the frontal lobe

Question 11

how can you tell lesion form frontal love or CN / Brainstem using eye movement ?

Answer 11

conjugate gaze = Frontal lobe

diplopia

Question 12

where in the brain can cause incontinence ?

Answer 12

frontal lobe

Question 13

what are the functions of the parietal lobe ?

Answer 13

sensory 
comprehension
body image 
awareness of environment 
calculation and writing

Question 14

what happens in terms of sensation in parietal lobe lesions ?

Answer 14

contralateral anaesthesia affecting all modalities (modalities
converge at the cortex)

Question 15

what 3 things are needed for language pathway ? what hemisphere is dominant

Answer 15

Broca’s - inferior lateral frontal lobe
Wernicke’s - superior temporal lobe
Arcuate fasciculus

Question 16

what hemisphere s known for body image and awareness ?

Answer 16

right parietal

damage = neglect

Question 17

what optic radiation goes through parietal lobe ? what can happen if there is lesion there ?

Answer 17

Superior optic radiation
contralateral inferior
homonymous quadrantanopia

Question 18

where is the primary auditory cortex ?

Answer 18

superior surface

of temporal lobe, near to Wernicke’s area

Question 19

where is the primary olfactory cortex ?

Answer 19

inferomedial aspect of the temporal lobe

Question 20

what part of the brain is especially responsible for memories ? if lesion present what can it lead to

Answer 20

hippocampus - declarative

amnesia

Question 21

what system is partly in the temporal lobe ? what parts especially and what is the function of this system ?

Answer 21

Limbic
hippocampus and amygdala
emotions

Question 22

what optic radiation goes through temporal lobe ? what can happen if there is lesion there ?

Answer 22

inferior optic radiation
contralateral superior
homonymous quadrantanopia

Question 23

what is the left hemisphere dominant for ?

Answer 23

language and

mathematical/logical functions

Question 24

what is the right hemisphere dominant for ?

Answer 24

body image,

visuospatial awareness, emotion and musical ability

Question 25

what can cause alien hand syndrome ?

Answer 25

damage to corpus callosum

Question 26

what can cause global aphasia ?

Answer 26

Large middle cerebral artery infarcts = no verbal language function

Question 27

what happens if arcuate fasciculus is damaged ?

Answer 27

inability to | repeat heard words

Question 28

why are memories stored everywhere in the brain ?

Answer 28

if damage to 1 area it is less likely to lose many memories

Question 29

what are the types of memories ? where are they each stored

Answer 29

declarative (facts) = cerebral cortex Nondeclarative (motor skills/emotion) = ubcortical structures (e.g. basal ganglia) and cerebellum

Question 30

where are short term memories stored ?

Answer 30

seconds to minutes as a ‘reverberation’ or ‘echo’ in | cortical circuits

Question 31

where are long term memories stored ?

Answer 31

cerebral cortex, cerebellum | etc. (up to a lifetime) following consolidation

Question 32

what is consolidation and what factors help it ?

Answer 32

short term to long term emotional context rehearsal association

Question 33

what helps consolidate declarative memories? where is it found ?

Answer 33

The hippocampus | deep in the temporal lobe

Question 34

how does the hippocampus consolidate ?

Answer 34

multimodal inputs from many brain systems facilitating consolidation of memories in the cortex via its output pathways (primarily the fornix mammillary bodies thalamuscortex)

Question 35

what in terms of celluar mechanism helps memory consolidation

Answer 35

Long term potentiation (LTP) increase in glutamate receptors in synapses leading to synaptic strengthening  New physical connections can also form between neurones to further strengthen connections (axonal sprouting)