Belovich- Brain and Behavior II: Attention, Memory, and emotion Flashcards
Sensory input is filtered through connections between brain structures
reciprocal
Fibers project from the cortex to the thalamus ( projections) and from the thalamus to the cortex (thalamocortical projections)
corticothalamic
Reciprocal connections are key to of sensory information
conscious perception
The recriprocal connections of the thalamus and cortices play a critical role in
sensory input and can assist in of internal representations
filtering
sharpening
In pathological states, reciprocal connections between thalamus and cortices may generate false signals like and panic attacks or inappropriately sensation (e.g., psychosomatic syndromes)
hallucinations
suppress
-order processing, integrating and interpreting information across multiple modalities contribute to:
• Intellect • Personality • Language functions • Emotion modulation • Judgment • Relation of self to others
Higher-order
What association cortex has this general cognitive function?
sensory guidance of motor behavior and spatial awareness
parietal
What association cortex has this general cognitive function?
recognition of sensory stimuli and storage of semantic (factual) knowledge
temporal
What association cortex has this general cognitive function?
organizing behavior and working memory
frontal
What association cortex has this general cognitive function?
complex functions related to emotion and episodic (autobiographical) memory
limbic
How does the brain identify and focus only on relevant stimuli?
attention
The ability to attend to external or internal stimuli is defined as
attention
The capacity to concentrate requires the capacity to other external and internal stimuli
ignore
Dopamine regulates and is disrupted in disorders
attention
impulsive
Attention and impulsivity are sides of the same coin
opposite
What neurotransmitter is implicated in attention and it’s opposite, impulsivity?
dopamine
Dopaminergic activity in the limbic system originates where?
nucleus accumbens
Pleasurable activities increase the release of which neurotransmitter and where?
Dopamine in the nucleus accumbens
Stimulant medications increase/decrease DA in the NAc and improve attentiveness and impulse control
increase
new information acquired by the nervous system which can be observed in the individual through behavioral changes is called what?
learning
What is the encoding, storage, and retrieval of learned information?
And contributes to personality, habits, disposition, etc
memory
What are the 2 main components of long-term memory?
non-declarative/implicit memory
declarative/explicit memory
Which parts of the brain are indicated in declarative/explicit memory?
Which parts of the brain are associated with nondeclarative/implicit memory?
Memory that focuses on epidsodic memory (events) and semantic memory (facts) is called?
declarative/explicit memory
Memory that focuses on skills, habits, emotional memory, and conditioned reflexes is called?
nondeclarative/ implicit memory
What type of memory defines the temporary, short-term maintenance of information?
E.g., Remembering a phone number for a few minutes or days
short term memory
What type of memory describes what is being actively considered at the time (for a few seconds)?
E.g., looking up a phone number, remembering it to actively dial the number
working memory
Which memory is needed for “multitasking,” calculations, and reading comprehension
Working memory
Which type of brain function includes higher-level cognitive skills such as organizing priorities and planning initiation strategies?
executive function
memory involves other brain functions required to take an action based on the remembered information
Working
Which parts of the brain are involved with working memory?
hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, likely includes connections with the parietal lobes
What two neurotransmitters modulate working memory?
dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE)
Dopamine agonists/antagonists (e.g., haloperidol) result in decreased performance on delayed response tasks (decreases working memory?)
antagonists (D2 receptor)
Pharmacotherapeutics that increase/decrease DA and NE in the PFC enhance working memory and improve attention
increase
Working memory deficits occur in patients
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Working memory can depend on an individual’s ability to maintain
attention!
What are the most common abnormal brain findings reported in ADHD patients?
Dysfunctions in the prefrontal cortex and striatum (caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens)
ADHD is Most commonly treated with or methylphenidate (Ritalin) to increase signaling
dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
dopaminergic
Other than ADHD, Impaired working memory is central feature of cognitive impairments in
schizophrenia
Explain the journey of learned experiences in the brain?
enter the brain through the senses and are initially processed in the cortex
Processed information goes to hippocampus, and emotional importance is “assigned” by amygdala
Information stored in cortex
Where is the next step of sensory information that has been processed in the cortex?
Processed information goes to hippocampus, and emotional importance is “assigned” by amygdala
Emotionally intense experiences are/are not more permanent
are
Where is the final destination of stored information?
cortex
Neutral stimuli are/are not quickly disregarded
are
Working memory is often called ?
short term memory (though they are not the same)
What type of memory is being described:
- Facts (semantic memory) • Recalling the names of other individuals, remembering details from lecture slides
- Events (episodic memory) • Recalling a previous event or occurrence (dinner at a restaurant, an exam)
declarative memory
Which type of memory is being described?
- Skills and Habits • Example: riding a bike, making a pot of coffee, knowing how to download lecture slides
- Dependent on the neocortex and the neostriatum (striatum)
- Cerebellum is important for the conditioning of skeletal musculature (assists in motor skills)• “Muscle Memory”
- Amygdala for emotional learning
nondeclarative memory
When a patient is unable to form new, declarative memories?
anterograde amnesia
Damage to what part of the brain can cause anterograde amnesia?
hippocampal region
Which type of amnesia is most associate with neurogenerative diseases and causes loss of old memories?
retrograde amnesia
A patient with which condition and retrograde amnesia would not be able to “hijack” nondeclarative memory circuits?
Parkinsons
What type of memory is episodic (personally experienced events), long-term, and associated with Temporal lobes (medial), anterior thalamic nuclei, fornix, hippocampus, mammillary bodies, prefrontal cortex?
Declarative (explicit or conscious)
What is the associated brain anatomy of declarative semantic long-term memory (general knowledge about the world)?
interolateral temporal lobes
Parkinson’s disease is associated with degeneration of which part of the brain?
substantia nigra
What are a “Set of physiological responses that occur more or less unconsciously when the brain encounters challenging situations”?
emotions
Changes in arousal levels and cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and musculoskeletal responses can occur as a response to emotions/feelings?
emotions
Facial expressions and overt behaviors are examples of what type of emotional observation?
direct
psychophysiological, neurophysiological tests, or endocrine assays are examples of what type of observation regarding emotions?
indirect observation
What are “conscious experience of these somatic and cognitive changes” from emotions?
Feelings
If external stimuli are emotionally salient (noticeable or important), emotion systems (e.g., amygdala) are activated/ignored?
activated
After the amygdala and other emotional systems are activated by salient emotional stimuli, where does the ouput then go to?
Output to hypothalamus and brain stem activate effector cells such as musculoskeletal fight or flight response (ANS) and/or rage
Aggression is associated with low levels
serotonin
Low CSF levels of serotonin metabolites associated with inability to control aggressive behavior and poor impulse control
(5-HIAA)
Low 5-HIAA ( a metabolite) levels in CSF associated with aggression, greater suicide intent, higher lethality in attempts and repeat offenses by violent offenders.
seratonin
Acute depletion (transient decline in brain serotonin) results in increased irritability and aggression
tryptophan
What emotional brain theory is being described?
• “Feelings” are sensory feedback to the cortex about emotional responses in the body
peripheral feedback theory
What emotional brain theory is being described?
Hypothalamus evaluates emotional qualities of the stimulus, and thalamocortical pathways lead to conscious feelings
central theory
What emotional brain theory is being described?
Extended Central theory by including anatomical specificity
Papez circuit
H-P-Adrenal (HPA) Axis mediates stress response by release of into systemic circulation
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
ACTH stimulates the release of from the adrenal cortex to mediate peripheral effects
cortisol
Cortisol (and other hormones) does/does not affect the CNS, including the cerebral cortex?
does
Patients with disorders as primary pathology may present with psychiatric symptoms
Ex: Cushing’s disease (hypercortisolism) and Addison’s disease (hypocortisolism)
endocrine
Chronic stress and prolonged activation of HPA axis result in excess
glucocorticoids (cortisol)
Amygdala is stimulated by glucocorticoids, T/F
T
If Amygdala is stimulated by glucocorticoids, it may stress response
prolong
Which hormone can cause all of these effects:
- Impaired memory
- Disrupted LTP
- Atrophy of hippocampal dendrites
- Decreased hippocampal volume
- Decreased neurogenesis
cortisol
Which hormone can create a feedback loop affecting
cortical processing
memory formation
emotional sensitivity
inhibit hypothalamus
cortisol
Which part of the hypothalamus releases ACTH?
anterior pituitary
What happens to the amount of NMDA receptors with Long term potentiation?
they increase
Increased/Decreased HPA activity is observed in a large amount of depressed patients?
increased
Elevated levels observed in many depressed patients
- Supportshypothesis of depression
- Depression is associated with increased
cortisol
neurotrophic
inflammation
What synthetic glucocorticoid can be used to assess HPA axis activity and cortisol dysregulation?
DST usefulness is limited due to nonspecificity and false positives - other conditions yield positive DST results
Dexamethasone
In a patient with a normal HPA axis, dexamethasone will increase/suppress the secretion of cortisol
~ 50% of patients with major depressive disorder have a positive/negative DST (suppression is limited or absent)
suppress
positive
• When cytokine signal is received by CNS, autonomic innervation of the spleen and lymph nodes activates/inhibits activity
inhibits
During stress, release of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol activates/suppresses innate/adaptive immunity
suppresses
innate
Psychological stress has been observed to negatively/positively impact immune system function
negatively
• Patients with disorders (hypo- and hyperthyroidism) also may present with psychiatric symptoms
thyroid
Assessment of dysfunction, Cushing’s, Addison’s, etc. is important to rule out primary endocrine disorder
thyroid
Which thyroid disorder is indicated with the below signs and symptoms:
hyperthyroidism
Which thyroid disorder is indicated with the below signs and symptoms:
hypothyroidism
