9c CNS Overview: Motor Output, Cortex, Sleep, and Memory

Flashcards covering CNS output, cortical organization, sleep stages, memory, emotion/motivation, and related neurophysiology from the lecture notes.

What are the three systems that influence motor system output described in the lecture?

Sensory system (reflexes), cognitive system (voluntary responses), and the CNS behavioral state system (diffuse modulatory networks including the reticular activating system).

What is the primary role of the sensory areas in the cortex?

To receive sensory input and translate it into perception.

Name the four lobes of the cerebral cortex.

Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and Temporal lobes.

Which cortex areas are the primary motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex, and in which lobes are they located?

Primary motor cortex is in the frontal lobe; primary somatosensory cortex is in the parietal lobe.

What is the function of association areas in the cortex?

To integrate information from sensory and motor areas and help direct voluntary behaviors.

Where is the gustatory cortex located?

Under the frontal lobe, as part of taste processing.

Where is the olfactory cortex located?

In the temporal lobe region dedicated to smell.

Where are the auditory cortex and the auditory association area located?

In the temporal lobe; primary auditory cortex processes basic sound features, auditory association helps recognize sounds like a voice.

Where is the primary visual cortex and the visual association area located?

In the occipital lobe; primary visual cortex processes basic visual features, visual association interprets what is seen.

What is cerebral lateralization?

One hemisphere is typically dominant for certain tasks (e.g., language left, spatial on the right); sensory/motor pathways cross between sides.

What is the corpus callosum?

A deep tract that connects the two cerebral hemispheres, enabling interhemispheric communication.

Explain the crossing of sensory and motor pathways and the eye exception.

Sensory input from the right side of the body usually goes to the left brain and motor control for the right side is produced by the left brain; for the eyes, input from each visual field is processed by opposite hemispheres with crossing at the optic pathways.

What is the CNS behavioral state system and its four diffuse modulatory systems?

A system that modulates sensory and cognitive processes; composed of four diffuse neuromodulatory systems releasing norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine, originating in the brainstem reticular formation.

Which neurotransmitter is associated with attention, arousal, and wakefulness among the diffuse modulatory systems?

Norepinephrine (noradrenergic system).

What is the role of the four diffuse modulatory systems overall?

To modulate attention, memory, mood, motivation, motor control, and wakefulness.

Where do the cell bodies of the diffuse modulatory system neurons reside?

In the reticular formation of the brainstem.

What is the reticular activating system?

Part of the reticular formation that maintains consciousness and alertness and filters incoming signals, preventing overload.

What happens if the reticular activating system is damaged?

Unconsciousness or coma due to loss of arousal and consciousness.

What are the three major types of motor output beyond skeletal muscle movement?

Neuroendocrine signals (e.g., hypothalamic hormones, adrenal epinephrine) and visceral autonomic responses (sympathetic and parasympathetic) in addition to skeletal muscle movement.

What is lateralization of function and a common example?

One hemisphere tends to be dominant for certain tasks (speech/language often left; spatial processing often right); the brain uses both sides, but shows specialization.

Where are the stages of sleep REM and non-REM (NREM) and their general roles?

REM sleep is linked to memory consolidation and dreaming with muscular atonia; NONREM has stages N1–N3, with N3 (slow-wave) important for physical repair and immune function.

What is memory consolidation?

The process of converting short-term memory into long-term memory, often occurring during REM sleep.

What is the typical capacity of short-term memory and what must happen to become long-term memory?

Short-term memory holds about 7–12 items; consolidation transfers information to long-term memory through repetition and processing.

What are the two broad categories of memory?

Reflexive/implicit/procedural memory (skills and automatic actions) and declarative/explicit memory (facts and events that can be consciously recalled).

What is habituation in nonassociative learning?

A decreased response to a repeated, irrelevant stimulus.

What is sensitization in nonassociative learning?

An increased response to a noxious or salient stimulus.