1. Unit Eleven: The Nervous System: C
Unit Eleven: The Nervous System: C. Motor and Integrative Neurophysiology
Chapter 57: Cerebral Cortex, Intellectual
Functions of the Brain, Learning, and Memory
Guyton and Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 12 edition

2. Physiologic Anatomy of the Cerebral Cortex
Three Types of Neurons
Granular (stellate)
Short axons
Function as interneurons
Excitatory with glutamate as neurotransmitter
Inhibitory with GABA as neurotransmitter
Found in the sensory areas of the cortex
Found in association areas between sensory
and motor areas

3. Physiologic Anatomy of the Cerebral Cortex
Three Types of Neurons
b. Fusiform and Pyramidal
Give rise to almost all output fibers from the cortex
Pyramidal are larger and more numerous than
fusiform
Pyramidal-source of nerve fibers that go all the way
to the spinal cord

4. Physiologic Anatomy of the Cerebral Cortex
Fig Structure of the cerebral cortex, showing: I, molecular layer;
II, external granular layer; III, pyramidal layer; IV, internal granular
layer; V, large pyramidal cell layer; VI, layer of fusiform or poly-
morphic cells

5. Physiologic Anatomy of the Cerebral Cortex
Anatomical and Functional Relations of the
Cerebral Cortex to the Thalamus and Other
Lower Centers
Fig Areas of the cerebral cortex that connect with specific
portions of the thalamus

6. Functions of Specific Cortical Areas
Fig Functional areas of the human cerebral cortex as determined by
electrical stimulation during neurological surgery or examination

7. Functions of Specific Cortical Areas
Association Areas (see Fig. 57.4)
Parieto-occipitotemporal association area
Analysis of the spatial coordinates of the body
Wernicke’s Area-important for language
comprehension
Angular gyrus area-needed for reading
Area for naming objects

8. Functions of Specific Cortical Areas
Association Areas (see Fig. 57.4)
Pre-frontal association area
Broca’s area-neural circuitary for word formation
Limbic association area-behavior, emotions, and
motivation
d. Area for recognition of faces

9. Functions of Specific Cortical Areas
Fig. 57.6

10. Functions of Specific Cortical Areas
Comprehensive Interpretative Function of Wernicke’s
Area
Fig. 57.7

11. Functions of Specific Cortical Areas
Comprehensive Interpretative Function of Wernicke’s
Area
Angular gyrus-interpretation of visual information
Concept of the Dominant Hemisphere
Role of Language in the Function of Wernicke’s Area
Functions of the Parieto-occipitotemporal Cortex in
the Nondominate Hemisphere

12. Functions of Specific Cortical Areas
Higher Intellectual Functions of the Prefrontal
Association Areas
Decreased aggressiveness and inappropriate social
behavior
Inability to progress toward goals or carry through
sequential thoughts
Elaboration of thought-concept of a “working memory”
Functions of a working memory

13. Function of the Corpus Callosum
Cutting the Corpus Callosum:
Blocks transfer of information from the dominant
hemisphere to the motor cortex on the opposite side
Prevents transfer of somatic and visual info from the
right to left hemisphere
Person would have two entirely separate conscious
portions of the brain

14. Thoughts, Consciousness, and Memory
Memory-Roles of Synaptic Facilitation and Synaptic
Inhibition
Positive and negative memory—sensitization or
habituation of synaptic transmission
Classification of memories
Declarative
Skill

15. Thoughts, Consciousness, and Memory
Declarative Memory- memory of the various details of
integrated thought (i.e. memory of surroundings,
time relationships, causes of experiences, meaning
of an experience)
Skill Memory- associated with motor activities based
on previous learning (i.e. hitting a tennis ball)

16. Thoughts, Consciousness, and Memory
Short-Term Memory
Intermediate Long-Term Memory
Memory based on chemical changes in the presynaptic
terminal or postsynaptic neuronal membrane
Fig. 57.9

17. Thoughts, Consciousness, and Memory
Molecular Mechanism of Intermediate Memory
Mechanism of habituation-role of calcium channels
Mechanism of facilitation-role of serotonin release
and cAMP activity

18. Thoughts, Consciousness, and Memory
Long-Term Memory
Structural changes in synapses during the development
of long-term memory
Increase in vesicle release site for secretion of
transmitters
Increase in number of transmitter vesicles released
Increase in the number of presynaptic terminals
Changes in the structure of dendritic spines that
permit transmission of stronger signals

19. Thoughts, Consciousness, and Memory
Long-Term Memory
Number of neurons and their connectivities change during
learning
Consolidation of Memory
Rehearsal enhances the transference of short-term memory
into long-term memory
b. New memories are codified during consolidation

20. Thoughts, Consciousness, and Memory
Consolidation of Memory
Roles of specific parts of the brain in the memory process
Hippocampus promotes storage of memories
Hippocampi not important in reflexive learning