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Brain & Behavior 2 > Autism > Flashcards

Autism Flashcards

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The Brain flashcards
1
Q

What is the definition of autism?

A

A chronic disorder whose symptoms include a failure to develop normal social relations, impaired communication ability, lack of imaginative ability and repetitive movements.

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2
Q

Is autism more prevalent in males or females?

A

4x more common in males

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3
Q

What are the symptoms of asperger’s syndrome (mildest form of autism)?

A
  • Deficient or absent social interactions and repetitive and stereotyped behaviours
  • Interest in narrow subjects
  • No delay in language development
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4
Q

What is Rett’s disorder?

A

Genetic neurological syndrome seen in girls that accompanies an arrest of normal brain development that occurs during infancy

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5
Q

What is childhood disintegrative disorder?

A

Normal intelligence and social behavior then severe regression into autism

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6
Q

What are the 3 key characteristics of autism?

A
  1. Social behaviours
  2. Repetitive behaviours
  3. Communication
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7
Q

What happens as autistics get older (communication)?

A
  • Do not enter social relationships with others
  • Avoid eye contact
  • Diff. predicting behaviors or understanding motivations
  • Do not recognize existence of other people
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8
Q

What happens as autistics get older (social behaviours)?

A
  • First to emerge
  • Infants do not want to be held
  • Do not smile or look at caregiver
  • Do not look for comfort if ill, hurt or tired
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9
Q

What are some language difficulties?

A
  • Very literal
  • Don’t understand tone or body language
  • Have trouble matching their body language, facial expressions to their verbal output
  • Often monologue
  • Repeating behaviours
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10
Q

What happens as autistics get older (repetitive behaviours)?

A
  • Show abnormal interests and behaviours (flapping hands, rocking)
  • Often insist on precise routine
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11
Q

What are 3/6 other observed behaviours?

A
  1. Lack of awareness of feelings of others
  2. Bizarre speech patterns
  3. Lack of spontaneous and make-believe play
  4. Preoccupation with parts of objects
  5. Repetitive motor movements
  6. Marked distress over changes
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12
Q

How is sensory processing altered?

A
  • Painfully sensitive to certain sounds, textures, tastes and smells
  • Either too much or less sensitive than normal
  • Some avoid being touched
  • Some insensitive to pain
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13
Q

How is their attention altered?

A

1 thing at a time

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14
Q

How is their emotional processing altered?

A
  • Unemotional except when something is important to them

- Verbal outburst usually in strange or overwhelming environment

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15
Q

How are autistics’ productivity impaired?

A
  • Some may never learn to talk
  • Spectrum of independence
  • Some do well in supportive settings
  • Some that are fully independent and function fairly well
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16
Q

What is a savant and how much function is preserved?

A
  • Person affected with a developmental disorder who shows exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field
  • Memory, puzzle completion , musical/artistic ability
17
Q

Is autism inherited?

A

No, it is genetic

18
Q

What are the two proteins that both mediate the formation of the synapse?

A

Neurexin and neuroligin

19
Q

True or false. Mutations only increase chances of autism, they do not cause it.

A

True

20
Q

What are some environmental factors?

A

Prenatal exposure (unfavourable prenatal conditions)

21
Q

True or false. Vaccines cause autism.

A

False

22
Q

What are other contributing factors?

A
  • Cellular and structural changes in limbic system
  • Left hemisphere neural substrates fail to develop
  • Locus-Coeruleus mediates input from senses underdeveloped
23
Q

What are some anatomical features of interest?

A
  • Brain size: smaller at birth
  • White matter: short range connections are increased
  • Increased volume in caudate
24
Q

What are some hormonal features of interest?

A
  • Oxytocin (bonding hormone): children have low levels (can improve sociability)
25
Q

What are some features of interest for mirror neurons (involved in mimicking action and empathy)?

A

This area is not activated when autistic patients observe an individual performing a task “normally” would be.

26
Q

What is the theory of mind?

A

Ability to attribute mental states to oneself and to others, to understand that others have those mental states that’re different from one’s own

27
Q

What are some treatments?

A
  1. Medications: mood stabilizers and risperidone
  2. Music therapy
  3. Art therapy
  4. Animal therapy

Brain & Behavior 2 (5 decks)

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