NEUR200 EXAM 2 ANATOMY

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SUBSTANTIA NIGRA– This is the left hemisphere, we have a

right SN as well. Both, left and right, are important

synthesizers of Dopamine. The other important synthesizer of

DA in the brain is the VTA, which is next to the SN.

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NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS– This is the left hemisphere, we have

a right NA as well. Both, left and right, are part of the

dopamine Reward pathway. Neurons in the VTA project DA to

the NA. This is what we call Reward pathway or Mesolimbic.

This pathway is a pathway studied in addictions.

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HYPOTHALAMUS– This is the left hemisphere, we have a right

hypothalamus as well. Both, left and right, are important for

motivating behaviors. Remember that it is part of the

diencephalon. We will study more about the hypothalamus

(for example, sleep, eating behavior,…) later in the semester.

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THALAMUS– This is the left hemisphere, we have a right

thalamus as well. The thalamus is also part of the

diencephalon, but it is much more. Remember that it is the

most important relay station for sensory information in the

brain. Almost all sensory information (visual and auditory

information, touch and taste) will have a synapse in the

thalamus before getting to other areas of the brain.

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FUSIFORM GYRUS – This is the left hemisphere, we have a

right fusiform gyrus as well. Both, left and right, are important

for processing of human faces. The left one is additionally

important for the recognition of words. Both, left and right, are

part of the visual WHAT pathway

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INFERIOR TEMPORAL GYRUS – This is the left hemisphere, we

have a right inferior temporal gyrus as well. Both, left and right,

are part of the visual WHAT pathway.