The Cerebrum

cerebrum

largest part of the brain

sense of “self”

where decision making happens

cerebral cortex

outer layer of gray matter of the cerebrum

function of gray matter

processing

thicker band of the corpus callosum = 

higher level intelligence & cognition 

corpus callosum connects

2 hemispheres of the brain

significantly thinner band of corpus callosum =

struggle with cognition

where the corpus callosum is located

the floor of the longitudinal fissure

gray matter is made of 

cell bodies & dendrites

white matter is made of

myelinated axons

Brodmann’s Areas are numbered according to

the order in which they were studied/discovered

frontal lobe 

Parietal lobe

Temporal lobe

Occipital lobe

Insular lobe

Limbic lobe

Largest lobe of the brain

frontal 

frontal lobe forms

anterior portion of the cerebral hemispheres

Boundaries of the frontal lobe

posterior: central sulcus

posteroinferior: lateral sulcus

functional divisions of the frontal lobe

prefrontal cortex 

motor cortex

broca’s area 

functions of the prefrontal cortex

planning

organizing

motivation

discipline

problem solving

self control

emotional regulation

function of the precentral gyrus 

planning 

control 

execution of voluntary movements 

Function of Broca’s Area

motor component of speech including verbal fluency

Parietal lobe location

posterior to frontal lobe, superior to temporal/occipital lobes

boundaries of parietal lobes

anterior: central sulcus

inferior: lateral sulcus

posterior: parieto-occipital sulcus

Function of postcentral gyrus

processing various types of sensory information 

temp, pain, vibration, proprioception, fine touch 

function of superior parietal lobule

visuospatial perception & orientation

‘where is the body in space’

combines visual & sensory info

supramarginal gyrus

processing of phonological info 

angular gyrus

complex related language functions (reading, writing)

Boundaries of the temporal lobe

superior: lateral sulcus

posterior: occipital lobe

primary auditory area of the temporal lobe

Heschl’s Gyrus

function of Heschl’s Gyrus

reception of auditory info 

Location of Wernicke’s Area

posterior portion of the superior temporal gyrus

function of wernicke’s area

comprehension of written & spoken language

boundaries of the occipital lobe

superior: parietooccipital sulcus

lateral: temporal lobe

function of the occipital lobe

main visual processing center (perception, processing, interpretation) 

color determination, facial recognition, depth perception, memory formation

location of the insular lobe

deep within the lateral sulcus

anatomical landmarks of the insular lobe

operculum

central sulcus of the insula

location of limbic lobe

not anatomically distinct

function of limbic lobe

satiety hunger

memory

emotional response

sexual reproduction / arousal

maternal instincts

3 types of communication fibers

commissural fibers

projection fibers

association fibers

commissural fibers

connect hemispheres of the brain

projection fibers

connect cortical structures with lower parts of the brain/spinal cord

association fibers

connect cortical regions within the same hemisphere

main function of commissural fibers

ensure integration of functions between right & left structures of the brain (memory, motor, perception) 

ex: corpus callosum: connects 2 hemispheres

2 types of projection fibers

corticopetal fibers

corticofugal fibers

corticopetal fibers

transmit info from spinal cord/brainstem (afferent) to the cortex

corticofugal fibers

transmit info from cortex to brainstem & spinal targets (efferent

2 types of association fibers

long fibers: individually named

short fibers: arcuate fibers

ex: superior longitudinal fasciculus, arcuate fasciculus

percentage of humans that are right handed

90%

this occurs in the left hemisphere

language & analytic functions

characteristics of left handedness

may have language & analytic functions in the right hemisphere

may have mixed laterality

mixed laterality

functions shared between the hemispheres

functional language - right hemisphere

big picture, figurative language, prosody, facial expression, pragmatics, connotative meaning, synthesis of info 

functional language - left hemisphere

detail oriented, consonants, language rules, denotative meaning, analytical

cerebrovascular system - anterior

cerebrovascular system - posterior

Circle of Willis 

distributes blood to cerebrum via cerebral arteries

forms the Circle of Willis

internal carotid arteries and basilar arteries @ the base of the cerebrum

blood brain barrier 

protects brain from pathogens entering the brain 

difference in composition of blood vessels within brain 

aneurysms 

balloon - like distensions of the arterial wall

symptoms of aneurysms

usually no symptoms, they are discovered on accident

results of aneurysm rupture

hemorrhaging / stroke

ischemic/embolic stroke

blockage of blood flow through a vessel

transient ischemic attacks (TIA)

small emboli lodge themselves in smaller blood vessels; can resolve within mins/hrs

tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)

clot reducing pharmaceutical used to treat ischemic stroke

arteriovenous malformation (AVM) 

congenital tangles of arteries and veins 

create higher risk for seizures & migraine like headaches

signs of a stroke

numbness/weakness of face, arm, or leg

confusion/trouble talking/understanding speech

trouble seeing

trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance/coordination

severe headache

aphasia

language disorder associated with damage to the left hemisphere of the brain

impairments associated with aphasia

naming, repetition, fluency of language production, language comprehension, communication modalities

broca aphasia

fluent - no 

good comprehension - yes

good repetition - no

wernicke aphasia

fluent - yes

good comprehension - no

good repetition - no

examples of recreational substances that can cross BBB

caffiene & alcohol

possible causes of aneurisms

smoking, weakened arteries, high blood pressure

hemmoragic stroke

bleeding in the brain