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Questions and Answers
Which part of the brain does the medial lemniscus rise through?
Which part of the brain does the medial lemniscus rise through?
Where do the axons of the medial lemniscus synapse?
Where do the axons of the medial lemniscus synapse?
Which sensory information goes directly into the neocortex without first synapsing in the thalamus?
Which sensory information goes directly into the neocortex without first synapsing in the thalamus?
Where do thalamic neurons of the VP nucleus project to?
Where do thalamic neurons of the VP nucleus project to?
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What is the term used to describe specific sensory nuclei of the thalamus?
What is the term used to describe specific sensory nuclei of the thalamus?
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Is sensory information simply transferred, unchanged, through nuclei in the brain stem and thalamus on its way to the cortex?
Is sensory information simply transferred, unchanged, through nuclei in the brain stem and thalamus on its way to the cortex?
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What happens to information in both dorsal column and thalamic nuclei?
What happens to information in both dorsal column and thalamic nuclei?
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What enhances the responses to tactile stimuli in the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway?
What enhances the responses to tactile stimuli in the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway?
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Can synapses in the dorsal column and thalamic nuclei change their strength?
Can synapses in the dorsal column and thalamic nuclei change their strength?
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What can influence the input of the cortex?
What can influence the input of the cortex?
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Which pathway carries information about touch or vibration of the skin to the brain?
Which pathway carries information about touch or vibration of the skin to the brain?
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Where do the axons of the dorsal column terminate?
Where do the axons of the dorsal column terminate?
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Which side of the body is touch information from the right side represented in the activity of cells in the dorsal column nuclei?
Which side of the body is touch information from the right side represented in the activity of cells in the dorsal column nuclei?
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Where do the axons from cells of the dorsal column nuclei arch towards?
Where do the axons from cells of the dorsal column nuclei arch towards?
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Which side of the brain is concerned with sensations originating from the other side of the body?
Which side of the brain is concerned with sensations originating from the other side of the body?
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What is the name of the white matter tract that the axons of the dorsal column nuclei ascend within?
What is the name of the white matter tract that the axons of the dorsal column nuclei ascend within?
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Which type of axons bring information about tactile sensation toward the brain?
Which type of axons bring information about tactile sensation toward the brain?
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Where does the ascending branch of the large sensory axons enter the spinal cord?
Where does the ascending branch of the large sensory axons enter the spinal cord?
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What type of information does the dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway carry?
What type of information does the dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway carry?
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Where do some of the longest axons in the body originate and terminate?
Where do some of the longest axons in the body originate and terminate?
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Study Notes
Medial Lemniscus and Brain Pathways
- The medial lemniscus rises through the brainstem.
- The axons of the medial lemniscus synapse in the thalamus, specifically in the VP nucleus.
- Olfactory information is the only sensory information that goes directly into the neocortex without first synapsing in the thalamus.
Thalamus and Sensory Nuclei
- Thalamic neurons of the VP nucleus project to the primary somatosensory cortex.
- The term "specific sensory nuclei" is used to describe the specific nuclei of the thalamus that process different sensory information.
Sensory Information Processing
- Sensory information is not simply transferred, unchanged, through nuclei in the brain stem and thalamus on its way to the cortex.
- Information in both dorsal column and thalamic nuclei undergoes processing and modification.
- The responses to tactile stimuli in the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway are enhanced by the activation of receptors in the skin.
Synaptic Plasticity
- Synapses in the dorsal column and thalamic nuclei can change their strength based on experience.
- The input of the cortex can be influenced by various factors, including attention and past experiences.
Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscal Pathway
- The dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway carries information about touch or vibration of the skin to the brain.
- The axons of the dorsal column terminate in the gracile and cuneate nuclei.
- Touch information from the right side of the body is represented in the activity of cells in the dorsal column nuclei on the left side of the body.
- The axons from cells of the dorsal column nuclei arch towards the contralateral (opposite) side of the brain.
- The left side of the brain is concerned with sensations originating from the right side of the body.
- The dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway is carried through the medial lemniscus, a white matter tract.
- The pathway carries information about tactile sensation through large, myelinated axons.
- The ascending branch of the large sensory axons enters the spinal cord through the dorsal root.
- The dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway carries information about touch, vibration, and proprioception (position and movement of the body).
- Some of the longest axons in the body originate in the dorsal root ganglia and terminate in the gracile and cuneate nuclei.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscal Pathway, the pathway responsible for transmitting touch and vibration information to the brain.
