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What is the primary function of the thalamus in the cerebral cortex?
What percentage of the population has a left dominant hemisphere?
What is the result of damage to the dominant Wernicke's area?
What is the primary role of the prefrontal association area?
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What is the characteristic of Wernicke's area in the dominant hemisphere?
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What is the result of damage to the prefrontal association area?
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What is the possible mechanism of immediate memory?
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What is the result of repetitive stimulation?
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What is the role of cAMP in the molecular basis for memory?
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What is the result of long-term memory?
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What is the process of converting immediate into short- and long-term memory?
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What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?
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What is the primary function of the prefrontal association area?
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What is the significance of the quote from Pink Floyd in the context of brain function?
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Which area of the brain is responsible for forming words that express a particular thought?
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What is the role of the arcuate fasciculus in language processing?
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What is the primary function of Wernicke's area?
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What is the final step in the pathway for auditory communication?
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What is the primary function of the primary auditory area?
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Which area of the brain is responsible for the full interpretation of visual input?
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What is the result of the destruction of the visual and auditory association areas?
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What is the purpose of the pathway that transmits signals to the motor cortex?
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What is the role of the parietal-temporal-occipital association cortex?
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What is the name of the aphasia caused by the destruction of the visual and auditory association areas?
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What is the primary function of Wernicke's area?
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Which hemisphere is responsible for understanding spoken words?
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What happens when the fibers of the corpus callosum are interrupted?
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What is the neural mechanism for thought?
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What is the definition of memory?
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What is the longest-lasting type of memory?
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Study Notes
Physiologic Anatomy of Cerebral Cortex
- Each area of the cortex is connected to a specific part of the thalamus.
- Thalamic connection is necessary for cortical function; loss of thalamic connection stops cortical function.
- All sensory pathways pass through the thalamus, except for the olfactory tract.
Dominant and Non-Dominant Hemisphere
- Wernicke's area is more developed in one hemisphere, responsible for verbal symbolism and related intelligence.
- 95% of the population has a left dominant hemisphere.
- Wernicke's area can be up to 50% larger in the dominant hemisphere.
- Damage to the dominant Wernicke's area leads to dementia.
- The non-dominant side is related to other forms of sensory intelligence (music, sensory feelings).
Intellectual Functions of the Prefrontal Association Area
- Responsible for calling forth stored information and using it to obtain a goal.
- Responsible for concerted thinking in a logical sequence.
- Damage causes inability to keep track of simultaneous bits of information and easily distracted.
- Elaboration of thought, prognostication, planning, and consideration of consequences of motor actions before they are performed.
- Correlates widely divergent information and controls one's activities.
Function of the Brain in Communication
- Pathways for auditory communication involve:
- Primary auditory area recognition of the sound as a word.
- Interpretation of the word and the thought that the word expresses in Wernicke's area.
- Formation of the word that expresses a particular thought.
- Transmission via the arcuate fasciculus to Broca's area for control of word formation.
- Activation of motor programs in Broca's area for control of speech muscles.
- Transmission of signals to motor cortex to control speech muscles.
Pathways for Visual Communication
- Pathways for visual communication involve:
- Receive the visual input in the primary visual area.
- Processing of the visual information in the parietal-temporal-occipital association cortex, the angular gyrus region.
- Visual input reaches full level of interpretation in Wernicke's area.
- Transmission to Broca's area for motor formation of the word.
- Transmission of signals to motor cortex to control speech muscles.
Sensory Aspects of Communication
- Wernicke's aphasia results from destruction of the visual and auditory association areas, leading to an inability to understand the written or spoken word.
Motor Aspects of Communication
- Speech involves two things: formation in the mind of thoughts to be expressed and the choice of words, and motor control of vocalization and the act of vocalization.
- Formation of word, thought, and choice of words is a function of Wernicke's area.
- Broca's area controls the motor coordination required for speech.
Function of the Corpus Callosum
- Connects the two hemispheres and allows transfer of information.
- Interruption of these fibers can lead to bizarre types of anomalies.
- Dominant hemisphere understands spoken word, while non-dominant hemisphere understands written word and can elicit motor response without dominant side knowing why response was performed.
Thoughts and Memory
- Neural mechanism for thought is not known, but most likely a specific pattern of simultaneous neural activity in many brain areas.
- Destruction of cerebral cortex does not prevent one from thinking, but may reduce the depth of thought and level of awareness.
Memory
- Change in the capability of synaptic transmission from neuron to neuron as a result of prior stimulation.
- Memory trace is a specific pattern or pathway of signal transmission.
- Once established, they can be activated by the thinking mind to reproduce the pattern and thus the memory.
3 Types of Memory
- Immediate memory: lasts for seconds or minutes.
- Short-term memory: lasts for days to weeks.
- Long-term memory: lasts for years or for a lifetime.
Mechanism of Memory
- Immediate memory may result from synaptic potentiation through the accumulation of calcium in the presynaptic membrane.
- Short-term memory may result from a temporary physical or chemical change in the pre- or postsynaptic membrane.
Cellular Basis for Memory
- Repetitive stimulation causes a progressive decline in sensitivity called habituation.
- Habituation results from progressive decline in the number of active calcium channels.
- Stimulation of facilitator terminal prevents habituation.
Molecular Basis for Memory
- Transmitter activates G protein, which in turn activates adenylate cyclase, resulting in an increase in cAMP.
- cAMP activates a protein kinase that phosphorylates a component of the K+ channel, blocking its activity.
- This prolongs the action potential, which increases transmitter release.
Long-Term Memory
- Results from a structural change in the synapse.
- Increase in the area for vesicular release, therefore, more transmitter is released.
- During periods of inactivity, the area decreases in size.
- Enlargement of the release site area results from synthesis of release site proteins.
Consolidation of Memory
- Converting immediate into short- and long-term memory.
- Results from chemical, physical, and anatomical changes in the synapse.
- Requires time and can be interrupted by electrical shock or anesthesia.
- Rehearsal enhances consolidation.
Brain Centers for Memory
- Hippocampus is critical for long-term memory.
- Damage causes inability to form new verbal or symbolic long-term memory, known as anterograde amnesia.
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Description
This quiz covers the physiologic anatomy of the cerebral cortex, including its connection to the thalamus and its role in sensory perception and cognitive functions.
