Cerebral Cortex Functions and Structure

Study Notes

Cerebral Cortex

The outermost layer of the brain, responsible for processing sensory information, controlling movement, and facilitating thought and consciousness
Divided into four lobes:
- Frontal lobe: executive functions, motor control, and language
- Parietal lobe: sensory processing, spatial awareness, and attention
- Temporal lobe: auditory processing, memory, and language
- Occipital lobe: visual processing
Consists of:
- Grey matter: neuronal cell bodies and their supporting cells
- White matter: myelinated axons that facilitate communication between neurons

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons
Examples:
- Acetylcholine: involved in muscle contraction, memory formation, and regulation of the autonomic nervous system
- Dopamine: involved in motivation, reward, and movement control
- Serotonin: involved in mood regulation, appetite, and sleep
- Norepinephrine: involved in attention, arousal, and stress response
Process:
1. Synthesis: neurotransmitters are produced in the neuron
2. Storage: neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles
3. Release: neurotransmitters are released into the synapse
4. Binding: neurotransmitters bind to receptors on adjacent neurons
5. Termination: neurotransmitters are either broken down or taken back up by the neuron

Hippocampus

A structure located in the temporal lobe, involved in:
- Forming and consolidating new memories
- Spatial navigation and orientation
- Emotion regulation
Consists of:
- Dentate gyrus: receives information from the entorhinal cortex
- Hippocampal proper: processes and consolidates information
- Subiculum: sends processed information to other brain regions
Damage to the hippocampus can lead to difficulties in forming new memories (anterograde amnesia)

Cerebral Cortex

The outermost layer of the brain, responsible for processing sensory information, controlling movement, and facilitating thought and consciousness
Divided into four lobes:
Frontal lobe: executive functions, motor control, and language
Parietal lobe: sensory processing, spatial awareness, and attention
Temporal lobe: auditory processing, memory, and language
Occipital lobe: visual processing
Consists of grey matter (neuronal cell bodies and their supporting cells) and white matter (myelinated axons that facilitate communication between neurons)

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons
Examples:
Acetylcholine: involved in muscle contraction, memory formation, and regulation of the autonomic nervous system
Dopamine: involved in motivation, reward, and movement control
Serotonin: involved in mood regulation, appetite, and sleep
Norepinephrine: involved in attention, arousal, and stress response
Process:
Synthesis: neurotransmitters are produced in the neuron
Storage: neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles
Release: neurotransmitters are released into the synapse
Binding: neurotransmitters bind to receptors on adjacent neurons
Termination: neurotransmitters are either broken down or taken back up by the neuron

Hippocampus

A structure located in the temporal lobe, involved in:
Forming and consolidating new memories
Spatial navigation and orientation
Emotion regulation
Consists of:
Dentate gyrus: receives information from the entorhinal cortex
Hippocampal proper: processes and consolidates information
Subiculum: sends processed information to other brain regions
Damage to the hippocampus can lead to difficulties in forming new memories (anterograde amnesia)

Description

Explore the functions and structure of the cerebral cortex, including its four lobes and their roles in processing sensory information, controlling movement, and facilitating thought and consciousness.