Session 8 - Lecture 1: Higher Cortical Function

Question 1

What are the main inputs of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 1

Thalamus and other cortical areas.

Question 2

What are the main outputs of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 2

Pyramidal cells and other widespread areas.

Question 3

What are the main functions of the frontal lobe?

Answer 3

Motor, expression of speech (usually left hemisphere), behavioural regulation, cognition, eye movement and continence.

Question 4

What are the main functions of the parietal lobes?

Answer 4

Sensory, comprehension of speech (usually left hemisphere), body image (usually right), awareness of external environment, calculation and writing, visual pathways projecting through white matter.

Question 5

What are the main functions of the temporal lobes?

Answer 5

Hearing, olfaction, memory, emotion and visual pathways projecting through white matter.

Question 6

What is usually the function of the left cerebral hemisphere?

Answer 6

Sequential processing, language, mathematics and logic. Left hemisphere is dominant in 95% of the population.

Question 7

What is usually the function of the right cerebral hemisphere?

Answer 7

Whole picture processing, body image, visuospatial awareness, emotion and music.

Question 8

Describe the location of lesion for hemispatial neglect.

Answer 8

Lesions of parietal lobe, i.e. on right side will lead to the left side of images being ignored.

Question 9

Describe the corpus callous, its function and its significance in alien hand syndrome.

Answer 9

Huge bundle of white matter connecting the two hemispheres. A lesion here will lead to alien hand syndrome as there will be no communication between the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 10

Where is the location and function of Broca’s area?

Answer 10

Inferior, lateral frontal lobe. Involved in the production of speech.

Question 11

Where is the location and function of Wernicke’s area?

Answer 11

Superior temporal lobe. Involved in the interpretation of language.

Question 12

Describe the pathway for repeating a heard word

Answer 12

Ear –> primary auditory cortex –> Wernicke’s area –> arcuate fasciculus (white matter connecting two areas) –> Broca’s area –> face of motor homunculus, drives muscles necessary for speech.

Question 13

Describe the pathway for speaking a thought.

Answer 13

Cortical areas of the brain –> Wernicke’s area –> arcuate fasciculus –> Broca’s area –> face of motor homunculus.

Question 14

Describe the pathway for speaking a written word.

Answer 14

Eyes –> primary visual cortex –> Wernicke’s area –> arcuate fasciculus –> Broca’s area –> face of motor homunculus.

Question 15

Describe Wernicke’s aphasia.

Answer 15

Patient can produce fluent speech as Broca’s area is intact. Patient will not understand what person is saying.

Question 16

Describe Broca’s aphasia.

Answer 16

Patient can understand/interpret language but cannot produce speech.

Question 17

What types of memory do humans have?

Answer 17

Declarative = explicit/facts.
Non-declarative = implicit, motor skills and emotion.

Question 18

What is consolidation and what does it depend on?

Answer 18

Conversion of short term memory to long term memory, depends on emotional context, rehearsal and association.

Question 19

What is the function of the hippocampus in terms of memory, what inputs are involved?

Answer 19

Crucial for consolidating declarative memories, inputs from the visual system, auditory system, somatosensory system and limbic system. These many inputs contribute to neuroplasticity important for consolidation.