Functional Organisation And Neurotransmission In The Brain

Front 1

What are the main regions of the brain?

Back 1

1. Forebrain

-- Cerebrum

-- Diencephalon

2. Cerebellum

3. Spinal Cord

4. Midbrain

5. Pons

6. Medulla oblongata

Front 2

What regions of the brain form the brain stem?

Back 2

1. Midbrain

2. Pons

3. Medulla oblongata

Front 3

Label:

Back 3

1. Forebrain

2. Midbrain

3. Pons

4. Medulla oblongata

5. Spinal cord

6. Hindbrain

Front 4

What is the formation of the brain dependent on?

Back 4

During development the brain forms from disproportionate growth and flexure of the 'neural tube'

Front 5

What are the functions of the medulla oblongata?

Back 5

1. Major relay centre

i) Reticular formation

ii) integration and filtering

2. Involuntary functions

i) vital reflexes (breathing)

ii) non vital reflexes

Front 6

What are the functions of the cerebellum?

Back 6

1. Coordination of movement and balance

i) integration of information from motor areas, eyes, ears etc.

Front 7

What are the functions of the Diencephalon?

Back 7

1. Contains the thalamus

i) relay area responsible for awareness and arousal.

2. Contains the hypothalamus which has an array of functions

Front 8

Which region of the brain is the hypothalamus found in?

What are the roles of the hypothalamus?

Back 8

In the Diencephalon

1. Homeostatic centre

i) regulates autonomic NS + endocrine system

--- Controls secretion of reproductive hormones by the pituitary gland

2. Neural centres controlling behavior are here

i) reward pathways

ii) thirst, hunger etc

3. Forms part of the limbic system

4. Circadian rhythm regulation

Front 9

What is the limbic system responsible for?

Back 9

1. Basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger etc)

2. Olfaction (smelling)

3. Memory (curated by the hippocampus)

Front 10

What are the structural components of the limbic system?

Back 10

1. Spinal cord

2. Hippocampus

3. Hypothalamus

4. Thalamus

5. Septal nuclei

6. Frontal lobe

7. Olfactory bulbs

Front 11

What does the cerebrum consist of?

Back 11

Cerebral cortex + sub cortical nuclei (basal ganglia)

Front 12

Describe the makeup of the cerebral cortex.

Back 12

Shell of grey matter covering a mass of white matter - 'Axonal tracts'

Front 13

What are the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex connected by?

Back 13

Corpus callosum

Front 14

What are the functions of the cerebral cortex?

Back 14

Concerned with 'Higher functions'

1. Sensory analysis

2. Motor coordination

3. Language

4. Intellect

Front 15

Label the image, give functions for each main lobe.

Back 15

1. Occipital lobe (vision)

2. Temporal lobe (hearing, advanced visual processing)

3. Frontal lobe (planning of movements, recent memory, some emotions)

4. Parietal lobe (body sensations)

5. Primary motor cortex

6. Central sulcus

7. Primary somatosensory cortex

Front 16

What are the major bones which make up a large portion of the skull?

Back 16

1. Frontal bone (over frontal lobe)

2. Temporal bone (over temporal lobe)

3. Occipital bone (over occipital lobe)

4. Parietal bone (over parietal lobe)

Front 17

What evidence is there for localised function in the brain?

Back 17

1. Accidents and stroke

2. Studies in animal models

3. PET scans and MRI analysis

Front 18

What is the role of the somatosensory cortex?

What receptors feed into it?

Back 18

Analyses receptor inputs from all around the body:

i) Mechanoreceptors

ii) Thermoreceptors

iii) Nociceptors (pain receptors)

Front 19

Where is the somatosensory cortex located?

Back 19

In the parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex.

Front 20

What does the 'Rodent Whisker Barrel' model illustrate?

Back 20

In mice, whiskers of different sizes have their size and shape information preserved in the brain as whisker barrels. When the whiskers are cut off or lost or grows over the time, the size of the whisker barrel shrinks and grows which illustrates the potential of plasticity in the brain.

Front 21

What is the overarching role of the motor cortex?

Which lobe is it found in?

Back 21

Voluntary movement.

Located in the frontal lobe.

Front 22

What are the areas of the brain dedicated to language termed?

What is the role of each?

Back 22

1. Broca's area - speech articulation

2. Wernicke's area - interpretation of spoken language

Front 23

What are the principle types of neuron in the brain?

Briefly describe each (Shape, excitatory?, neurotransmitter.)

Back 23

1. Interneurons - Non pyrimidal, inhibitory, neurotransmitter is GABA

2. Projection Neurons - Pyrimidal, excitatory, glutamate as neurotransmitter

Front 24

What is the role of glutamate in the brain?

Back 24

The major excitatory neurotransmitter of the CNS.

Front 25

What is the role of astrocytes in glutamate receptor signalling? Why?

Back 25

Excess glutamate is reuptaken by astrocytes as it is toxic to neurons.

Front 26

How do both GABA and glutamate carry out their function?

Back 26

Both act by causing the membranes they act on to be hyperpolarised by opening Cl- selective channels.

Front 27

How do benzodiazepines work?

Give a specific example.

Back 27

Sedatives which modulate GABA.

Diazepam - enhances Cl- conductance.

Front 28

What is the effect of alcohol on glutamate & GABA.

Back 28

Decreases glutamate activity

Increases GABA activity.

(depressant)

Front 29

What is the effect of PCP on glutamate?

Back 29

Increases glutamate activity

(stimulant)

Front 30

What is the effect of caffeine on glutmate & GABA?

Back 30

Increases glutamate activity and inhibits GABA release.

(stimulant)

Front 31

What is the effect of tranquilisers on GABA?

Back 31

Increases GABA activity.

Front 32

What is the observed result of Parkinson's disease?

Back 32

Dopamine deficiency resulting in a number of nervous system related disorders.

Front 33

How can depression be treated?

Back 33

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors - work to increase endogenous level of other neurotransmitters