Systems Level Neural Architecture

Question 1

What are the subdivisions of the brain? (3 parts)

Answer 1

Forebrain
Midbrain
Hindbrain

Question 2

What are the subdivisions of the brain? (5 parts)

Answer 2

Telencephalon
Diencephalon
Mesencephalon
Metencephalon
Myelencephalon

Question 3

What does the myelencephalon (medulla) contain?

Answer 3

Tracts carrying signals between the rest of the brain and the body

Question 4

What vital functions is the myelencephalon involved in?

Answer 4

Sleep/wakefulness
Movement
Maintenance of muscle tone
Cardiac/circulatory/respiratory/excretory reflexes

Question 5

What is the function of the pons?

Answer 5

Relay from the cortex and midbrain to the cerebellum

Question 6

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 6

Motor coordination
Recently implicated in cognitive and affective/emotional function

Question 7

What are the two main parts of the midbrain?

Answer 7

Tegmentum
Tectum

Question 8

What is the function of the tectum?

Answer 8

Visual/spatial and auditory frequency maps

Question 9

What is another name for the tectum?

Answer 9

Colliculli

Question 10

What is the superior colliculus sensitive to?

Answer 10

Sensory change - orienting/defensive movements

Question 11

What is the inferior colliculus sensitive to?

Answer 11

Sensory change - auditory events

Question 12

What are the 3 parts of the tegmentum?

Answer 12

Periaqueductal gray
Red nucleus
Substantia nigra

Question 13

What is the function of the periaquductal gray?

Answer 13

Role in defensive behaviour
Role in pain (ascending and descending signals)
Role in reproduction

Question 14

What is the function of the red nucleus?

Answer 14

Role in pre-cortical motor control (especially arms and legs)

Question 15

What is the substantia nigra part of?

Answer 15

Basal ganglia

Question 16

What is the diencephalon comprised of?

Answer 16

Thalamus
Hypothalamus

Question 17

What is the function of the specific nuclei in the thalamus?

Answer 17

Relay signals to cortex/limbic system for all sensations (but smell…)

Question 18

What is the function of the non-specific nuclei in the thalamus?

Answer 18

Role in regulating state of sleep and wakefulness and levels of arousal

Question 19

What does the hypothalamus regulate?

Answer 19

Regulates the pituitary gland which regulates hormonal secretion: interface between brain and hormones

Question 20

What does the hypothalamus have a role in?

Answer 20

Hormonal control of motivated behaviour …including hunger, thirst, temperature, pain, pleasure and sex

Question 21

What are the subcortical portions?

Answer 21

Basal ganglia
Limbic system

Question 22

What is the basal ganglia involved in?

Answer 22

Motor function since involved in movement disorders

Question 23

What is the limbic system involved in?

Answer 23

Emotion, motivation and emotional association with memory

Question 24

What does the limbic system influence the formation of?

Answer 24

Memory by integrating emotional states with stored memories of physical sensations

Question 25

What structures are part of the limbic system?

Answer 25

Amygdala Hippocampus Fornix Cingulate Gyrus Septum Mamillary Body

Question 26

What is the Amygdala involved in?

Answer 26

Involved in associating sensory stimuli with emotional impact

Question 27

What is the mamillary body important for?

Answer 27

Formation of recollective memory – amnesia

Question 28

What is the hippocampus involved in?

Answer 28

Involved in memory (long term) Involved in spatial memory

Question 29

What is the Septum involved in?

Answer 29

Involved in defense and aggression

Question 30

What is the Cingulate gyrus involved in?

Answer 30

Linking behavioural outcomes to motivation and autonomic control – atrophied in schizophrenia

Question 31

What is the function of the fornix?

Answer 31

Carries signals from the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies and septal nucleus

Question 32

What does the cerebral cortex contain?

Answer 32

Contain the precentral gyrus from which motor instructions (particularly for fine motor control) that are sent to muscles controlling hands and feet

Question 33

What is the function of the primary motor cortex?

Answer 33

Contains many of the cells giving origin to the descending motor pathways - it is involved in the initiation of voluntary movements.

Question 34

What is the function of the premotor and supplementary motor areas?

Answer 34

Higher level motor plans and initiation of voluntary movements

Question 35

What is the function of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 35

Involved in: Executive planning Working memory Control of behaviour

Question 36

What does the parietal lobe contain?

Answer 36

The postcentral gyrus

Question 37

What is the function of the postcentral gyrus?

Answer 37

Receives sensation from the rest of the body

Question 38

What is the function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

Answer 38

Maintains representations of the body's and of the head's position in space. Permits complicated spatio-temporal predictions – e.g. catching something when you are moving

Question 39

Where is the primary somatosensory cortex located?

Answer 39

Parietal lobe

Question 40

Where is the primary auditory cortex located?

Answer 40

Temporal lobe

Question 41

What is the function of the inferotemporal cortex?

Answer 41

Recognition of faces and objects