Applied Cognitive Psychology food and drugs

Question 1

Detour: (In)Activation of Neurotransmitters

Answer 1

0. Blocking release of Neurotransmitter
   - Botulinium toxin (ACh) - > muscle paralysis
   - Clozapine in Schizophrenia ( ↓ DA)
1. Reuptake by axon terminals or glial cells for reuse
   - Cocaine and Speed delay reuptake of Norepinephrine (↑ pleasure)
   - Anti-depressants (Prozac) block reuptake of Serotonin
   - Lithium speeds reuptake ( ↓ DA)
2. Deactivated by enzymes
   - COMT –gene encodes an enzyme that modulates DA in the PFC
   - Nerve gas (VX) destroys AChE
3. Diffusion via blood

Question 2

Dopamine

Answer 2

• “Pleasure” substance

Question 3

Dopamine Associated with:

Answer 3

• Reward (ice-cream, promotions, ‘schadenfreude’, love :)
• Goal Proximity (to-do lists, video games)
• Motivation (trouble in Parkinson’s)

Question 4

Dopamine and ADHD=

Answer 4

High Dopamine Transporter Density
- Impulsive, Increased cravings
- Reduced inhibition

Question 5

Dopamine and Schizophrenia

Answer 5

: Overactive Dopamine
- DA-antagonists (blockers) reduce Hallucinations

Question 6

Executive Functions

Answer 6

1. Working memory = Updating/Monitoring
2. Shifting= Switching/Shifting
3. Inhibition

Question 7

Wisconsin Card Sorting Task

Answer 7

1. Working memory = Updating/Monitoring
   The Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) is a neuropsychological test used to assess cognitive abilities, particularly abstract reasoning, cognitive flexibility, and executive functions. Participants are asked to sort cards based on different criteria, such as color, shape, or number, with the criteria changing throughout the test. The ability to adapt to these changes and learn new rules is evaluated. The WCST is valuable in diagnosing various neurological conditions and tracking changes in cognitive flexibility over time.

Question 8

n-Back task

Answer 8

1. Working memory = Updating/Monitoring
   The n-Back task is a cognitive test used in psychology and neuroscience to assess working memory and attention. During the task, participants are presented with a series of stimuli, such as letters, numbers, or shapes, one at a time. They are then asked to indicate whether the current stimulus matches the one presented “n” steps earlier in the sequence. The value of “n” can vary, typically ranging from 1 to 3, with higher values indicating greater working memory demand. The task requires individuals to continuously update and maintain information in their working memory while simultaneously processing new stimuli, providing insight into their ability to sustain attention and manipulate information in real-time.

Question 9

Executive Function: 1. Working memory = Updating/Monitoring Updating/Monitoring

Answer 9

• Primarily -> Working Memory
• Encode relevant incoming information
• Update/revise existing representations
• Manipulate representations
• Monitor for changes

Question 10

Task Switching Paradigm (Alternate Runs)

Answer 10

2. Shifting= Switching/Shifting

Question 11

Executive Function: Switching/Shifting

Answer 11

• Engagement of a new/relevant task
• Disengagement from an old/irrelevant task
• Suppress proactive interference

Question 12

Stop Signal Task

Answer 12

3. Inhibition
   The Stop Signal Task is a cognitive task designed to measure response inhibition, a component of executive function. In this task, participants are typically presented with a series of stimuli and instructed to respond to one type of stimulus as quickly as possible. However, occasionally, a “stop signal” is presented shortly after the initial stimulus, indicating that the participant should inhibit their planned response.

The main measure of interest in the Stop Signal Task is the “stop signal reaction time” (SSRT), which is the average time it takes for a participant to inhibit a response after the stop signal is presented. A longer SSRT indicates poorer response inhibition.

The Stop Signal Task is used in psychological research to assess inhibitory control and impulse control, and it has applications in studying disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance abuse disorders, and impulse control disorders.

Question 13

Executive Function: Inhibition

Answer 13

• Suppress irrelevant but dominant actions
• Dominant actions can be:
  Learned habits
  Personality traits or tendencies
  Practiced actions or overlearned skills

Question 14

Cognitive Control Dilemma

Answer 14

Individual differences!

Question 15

Dopamine & Cognitive Control

Answer 15

Flexibility vs Stability

Question 16

Nigrostriatal Pathway:

Answer 16

The Nigrostriatal Pathway, primarily associated with motor control, indirectly influences cognitive functions such as working memory in the prefrontal cortex. While it doesn’t directly project to the prefrontal cortex, its connections with other brain regions, like the basal ganglia, suggest a role in cognitive processes. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter in this pathway, may modulate prefrontal cortical activity, impacting functions like working memory.

Nigrostriatal Pathway provides a signal to update
or maintain WM in the PFC

Question 17

Tuberoinfundibular Pathway:

Answer 17

This pathway regulates the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland, specifically the regulation of prolactin.
It connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland.
Dopamine released from neurons in the hypothalamus inhibits the release of prolactin from the anterior pituitary. This inhibition helps regulate the levels of prolactin in the bloodstream.
Dysfunction in this pathway can lead to hyperprolactinemia, a condition characterized by elevated levels of prolactin in the blood, which can result in symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, infertility, and lactation outside of pregnancy.

Question 18

Mesolimbic Pathway:

Answer 18

This pathway is associated with the brain’s reward system and plays a role in motivation, reinforcement, and addiction.
It originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), located in the midbrain, and projects to various areas of the limbic system, including the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex.
Dopamine released from neurons in the VTA is involved in mediating the pleasurable effects of rewarding stimuli, such as food, sex, and drugs. It reinforces behaviors that lead to the activation of this pathway.
Dysfunction in the mesolimbic pathway has been implicated in addiction and various psychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. Dysfunction can lead to abnormalities in reward processing, motivation, and emotional regulation.

Question 19

High Prefrontal DA ->

Answer 19

Cognitive Stability
(goal maintenance, focusing, suppressing distraction, but inflexible/insensitive)

Question 20

Low Prefrontal DA->

Answer 20

Cognitive Flexibility
(flexibility - inhibition and switching), but prone to distraction, interference)

Question 21

U-shaped curve & Dopamine Level

Answer 21

• Both high and low levels of DA are associated with
  low cognitive performance.
• We all inherently tend to optimise our baseline DA
  levels by using CNS stimulants or depressants or
  both, sometimes together

Question 22

schizophenia overdosing

Question 23

Effects of a drug can depend on many factors:

Answer 23

• Type and difficulty of task
• Genetics predisposition
• Type of drug (stimulant/depressant)
• Dosage, Consumption history
• Age, Gender, Disease, Infection, Immunity..

Question 24

Parkison and adhd

Question 25

Detour: COMT-Gene Polymorphism

Answer 25

* Enzymes in the COMT gene inactivate released dopamine, thereby regulating its flux in the PFC. * COMT gene has 2 flavors or ‘alleles’: Val-Val, Met-Met

Question 26

Valine amino-acid ->

Answer 26

Fast DA loss -> Low PFC DA - “Warriors” - Resilient to stress, Relax quicker FLEXIBILITY

Question 27

- Val-allele -> ______ Dopamine in the PFC -> __________ in Stability, but _______ at Flexibility.

Answer 27

low, low, High

Question 28

Methionine ->

Answer 28

Slow DA loss -> High PFC DA - More DA is not necessarily a good thing - “Worriers” - Neurotic, less resilient to stress - Higher IQ, do well at school, creative STABILITY

Question 29

Met-allele -> ______ Dopamine in the PFC -> Good at _________________, but bad at _________

Answer 29

High, Goal maintance , Inhibition

Question 30

Nigrostriatal Pathway PROMOTES:

Answer 30

Low Prefrontal DA -> Cognitive Flexibility

Question 31

Mesolimbic Pathway PROMOTES:

Answer 31

High Prefrontal DA -> Cognitive Stability

Question 32

Stability vs. Flexibility in COMT genotypes

Answer 32

KIJKTABEL

Question 33

Delaying the __________ mechanism of ___________ neurotransmitter is central to prolonging the ‘pleasure’ attained from drugs like Cocaine.

Answer 33

Reuptake , dopamine

Question 34

AMP & Wisconsin Card Sorting = with dopamine Task Val-Val vs. Met-Met : Predictions?

Answer 34

KIJKTABEL

Question 35

WCST and AMP

Answer 35

Val-carriers (Low PFC DA) are worse in sustained attention task as compared to Met-carriers, but improve with AMP. Met-carriers show decline with AMP. dus val gaat beter met amphetamine aantal errors neemt af en met gaat minder goed met amphetamine aantal errors neemt toe

Question 36

Placebo/Baseline WCST en AMP=

Answer 36

Val + PBO < Met + PBO Higher errors in Val

Question 37

N-Back task and AMP

Answer 37

KIJK NOTES

Question 38

Tyrosine: Alternative to Dopamine Drugs

Answer 38

* Precursor of Dopamine (and NE), naturally produced in body * Source: Apples, soy, chicken, fish, milk, spinach etc. * 1 hr after intake, DA levels go up. Half life = 2 hrs. * Can reverse mental decline and improve cognition in shortterm * Low TyrH expression in Parkinson’s * Very difficult to overdose on TYR due to limited TyrH! * Safe to use as compared to performance enhancing supplements like Ritalin.

Question 39

Tyrosine formula

Answer 39

Tyrosine + tyrosine hydroxyfase toe* is limited) -> L-DOPA + (DOPADECARBOXYFASE) -> DOPAMINE + DOPAMINE B-HYDROXYLASE -> = NOREPINEPRHINE = noradrenaline

Question 40

Tyrosine: Reversing DA depletion Why is there no effect in 1-Back task?

Question 41

Serotonin

Answer 41

“Happy” neurotransmitter

Question 42

Serotonin is associated with:

Answer 42

- Sleep, Mood - Aggression - OCD (reduced information processing) - Low – Depression, Autism, OCD - High – Serotonin Syndrome

Question 43

Decreasing serotonin leads to:

Answer 43

- Less affiliative behavior (social/emotional bonding) - Increased aggression - Stronger response to unfairness - Bias towards negative stimuli

Question 44

Tryptophan Alternative to

Answer 44

Serotonin Drugs

Question 45

Tryptophan=

Answer 45

* Precursor to Serotonin (and melatonin) * Not produced naturally in the body * Source: Salmon, Poultry, Eggs, Spinach, Nuts etc. * Half life = 2hours. * Used for treating depression, anxiety and as a sleep aid. * Increases recall of positive material * Decreases recognition of negative faces

Question 46

Tryptophan formula

Answer 46

Tryptophan+ Tryptophan hydroxylase -> 5-HydroxyTryptophan (5HPT) + AROMATIC L-AMINOACID DECARBOXYLASE =5 HYDROXYTRYPTAMI (5 HT: SEROTINE)

Question 47

Tryptophan induces a

Answer 47

+ve emotional bias Those who received the tryptophan supplement might show a tendency to rate positive stimuli more positively or recall more positive stimuli compared to those who received the placebo. This shift towards a positive emotional bias could suggest that tryptophan supplementation has influenced their emotional processing.

Question 48

On AMP, Val-individuals show a/an ___________ in performance on ________________ type of tasks - At _______ task load, Met-carriers on AMP perform _________ than Val-carriers

Answer 48

Increase, substained attention, high, worse

Question 49

Long-term and Recreational drug users are __________ than non-users in time-critical situations like _________. Lifetime exposure to cocaine is ________ correlated with the extent of this deficit.

Answer 49

worse, driving, positively

Question 50

In ____________ situations, Tyrosine supplements can ___________ DA depletion.

Answer 50

stressfull, reverse

Question 51

Reduced serotonin activity leads to less ____________ and more ____________ behavior.

Answer 51

affiliate, aggresive

Question 52

____________ is a supplement that is useful in reducing __________ and promoting sleep

Answer 52

Tryptophan, anxiety

Question 53

Recreational and long-term users of Cocaine show

Answer 53

inhibition deficits – Effect of Dosage

Question 54

The effect of DA on cognition follows an inverted U-shaped curve and depends on:

Answer 54

* Baseline DA levels, Genetic predispositions * Task (+Difficulty), Stress * Dosage & Consumption history * Age, Gender, Disease, Infection, Immunity..

Question 55

Tyrosine enhances _________ control and cognitive_______, especially beneficial in______ situations

Answer 55

inhibitory, flexibility, stressful

Question 56

Unlike Ritalin, Tyrosine cannot be overdosed due to ________

Answer 56

limited TyrH availability

Question 57

________ are crucial in understanding the effect of psychoactive drugs.

Answer 57

Individual differences