Neuroscience Final Exam Review

Final Exam Information

• Exam date: December 13th
• Exam time: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
• Exam location: ROZ 103
• Exam format:
  • 60 multiple choice questions (worth 60 marks)
  • 5 short answer/labeling questions (worth 40 marks)
• Scrap paper will be provided

From Last Class - Trisynaptic Circuit

• Perforant path (2 connections)
• EC (Entorhinal Cortex) to DG (Dentate Gyrus)
• Mossy fibers (3 connections)
• DG (Dentate Gyrus) to CA3
• Schaffer collaterals (3-4 connections)
• CA3 to CA1
• Hippocampal Output (three parts):
  • Fimbria/Fornix
  • Entorhinal Cortex

From Last Class - Linking Perception & Emotion

• Linking perception of objects/situations with emotional responses
• Primarily emotional responses associated with fear
• Emotional aspects of learning

Steps in Synaptic Transmission

• Production of neurotransmitters
• Packing of neurotransmitters
• Release of neurotransmitters
• Binding to receptors
• Termination of neurotransmitter action

Development - Neural Crest

• Neural crest cells form most of the neurons and glial cells of the PNS, as well as other tissues

Ventricular System

• The developing ventricular system, including ventricles (lateral, third, and fourth) and the aqueduct are part of this system.
• The choroid plexuses are shown in red. This system regulates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Circle of Willis

• Comprised of 5 component arteries: internal carotid, anterior cerebral, anterior communicating, posterior cerebral, and posterior communicating artery.
• If a major vessel is occluded, the communicating arteries can help perfusion to the distal tissues.

Blood-Brain Barrier

• Choroid epithelium regulates the composition of CSF and facilitates the flow of components to and from plasma.
• Intracerebral capillaries separate the extracellular space of the CNS from the rest of the body.
• Arachnoid barriers prevent diffusion into the subarachnoid space from outside the CNS.

Spinal Cord Organization

• Central, H-shaped grey matter is surrounded by white matter.
• Grey matter (Dorsal, intermediate, ventral horns) contain entry/exit points for sensory and motor information.
• White matter contains various spinal tracts.

Spinal Nerves

• Spinal cord is segmented, and each segment produces a bilateral pair of spinal nerves.
• Ventral and dorsal roots coalesce to form spinal segments.
• Spinal nerves are formed from these segments.

Spinal Tracts

• These are physiologically distinct tracts that carry specific sensory or motor information.
• Most tracts consist of 2 or 3 neurons.
• Major ascending tracts: DCML and AL.
• Major descending tracts: corticospinal and vestibulospinal.
• Tracts have consistent locations in the spinal cord and neurons usually cross over (decussate) at some point in their pathway.

Ascending Spinal Tracts

• Sensory information from the spinal cord is relayed to the thalamus, which is a gateway to the somatosensory cortex.
• Different tracts deal with different types of sensory information.
• Large-diameter afferents carry information from the arms and legs.
• Small-diameter afferents carry other sensory information.

Descending Spinal Tracts (Corticospinal)

• Descending tracts carry motor information.
• Other tracts include vestibulospinal/rubrospinal.
• Some key information, such as origin and role, is not yet specified in the notes.

Spinal Cord Damage

• Damage to different parts of the spinal cord leads to different symptoms, including sensory and motor impairments.
• Posterior columns are associated with touch and position sense.
• The spinothalamic tract relates to pain and temperature sensation.
• Lateral corticospinal tracts affect strength, tone, and reflexes.
• The anterior horn (lower motor neurons) impacts strength, tone, and reflexes, often causing atrophy.

The Cranial Nerves

• 12 pairs of cranial nerves, some are sensory, some motor, and some are both. A mnemonic is provided to remember them.

Cerebellum Connectivity

• Anatomical components include flocculonodular lobe, vestibular nuclei, Vermis, Fastigial nucleus, medial, interposed, and lateral hemispheres, and dentate nucleus.

Neocortex

• The neocortex is divided into layers with varying cell types.
• Layer I is cell-poor, Layer II contains granular cells, Layer III has small pyramidal cells, Layer IV contains granular cells, Layer V has large pyramidal cells, and Layer VI includes fusi/multiform pyramidal cells.

Basal Ganglia

• Important structures include the striatum (caudate and putamen), Globus Pallidus external and internal segments (GPe and GPi), Subthalamic nucleus (STN).

Basal Ganglia Function

• The basal ganglia play a role in the regulation of movement and other cognitive function.
• The notes describe different pathways for exciting and suppressing cortical activity, involving the striatum, thalamus, and subthalamic nucleus.

Prepare for your upcoming neuroscience final exam with this comprehensive quiz covering key concepts like the trisynaptic circuit, synaptic transmission, and the connection between perception and emotion. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding and recall of essential topics crucial for success in the exam.