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Neuroanatomy and Physiology Flashcards

7 cards from real EEG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Neuroanatomy and Physiology flashcards as text

  1. Which cortical layer contains the large pyramidal neurons (Betz cells) that give rise to corticospinal tract fibers?

    Answer: Layer V

    Layer V (internal pyramidal layer) contains Betz cells, the large pyramidal neurons projecting to the spinal cord via the corticospinal tract.

  2. The thalamocortical relay neurons that synchronize cortical oscillations and contribute to sleep spindles are located in which thalamic nucleus?

    Answer: Reticular nucleus

    The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) GABAergic neurons pace sleep spindles by rhythmically inhibiting thalamocortical relay neurons.

  3. What property of pyramidal neurons makes them the primary generators of scalp-recorded EEG signals rather than stellate cells?

    Answer: Open-field geometry with parallel dendrites perpendicular to cortical surface

    Pyramidal neurons are arranged in parallel columns perpendicular to the cortical surface, creating open-field dipoles whose extracellular currents summate and propagate to the scalp.

  4. During an EEG-recorded absence seizure, the 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharge is generated by abnormal oscillations between the cortex and which structure?

    Answer: Thalamus

    Absence seizures arise from abnormal thalamocortical resonance, with cortical and thalamic circuits entraining at ~3 Hz spike-and-wave frequency.

  5. The lateral sulcus (Sylvian fissure) separates the frontal and parietal lobes above from which lobe below?

    Answer: Temporal lobe

    The lateral sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes superiorly from the temporal lobe inferiorly.

  6. Which neurotransmitter released by basal forebrain neurons desynchronizes the EEG and promotes wakefulness by depolarizing cortical neurons?

    Answer: Acetylcholine

    Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons release acetylcholine onto cortical neurons, causing depolarization and EEG desynchronization characteristic of wakefulness and REM sleep.

  7. The primary somatosensory cortex, which generates somatosensory evoked potentials recorded by EEG, is located in which gyrus?

    Answer: Postcentral gyrus

    The postcentral gyrus (Brodmann areas 1, 2, 3) constitutes primary somatosensory cortex and is the main generator of early cortical SEP components.