Neural organisation and communication

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What cells are in the cerebral cortex?
Mostly nuclei that have a relatively complex arrangement of nerve cell bodies and their connections. Mainly composed of grey matter.
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What is grey matter composed of?
It is composed of numerous cell bodies, glial cells and neuropils.
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What is white matter composed of?
It is formed out of glial cells and myelinated axons.
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What does white matter do?
It transfers information from one hemisphere to the other, and it also affects how the brain learns and functions. It also modulates the distribution of action potentials, acting as a relay.
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Why is the cerebral cortex folded?
To give it a much greater surface area in the confined volume of the skull
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What is the function of the spinal cord?
To connect the PNS and the brain.
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What are ventricles in the brain?
The ventricles are a series of interconnected fluid-filled spaces that lie in the core of the forebrain and brainstem. They are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
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What are the functions of the ventricles?
1. To absorb physical shocks to the brain. 2. To distribute nutritive materials and remove nervous tissue waste. 3. To provide a chemically stable environment.
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What is contained within the midbrain and hindbrain?
The medulla, pons, cerebellum and spinal cord. It is also continuous with the spinal cord.
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Outline the area of which the cerebellum is located and its functions
It is located in the hindbrain. It is connected to the pons, medulla and midbrain via 3 peduncles. It maintains balance and posture, as well as the timing of motor movements,the coordination of voluntary movements and sequential info.
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Outline the midbrain and forebrain (thalamus)
The mid/forebrain is composed of nuclei interconnecting various brain areas. It is the gateway to the cortex - it relays sensory and motor info.
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Outline the function of the hypothalamus
It links the nervous and endocrine system, and hormone production. Additionally, it controls the functions of homeostasis.
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What is the limbic system?
The limbic system is the 'border of the brain'. It's a group of forebrain structures involved with motivation, emotion, learning and memory. It also contains basal ganglia.
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What do basal ganglia do?
The basal ganglia are a set of subcortical structures that direct intentional movements.
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What is the cerebral cortex?
It is the outer layer of neural tissue in humans and other mammals, divided into two cortices along the saggital plane.
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What is hemispheric specialisation?
Hemispheric specialisation is the idea that one hemisphere has specialised functions, or that it exerts greater control over a particular function. It is also known as hemispheric dominance/lateralisation.
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What is corpus callosotomy?
The corpus callosum is critical to inter-hemispheric spread of epileptic activity - it is used to treat epilepsy. This procedure eliminates the pathway, making hemispheres function independently.
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Card 2

Front

What is grey matter composed of?

Back

It is composed of numerous cell bodies, glial cells and neuropils.

Card 3

Front

What is white matter composed of?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What does white matter do?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why is the cerebral cortex folded?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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