Unit 7 - Funtional Neuroanatomy - Cerebral Cortex

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UNIT 7

UNIT 7 - Cerebral Cortex

View Unit 7 Learning Ob jectives A. Structure B. Functional Organization The cerebral cortex developmentally and functionally presents fou r major divisions: the Archicortex, the Paleocortex , the Neocortex, and the Cingulate Cort ex. The archicortex is involved with emotion a nd affective behavior regarding visceral activity and is located in th e medial aspect of the temporal lobe and includes the hip pocampus and dentate gyrus. The cingulate cortex is involv ed primarily with em otional and affective behavior regarding our three basic drives for food, shelter, and sex. It is located along the inferior, medial asp ect of the frontal and p arietal lobes. The paleocortex plays a role in olfaction and is situated along the inferior medial aspect of the temporal lobe and the inferior latera l aspect of frontal lobe. These areas include the parahippocampus, uncus and enthorhinal area within the temporal lob e and orbital gyrus of the frontal lob e. These three div isions are an important part of the limbic system . Phylogenetically, the neocortex, the remaining portion (90%) of the cortex increases in imp ortance in the ascendin g vertebrate scale with greatest development seen in man. It is upon this division th at the emphasis of this un it is placed.

A. Structure
The cerebral cortex consists of six cellular layers labeled from su perficial to deep a s (1) molecular, (2) outter gran ular, (3) outter py ramidal, (4) inner gra nular, (5) inner pyramidal, and (6) poly morphic, or fusiform. All six layers are present throughout the cortex, but vary in depth according t o the function of that area of the cortex. Layers (1)

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B. Functional Organization
Functional divisions of the neocortex are based up on Brodmann' s cytoarchitectural ma p of the cerebral cortex. Brodmann identif ied 57 individual areas which he found to dif fer from a cellular aspect. Following the development of Brodmann 's map of the cerebral cortex, ablation and stimulation studies along with autopsy studies were used to alloca te functions to each of these areas. Verification of these functional areas has been done through co mputer topography based on electrical, physiological, and blood flow recordings, as well as CAT sca ns, MRI s and PET scan studies. Areas primarily inv olved with aff erent projections from specific thalamic nuclei are referred to as Specific Sensory/Receiv ing Areas, and areas involved with efferent projections descending to lower motor neurons are called Specific Mo tor/Sending Areas. Those areas comp rising the la rgest portion of the cereb ral cortex, responsible for assessing a nd giving mea ning to sensory stimuli as well as storing inf ormation to comp are past with present experiences are referred to as Association a reas and includes the components of the limbic system. NOTE: Although many of the precise functional roles of these sub divisions remain in question, those which are generally accepted are described below. In actuality, Brodmann's areas are not as strictly defin ed as it ma y appear, and there is considerable ov erlapping present.
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1. Specific Sensory Areas

The parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes each hav e a role in the processing of sensory m odalities (receiving areas).

a. Primary Somesthetic Cortex - Areas 1,2,3

Location The post-central gyrus

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Unit 7 - Funtional Neuroanatomy - Cerebral Cortex

Location Function Input A receiving area for extroceptive, proprioceptive (concious) and vibratory stimulie from the contralateral side of the body and sends this information to areas 5-7 for integration. This area is broken down according to the body areas called a homunculus and is dipproportionate in nature. The size of the certical representation is determined by functional importance of that area of the body.. Information from the ventral posterior nuclei of the thalamus (VPL and VPM). Fig. 1

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The Nervous System , Psychology 9A Lecture 2 Notes, http://hypatia.ss.uci.edu/psych9a/lectures/lec2notes. html Fig. 2

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The Nervous System , Psychology 9A Lecture 2 Notes, http://hypatia.ss.uci.edu/psych9a/lectures/lec2notes. html Fig. 3

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http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/3468/9/lobes2.gif Physiology Of The Hum an Body, 1985, 3rd Edition, by: J. Robert McClintic, Ph.D.
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b. Primary Visual Cortex - Area 17

Location Function Input The calcarine cortex of the occipital lobe The primary receiving area for visual information and sends this information to area 18 for interpretation Receives lateral geniculo-calcarine fibers (optic radiations) and information regarding the contralateral visual field

c. Primary Auditory Cortex - Areas 41,42

Location Function Input The superior temporal gyrus The primary receiving area for auditory information (verbal and non-verbal) which relays this information to poserior 22 and the planum temporale Receives medial geniculo-temporal fibers (auditory radiations) which are "tonotrophically localized" receiving input from both cochlea (80% from contralateral ear and 20% from ipsilateral ear.

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d.
Location Function Input

Primary Gustatory Cortex - Area 43

Along the lateral fissure in the parietal lobe, lateral to the insular cortex just below areas 1-2-3. The primary receiving area for the sensation of taste and sends this information to areas 5-7 for interpretation Receives information from the VM, nucleus of the thalamus

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2. Specific Motor Areas

Specific Mo tor Areas, concerned with initia tion of a variety of motor expressions, are primarily located anterior to the central sulcus in the f rontal lobe.

a. Primary Motor Cortex - Area 4

Location Function Input The precentral gyrus Primarily responsible for the control over skeletal musculature for functional activities and mobility skills, via the reticulospinal and corticospinal tracts. It is also responsible for control of cranial nerve activity via the corticobulbar and reticulobulbar tracts. Receives information primarily from the ipsilateral ventral lateral and ventral anterior nuclei of the thalamus as well as Areas 1-2-3 (Primary somesthetic cortex) 6,8, and 19, ipsilateral corpus striatum and contralateral cerebellum cortex.

b. Pre-Motor and Supplemental Motor Cortex (Area 6)

Location Function Input Lies in front of the primary motor area. Laterally this area is called the Pre-motor Cortex, medially it is called the Supplemental Motor Cortex (SMC). The Pre-motor Cortex controls skeletal musculature to provide background postural stability for functional activities and mobility skills via the reticulospinal tracts. The SMC, is responsible for our motor planning skills. Receives information from the ipsilateral ventral lateral and ventral anterior nuclei of the thalamus, the inferior olivary nucleus, and Areas 4, 1-2-3, 8, 19 and non-dominate temporal and parietal lobes (areas 37-39-40), ipsilateral corpus striatum and contralateral cerebellar cortex.

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