The Cerebral Cortex Module 12

12-1 What are the functions of the various cerebral cortex regions? The people who first dissected brains used Latin & Greek to names parts….. Cortex means “bark” Cerebral cortex = brain bark (If you don’t think that’s awesome, there’s NO hope for you!) While the older brain networks sustain basic function, the newer neural networks are specialized work teams that enable us to perceive, think, speak, & learn

Structure of the Cortex Glial cells – “glue” cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, & protect neurons If neurons = queen bees, then glial cells = workers

Subdivisions of the cortex (lobes)

Motor & Sensory Cortex Autopsies of people who had been paralyzed or unable to speak discovered damages to key areas of the cortex. Scientists then began experimenting with electrical stimulation of animal brains & found selective control related to one area (Fritsch & Hitzig) Foerster & Penfield mapped this motor cortex using wide-awake patients

This is what you look like according to your brain!

So what? Delgado (1969) showed that left hemisphere controls right side of body despite patient attempts to control responses “I guess, Doctor, that your electricity is stronger than my will.” Brain-computer interfaces & cognitive neural prosthetics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRjU7KM_ PB0

Association Areas

Phineas Gage Damage to association areas can alter personality & higher mental functions

The danger of “Neo-phrenology” Research has shown that some specialization in neural networks (e.g. Broca’s, Wernicke’s, face recognition) We must be wary of brain “hot spots” leading us to believe that complex function can be localized Our mental experiences arise from coordinated brain activity.

12-2 To what extent can a damaged brain reorganize itself, and what is neurogenesis?