12. The Central Nervous System

Mark the following statements about the cerebral cortex as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

The cerebral cortex is composed of white matter.

Mark the following statements about the cerebral cortex as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

The primary visual cortex is located in the occipital lobe.

Mark the following statements about the cerebral cortex as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

The prefrontal cortex is located in the frontal lobe and is concerned with movement.

The central sulcus separates the:

a. Parietal and temporal lobes

b. Parietal and occipital lobes

c. Frontal and temporal lobes

d. Frontal and parietal lobes

Huntington's disease is characterized by a loss of normal inhibition mediated by the basal nuclei. Predict the symptoms you are likely to see with this disease.

How could you tell the difference between an injury that damaged the cerebellum and one that damaged the basal nuclei?

Why do injuries to the hippocampus interfere with the formation of new declarative memories but do not impact memories already encoded in long-term memory? Why do such injuries not affect the formation of nondeclarative memories?

Ms. Norris is brought to the emergency department with injuries to the posterior of her head resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Which lobes of the cerebrum likely sustained injuries? Predict the main signs and symptoms you will see resulting from the injury to these cerebral lobes.

On further examination, Ms. Norris is shown to be in a state of unarousable unconsciousness, or coma. Which area or system of the brain is likely damaged? Explain.

Robert, a brilliant computer analyst, suffered a blow to his anterior skull from a falling rock while mountain climbing. Shortly thereafter, it was obvious to his coworkers that his behavior had undergone a dramatic change. Although previously a smart dresser, he was now unkempt. One morning, he was observed defecating into the wastebasket. Which region of Robert's brain was affected by the cranial blow?

a. What is the advantage of having a cerebrum that is highly convoluted?

b. What term is used to indicate its grooves? Its outward folds?

c. Which groove divides the cerebrum into two hemispheres?

d. What divides the parietal from the frontal lobe? The parietal from the temporal lobe?

A number of brain structures are listed below. If an area is primarily gray matter, write a in the answer blank; if mostly white matter, respond with b. 

________   (1) cerebral cortex 

________   (2) corpus callosum and corona radiata 

________   (3) red nucleus 

________   (4) medial and lateral nuclear groups 

________   (5) medial lemniscus 

________   (6) cranial nerve nuclei 

________   (7) spinothalamic tract 

________   (8) fornix 

________   (9) cingulate and precentral gyri

The primary motor cortex, Broca's area, and the premotor cortex are located in which lobe?

a. Frontal

b. Parietal

c. Temporal

d. Occipital

What are the principal functional differences between the right and left cerebral hemispheres?

The two cerebral hemispheres are functionally different, even though anatomically they appear the same.

(a) True

(b) False