Higher order functions

chapter 16

Three characteristics that are shared

1. require cerebral cortex

2. involve conscious and unconscious information processing

3. subject to adjustment over time

Memories

stored into gathered through experience

2 types - fact and skill

Fact memories

specific bits of info

Skill memories 

learned motor behaviors stored in brainstem

incorporated at unconscious level with repetition

complex ones use integration of motor patterns in basal nuclei, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum 

Short term memories

small bits of info that can be recalled immediately but not long lasting

repeating short term info will turn it to long term info (memory consolidation)

Long term memory

two types - secondary, fade with time and require effort to recall AND tertiary, dont fade

Deep sleep

aka slow-wave or non-rem sleep where whole body relaxes and cerebral cortex at minimum 

REM sleep

aka rapid eye movement sleep

dreaming occurs, changes in blood pressure and breathing, EEG shows awake state, less receptive to outside stimuli

Sleep cycle

alternates between REM and deep sleep

REM initially 5 mins but increase to 20 during 8 hour period

produces minor changes in physiological activities of organs and systems and protein synthesis increase

Arousal stimulation

awakening from sleep 

function of reticular formation and determined by complex interactions between reticular formation and cerebral cortex 

RAS

Reticular activating system

brainstem component that diffuses network in reticular formation and extends from medulla oblongata to midbrain

output of RAS projects to thalamic nuclei that influences areas of cerebral cortex

Regulation of sleep-wake cycles

interplay between nuclei that use different neurotransmitters

once group stimulated RAS with NE which maintains awake alert state and other group for RAS with serotonin for deep sleep

Reduction in brain size, weight and # neurons with age 

decrease volume in cerebral cortex 

older people have narrow gyri, wider sulci and larger subarachnoid space 

shrinkage leads to loss of cortical neurons and no neuronal loss in brainstem nuclei 

Intracellular and extracellular changes in CNS with age

Lipofuscin - granular pigment with no known function

Neurofibrillary tangles - mass of neurofibrils that form dense mats inside cell body and axon

Plaques - extracellular accumulations of fibrillar proteins surrounded by odd dendrites and axons