1. The Cerebral Cortex
Thin outer layer of interconnected neurons that are responsible for higher level thinking & skills

2. The Evolving Brain
Different animal species have many structures in common, including a cerebellum and cortex.
The cortex is much larger in mammals than in species that evolved earlier, such as fish and amphibians.
The cross section of the human brain shows how the cerebral cortex has developed around and above more primitive brain structures.

3. When it comes to Cortex… Size DOES Matter
If flattened, a human cortex would cover about four pages of your textbook.
A chimpanzee's would cover one page
a monkey's a postcard
a rat's a postage stamp.
From Scientific American, October 1994, p. 102.

4. Association Areas of the Cortex
More intelligent animals have increased "uncommitted" or association areas of the cortex.
These areas used for integrating and acting on information received and processed by sensory areas.
Allows for learning, thinking, memory & adaptability

5. Developing Brain Your brain is one of the first organs to develop
Neural tube—beginning of nervous system develops at 2 weeks after conception
Neurogenesis—development of new neurons

6. Forebrain Structures
Largest Brain Region with the most complex structures.
What separates us from the beasts.

7. 2 hemispheres are divided into 4 lobes
key words: cerebral cortex; lobes; frontal; parietal; temporal; occipital

8. Frontal Lobe Contains primary motor cortex
Important in judgment, planning and sequencing areas
Controls emotional center of the brain (limbic system)
Contains Broca’s area for speech
Prefrontal area for working memory (Short-Term Memory)
Helps you remember what you just did so you know what to do next (sequencing)
key words: cerebral cortex; lobes; frontal; motor functions
Frontal lobe is not directly involved in sensation or perception. Its functions are related to motor action (behavior). The motor cortex is the start of nerves that run through the spinal cord to the muscles.
Broca’s area organizes sequences of speech movements. Damage leads to productive aphasia
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex is important in working memory. WM is short term memory for information needed to maintain a context, to prepare for the next step in a sequence of thought, and /or to inhibit irrelevant responses
The wisconsin card sorting task illustrates the importance of working memory in maintaining context and inhibiting irrelevant responses

9. Temporal Lobe
Contains primary auditory cortex – interprets hearing info
Receives info on auditory, visual patterns
speech recognition
face recognition (Fusiform Gyrus)
word recognition
memory formation

10. Occipital Lobe Input from Optic nerve Contains primary visual cortex
Makes sense of visual info

11. Parietal Lobe Contains primary somatosensory cortex
“skin” sense of touch and temperature.
Processes body position
Sends info to Frontal lobe to help in:
hand-eye coordination
eye movements
attention

12. Lobes of the Cortex
Frontal lobe—largest lobe, voluntary muscle movements, involved in thinking, planning, emotional control
Temporal lobe—auditory information, recognition
Occipital lobe—visual information
Parietal lobe—sensory information from your body

13. Motor & Somatosensory Cortex

14. Motor Cortex: Located at the back of the Frontal Lobe.
The more precise movements, the more motor cortex the part uses up.
Sensory Cortex:
Located at the front of the Parietal Lobe.
The more sensitive the area, the more sensory cortex it uses up.

16. Language and the Brain
Aphasia—partial or complete inability to articulate ideas or understand language because of brain injury or damage
Broca’s area—plays role in speech production
Wernicke’s area—plays role in understanding and meaningful speech

17. Broca’s Aphasia
Damage to Broca’s Area causes a person to struggle formulating words while still being able to comprehend speech.
frequently speak in short, meaningful phrases that are produced with great effort
Example: Broca first discovered this area when he had a patient with damage to this area who could only say “tan”
Example:  Affected people often omit small words such as “is,” “and,” and “the.” For example, a person with Broca’s aphasia may say, “Walk dog” meaning, “I will take the dog for a walk.” The same sentence could also mean “You take the dog for a walk,” or “The dog walked out of the yard,” depending on the circumstances.
Click HERE for a video example of Broca’s Aphasia

18. Wernicke’s Aphasia
– Damage to Wernicke’s Area would cause a person only to be able to speak in meaningless words.
Example: Asked to describe a picture of two boys stealing cookies from behind a woman’s back, a patient responded:
“Mother is away her working her work to get her better, but when she’s looking the two boys looking the other part. She’s working another time.”
Example: Someone with Wernicke’s aphasia may say, “You know that smoodle pinkered and that I want to get him round and take care of him like you want before,” meaning “The dog needs to go out so I will take him for a walk.”
Individuals with Wernicke’s aphasia usually have great difficulty understanding speech and are therefore often unaware of their mistakes.
Click HERE for a video example
Mnemonic to remember: You can't read Wernicke's words and Broca's makes you breaks up your speech.

19. Language Areas of the Brain

20. How We Read Out Loud