WEEK 5 LECTURE + TUTORIAL

Question 1

The Telancephalon

Answer 1

-Cerebrum
-Limbic System
-Basal Ganglia
-Part of the forebrain
-Divided into symmetric left and right cerebral hemispheres: function contralaterally

Question 2

Telencephalon: Sub-regions

Answer 2

• Cerebral cortex: thin outer layer of neural tissue, responsible for many higher-order functions
  -Limbic system: Interconnected nuclei and cortical structures located in the telencephalon and diencephalon important for smell and learning and memory
  Basal Ganglia: Group of nuclei located beneath cortical surface vital for movement

Question 3

Cerebral Cortex Structure

Answer 3

• Cortex surface enlarged 3x by folding
  -Gyrus: Bulges
  -Sulcus: Small grooves
  -Fissure: Large grooves
  -Prominent features: central sulcus, lateral fissure, longitudinal fissure

Question 4

Caudal VS Rostral

Answer 4

Caudal: Behind
Rostral: In front

Question 5

Prefrontal Cortex

Answer 5

• Most rostral region of cortex
  -Planning and strategies
  -Main Functions: Executive Function (schizophrenia), personality and control (addiction)
  -Main site of action for dopamine regulating attention, impulse inhibition
  -Emotional expression and language production

Question 6

Lateralisation

Answer 6

-Two hemispheres do not perform identical functions
-Lateralised: Some functions primarily located on 1 side
-Left Hemisphere: Info analysis, recognising serial events, controlling sequences of behaviour
-Right Hemisphere: Synthesis

Question 7

Corpus Callosum

Answer 7

-Large bundles of axons
-Interconnects corresponding regions of the cortex on each hemisphere

Question 8

Split-Brain Surgery

Answer 8

-Corpus Callosum cut: relieves epileptic seizures
-Speech: left hemisphere
-Reports of left and right hemispheres conflicting
-Olfactory information is an exception to contralateral representation of sensory information

Question 9

Hippocampus

Answer 9

-Forebrain structure of temporal lobe
Functions:
-Learning and memory
-Storing and retrieving explicit memories

Question 10

Amygdala

Answer 10

-In the interior of rostral temporal lobe
-Set of nuclei: amygdala and regions of limbic cortex involves in multiple aspects of emotions
-Vital for decoding emotion, particularly to threatening stimuli
Functions
-Fear, Fear Learning, aggression, stress
-Fight or flight
-Activation of adrenaline

Question 11

Limbic Structures
CG, MB, FORNIX

Answer 11

1. Cingulate gyrus, regulates emotions, pains and behaviours

2.Mamillary bodies, part of the hypothalamus, memory recollection

3. Fornix: plays a key role in cognition and episodic memory

Question 12

Basal ganglia

Answer 12

-Part of the telencephalon
-Group of subcortical nuclei
-Involved in control of movement
-Process info from several regions of cerebral cortex
-Returns info to motor cortex via thalamus
-Operating in conjunction with a loop involving the cerebellum
-Important in Parkinsons disease

Question 13

Diencephalon

Answer 13

-Divisions of the forebrain
-Located between telencephalon and mesencephalon
-Surrounding the third ventricle
-Two main structures: thalamus and hypothalamus
Functions:
-Relays sensory info
-Controls many autonomic functions of PNS Connects endocrine system to NS
-Involved in emotions and memories alongside limbic system

Question 14

Thalamus

Answer 14

-Largest portion of diencephalon (thalamus)
-Dorsal part of diencephalon
-Two lobes connected by bridge of grey matter which pierces middle third ventricle
Thalamus Function:
-Receiving and relaying auditory, visual and somatosensory signals to the cerebral cortex
-Controlling sleep and awake states
-Motor control
-Memory and emotions

Question 15

Thalamic Nuclei

Answer 15

-Clusters of densely packed neuronal cell bodies that compromise the thalamus
-some nuclei are involved in general excitability of cerebral cortex
-other nuclei act as relay stations for sensory and non-sensory info

Question 16

The Brainstem

Answer 16

-Oldest part of the brain
3 Main subdivisions:
1. Midbrain (mesencephalon)
2. Pons (metencephalon)
3. Medulla (myelencephalon)
-Full physical and mental functioning, largely manages ANS

Question 17

1. Midbrain

Answer 17

-Tectum: dorsal auditory and visual system
-Tegmentum: Rostral end of reticular formation, sleep, arousal, muscle tone, movement and vital reflexes
-Reticular formation: large, interconnected network of nuclei and neurons, runs through the core of the brainstem, essential to life

Question 18

2. Pons

Answer 18

-Latin for ‘bridge’
- Connection between cerebrum and cerebellum
-Origin of 4 cranial nerves
-Helps coordinate nerves and movement
-Core is reticular formation

Question 19

3. Medulla Oblongata

Answer 19

-Oblong marrow
-Most caudal portion of the brainstem
-Terminal of brainstem
-Conduit for nerve tracts
-Centre for vital functions such as heart-rate, blood pressure and breathing
-Nuclei of the four inferior cranial nerves