Central Nervous System: Brain and Spinal Cord

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the central nervous system (CNS)?

  • Controlling involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion.
  • Processing sensory information, coordinating actions, and sending commands to the skeletal and muscular systems. (correct)
  • Transmitting sensory information from internal organs to the brain.
  • Regulating body temperature through sweat glands and shivering.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the brain and the spinal cord?

  • The brain is the primary structure for motor control, while the spinal cord is responsible for sensory processing.
  • The brain and spinal cord operate independently, with no direct communication between them.
  • The spinal cord branches down from the brain; nerves connect to it, relaying sensory information and commands to the body. (correct)
  • The spinal cord controls higher-level cognitive functions, while the brain handles basic reflexes.

How does damage to the spinal cord affect sensory and motor functions?

  • Damage to the spinal cord enhances sensory perception and motor control due to increased nerve sensitivity.
  • Damage to the spinal cord primarily affects cognitive functions, with minimal impact on sensory and motor abilities.
  • Damage to the spinal cord only affects motor functions, while sensory perception remains intact.
  • Damage to the spinal cord disrupts the connection between the brain and sensory/motor neurons, leading to loss of sensation and motor control below the injury site. (correct)

Why does the location of a spinal cord injury influence the extent of lost abilities?

<p>Different regions of the spinal cord control different systems of the body, so the injury location dictates which functions are impaired. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is quadriplegia, and how does it typically occur?

<p>Quadriplegia involves loss of sensation and motor control over all limbs, usually resulting from a spinal injury higher up the cord. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What have experiments with monkeys and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) demonstrated regarding motor control?

<p>The brain can control mechanical devices through thought alone, opening possibilities for neuroprosthetics to aid paralyzed individuals. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) work to assist individuals with quadriplegia?

<p>BCIs decode signals from the motor cortex to control external devices like robotic arms, enabling movement. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the BCI study by Hochberg et al. (2012), what task were the quadriplegic participants able to perform using a robotic arm?

<p>Reaching for and grasping objects, such as purple spheres, with relatively high accuracy and speed. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of handwriting made it a challenging test for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in the study by Willett et al. (2021)?

<p>Handwriting involves a much more rapid sequence of movements than other BCI studied motor tasks. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the Willett et al. (2021) study, how did the researchers train the BCI to recognize the tetraplegic participant's intended handwriting?

<p>By having the participant 'write' letters on a computer screen by imagining writing them while the BCI recorded neural signals. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the approximate typing speed achieved by the tetraplegic participant (T5) in the Willett et al. (2021) study using the brain-computer interface (BCI)?

<p>90 characters per minute (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What level of accuracy did the tetraplegic participant (T5) achieve in the Willett et al. (2021) study when using the brain-computer interface (BCI) to mentally type?

<p>94% accuracy online, improving to 99% offline with autocorrect (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What broader impact does the progress in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have on individuals with paralysis?

<p>BCIs have the potential to improve the lives of people who have suffered paralysis by restoring communication and motor functions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the central nervous system (CNS) from the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

<p>The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS comprises the nerves connecting the CNS to the rest of the body. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If an individual suffers damage to the lower region of their spinal cord, what is the likely outcome?

<p>Loss of sensation and motor control in the lower body parts below the level of injury. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Imagine that a researcher is studying how the brain adapts after a spinal cord injury. What concept are they most likely investigating?

<p>Brain plasticity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Christopher Reeve's spinal cord injury resulted in which of the following conditions?

<p>Quadriplegia (loss of sensation and motor control in all limbs) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the movie Avatar illustrate in the context of neuroscience and brain-computer interfaces?

<p>The potential for individuals with paralysis to control external devices or avatars through their thoughts, bridging science fiction and reality. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the monkey experiments that preceded human BCI studies, what was the initial method used to train the monkeys to control a cursor on a computer screen?

<p>Using a joystick to obtain a juice reward. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What critical advancement allowed the monkeys to control the cursor on the computer screen with their thoughts alone, after initial joystick training?

<p>Researchers disconnected the joystick and used a computer model to translate neural activity into cursor movements. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of the multiple wires implanted into the monkeys' motor cortices in the BCI experiments?

<p>To measure and record the activity of many neurons. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of spinal cord injuries, what does the term 'prognosis' refer to?

<p>A prediction of the likely course and outcome of the injury. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the BCI study by Willett et al. (2021) involving the tetraplegic man referred to as T5, how were the BCI chips implanted?

<p>Surgically, in the participant's left motor cortex. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the use of an 'autocorrect' feature in the BCI handwriting study by Willett et al. (2021) suggest about the technology's current limitations?

<p>BCIs still have some limitations in accurately interpreting neural signals, requiring error-correction mechanisms. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Besides movement, what other function has been demonstrated to be potentially restored using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)?

<p>Handwriting / Communication (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the nervous system would be most affected by damage that causes paralysis in the legs?

<p>Spinal Cord (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The division of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Divisions of the nervous system that sends messages from sensory neurons through the spinal cord into the brain.

Spinal Cord Function

Voluntary movement commands travel from the brain, through this, to motor neurons.

Quadriplegia

Loss of sensation and motor control in all limbs (quad limbs).

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Brain Plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

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Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)

Interfaces that allow the brain to control external devices directly.

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Quadriplegia caused by stroke

Paralysis resulting in the loss of use of all limbs.

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Robotic Arm Control

Device controlled by signals decoded from the motor cortex used to perform tasks.

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Mental Handwriting

Typing using imagined handwriting movements.

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Study Notes

  • The nervous system has two major divisions: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.
  • It receives sensory information, processes and coordinates it, and sends commands to the skeletal and muscular systems.
  • The brain contains structures supporting complex perceptual, motor, emotional, and cognitive functions.
  • The spinal cord branches down from the brain, connecting nerves that process sensory information and relay commands.

Spinal Cord and Brain Collaboration

  • Messages are sent from sensory neurons through the spinal cord into the brain via the peripheral nervous system.
  • The brain sends commands for voluntary movement through the spinal cord to motor neurons, which project to skeletal muscles.
  • Spinal cord damage disrupts the connection between the brain and sensory/motor neurons, impairing sensory perception and movement.
  • The location of spinal injury determines the extent of lost abilities; different spinal cord regions control different body systems.
  • Spinal injuries result in loss of touch and pain sensation in body parts below the injury level, along with motor control loss in the same areas.
  • Higher spinal injuries often lead to poorer prognoses, such as quadriplegia (loss of sensation and motor control over all limbs) needing a respirator, and lifelong immobility.
  • Spinal cord injury treatment focuses on how the brain changes in response to injury, closely related to brain plasticity.
  • Brain-machine interfaces could improve the lives of people paralyzed from spinal cord injuries.

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)

  • Experiments with monkeys showed the brain can control mechanical devices through thoughts alone and learned to control a cursor on a computer screen using activity patterns of many neurons.
  • BCIs are being developed as neuroprostheses to help people with brain or spinal injuries causing paralysis.
  • Studies show quadriplegic patients can use a BCI to control a robotic arm for reaching and grasping movements. Patients were able to perform the task with relatively high levels of accuracy and speed
  • Researchers are improving the accuracy of BCIs to guide robotic arms.
  • A tetraplegic man was able to "write" letters on a computer screen by imagining it, while BCI learned which neural signals were associated with which letters.
  • This allowed him to type rapidly (90 characters per minute) with a 94% accuracy rate online (99% with autocorrect).
  • The man could also mentally type answers to open-ended questions.

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