Biological Foundations of BHD Flashcards
What specific area of the brain is involved in planning and decision making?
The pre-frontal cortex, which is part of the frontal lobe, is involved in planning and decision making.
What functions is the prefrontal cortex associated with?
The prefrontal cortex is associated with various aspects of behavior and personality, including higher cognitive functions like planning and decision-making.
What is the role of the motor cortex?
The motor cortex is responsible for generating signals that control voluntary movements.
What does the somatosensory cortex process?
The somatosensory cortex processes sensory information from the skin, muscles, and joints.
What is the function of Broca’s area?
Broca’s area is vital for the formation of speech.
What does the visual association cortex do?
The visual association cortex analyzes visual data to form images.
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?
Wernicke’s area interprets spoken and written language.
What does the auditory association cortex analyze?
It analyzes data about sound so that we can recognize words or melodies; it also detects discrete qualities of sound, such as pitch and volume.
What is the role of the hippocampus, and how is it related to depression?
The hippocampus is involved in memory formation and spatial navigation. It tends to be smaller in individuals with depression, and more severe depression is often linked to a smaller hippocampus.
What is the amygdala’s function and its relationship with depression?
The amygdala is involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and pleasure. In depression, the amygdala shows higher activity, which may contribute to the heightened emotional responses seen in the disorder.
How does the hypothalamus contribute to behavior and stress response?
The hypothalamus regulates motivated behaviors like eating, drinking, and sexual activity. It is a key player in the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis, which triggers the body’s stress response.
What is the possible link between the thalamus and bipolar disorder?
The thalamus acts as a relay station, processing and transmitting sensory information to the appropriate areas of the brain. There is a potential link between thalamus dysfunction and bipolar disorder, although the exact connection is still under investigation.
What role does the hypothalamus play in the stress response system?
The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which initiates the stress response by signaling the pituitary gland.
What is the function of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the stress response?
CRH is released by the hypothalamus and stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
What is the role of the pituitary gland in the HPA axis?
The pituitary gland releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in response to CRH, which then signals the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.
What does adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) do in the stress response?
ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol, a hormone that helps the body respond to stress.
What is the function of cortisol in the stress response system?
Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps regulate various functions, including immune response, metabolism, and maintaining homeostasis during stressful situations.
How does the hypothalamus respond to cortisol levels in the stress response system?
The hypothalamus monitors cortisol levels and adjusts the release of CRH accordingly, helping to regulate the overall stress response.
What role does serotonin play in relation to depression?
Serotonin regulates sleep, aggression, eating, sexual behavior, and mood. A decrease in serotonin levels is associated with depression and an increased risk of suicide.
How is dopamine linked to mental health conditions?
Dopamine is involved in reward and pleasure pathways. It is associated with substance abuse and can be linked to psychosis, including symptoms like thought disorders, delusions, and hallucinations.
What is the function of norepinephrine in relation to stress and anxiety?
Norepinephrine is related to the body’s stress response and is known to trigger anxiety.
What is the role of acetylcholine in the brain?
Acetylcholine is crucial for memory, learning, and recall.
What function does glutamate serve, and how might it be related to bipolar disorder?
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter. It may play a role in the highs and lows experienced in bipolar disorder and is impacted by the use of lithium
How does gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) affect the brain?
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps reduce anxiety by slowing down neural activity.
How are circadian rhythms related to mood disturbances?
Disturbed circadian rhythms are associated with mood disturbances, including depression. Seasonal variations, such as less light during winter (Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD), can also impact mood.
What role do cortisol levels play in depression?
Elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, are often observed in individuals with depression and are linked to the body’s response to chronic stress.
How do levels of estrogen influence mood?
Estrogen levels can alter the activity of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, which are involved in mood regulation.
What is the significance of testosterone levels after age 50 in relation to mood?
Decreased testosterone levels after age 50 may contribute to mood changes and are linked to symptoms of depression in some individuals.
What are the primitive areas of the brain responsible for, and when do they develop?
The primitive areas of the brain control basic body functions and sleep cycles. These areas develop early in brain development.
What is the role of the limbic system, and when does it develop?
The limbic system is responsible for emotional regulation and develops over the first three years of life.
What functions do the cortical areas of the brain handle?
The cortical areas of the brain are involved in thinking and cognitive processes.
When does the prefrontal cortex develop, and what functions does it control?
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions like decision-making and planning, continues to develop from middle childhood into adulthood.
What are the primitive areas of the brain responsible for, and when do they develop?
The primitive areas of the brain control basic body functions and sleep cycles. These areas develop early in brain development.
What is the role of the limbic system, and when does it develop?
The limbic system is responsible for emotional regulation and develops over the first three years of life.
What functions do the cortical areas of the brain handle?
The cortical areas of the brain are involved in thinking and cognitive processes.
When does the prefrontal cortex develop, and what functions does it control?
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions like decision-making and planning, continues to develop from middle childhood into adulthood.
What is the role of the HPA axis in the stress response?
The HPA axis is activated by the amygdala when a threat is perceived, triggering the body’s fight, flight, or freeze response. Its function is to provide a physiological reaction to stress, with these responses being adaptive to help the body manage and survive stressful situations.
What is positive or normal stress?
Positive or normal stress involves moderate, short-lived stress responses that are a normal part of life. Learning to adjust to this kind of stress is adaptive and beneficial for development.
What is tolerable stress, and what makes it manageable?
Tolerable stress occurs during serious events like illness, frightening accidents, or parental separation. It is manageable if there is parental support that creates a safe environment.
What is toxic stress, and why is it harmful?
Toxic stress involves strong, frequent, or prolonged activation of the body’s stress management system. It becomes harmful when stressors are chronic, uncontrollable, and experienced without the support of a caring adult, leading to severe impacts on health and development.
How does the body respond to an internal or external stressor?
An internal or external stressor stimulates brain-sensing pathways, triggering the hypothalamus to release corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH prompts the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which then stimulates the adrenal glands on the kidneys to release corticosteroids (including cortisol). These steroids interact with organs, including the brain and immune system, to control basic physiological functions.
What is occasional inattention, and how does it affect a child’s development?
Occasional inattention involves intermittent, diminished attention in an otherwise responsive environment. It can be growth-promoting if the child is in a caring, supportive environment.
What is chronic under-stimulation, and what are its effects on a child?
Chronic under-stimulation refers to ongoing, diminished levels of child-focused responsiveness and developmental enrichment. It often leads to developmental delays and can be caused by various factors.
How does prolonged activation of the stress response system affect the HPA axis and brain development?
Strong, frequent, or prolonged activation of the stress response system without the buffering effects of warm interaction can alter the HPA axis. Animal studies suggest that a stress response system stuck in the “on” mode can impact development. Additionally, like other developmental processes, there is a sensitive period for the proper development of the HPA axis
What are the effects of cortisol release on other systems, and how does early life stress affect cortisol levels?
When cortisol is released to deal with threats, it dampens other systems, such as the hippocampus (memory) and the immune system. Children exposed to maternal depression or maltreatment often have persistently high cortisol levels later in life.
Clinical presentations: Toxic stress
Toxic stress is associated with hyperarousal of the stress
system
* Over-reactions to mildly stressful situations
* Presents as an impaired ability to modulate behaviour or
arousal appropriately
* Children physiologically become attuned to signs of threat
* Delays or alterations in brain development can further alter
a child’s ability to develop cognitive & regulatory skills
How does “toxic” stress affect cortisol levels and brain development in children?
When children experience “toxic” stress, their cortisol levels remain elevated for prolonged periods, which can alter neural systems and change the architecture of brain regions essential for learning, memory, behavior, and long-term health.
What are teratogens?
Chemicals or factors that have the potential to damage the fetus when exposure occurs during pregnancy (e.g., radiation, thalidomide, alcohol).
What factors influence the degree of damage caused by teratogens?
The degree of damage depends on the timing and dose of exposure.
What happens if timing and dose of exposure to a teratogen are below the teratogenic threshold?
Some exposures have little risk of causing malformation.
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?
A permanent birth defect caused by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.
What are the three main features of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?
1) Growth deficiency, 2) Facial abnormalities, 3) Organic brain damage.
How common is FASD compared to other conditions like Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome, and Spina Bifida?
FASD is more common than Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome, and Spina Bifida combined.
What are the sentinel facial features of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?
1) Smooth philtrum (the area between the nose and upper lip), 2) Thin upper lip, 3) Small palpebral fissures (short eye openings).
How does parental substance use affect children across different ages?
Parental substance use can cause serious harm at every age, from prenatal development through older childhood. The impact varies based on developmental stages, family circumstances, and protective or risk factors.
Why is the prenatal period to age 3 particularly critical concerning parental substance use?
This period is crucial due to rapid brain development and growth, making it especially vulnerable to the effects of substance use.
What are some potential outcomes for offspring of mothers experiencing chronic prenatal stress?
Offspring may develop emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems, including anxiety, ADHD, language delay, and conduct issues.
What mechanisms are involved in how prenatal maternal chronic stress affects offspring?
The mechanisms include neuroendocrine, vascular, and immune factors.
How does chronic high cortisol impact children’s stress response and sensitivity?
Chronic high cortisol levels prime the nervous system into a state of overactivation, leading to a low threshold for stress and increased sensitivity to adverse experiences.
How does prenatal stress affect learning and memory in children?
It impairs learning by reducing growth in the hippocampus, a key structure for memory.
Why is Addiction a problem?
Most individuals in addiction treatment have
Past Trauma including sexual and physical abuse
25% have PTSD
Parental substance use themselves
Deprivation
Adverse experiences
Co- occurring mental illness (40%)
At what age does the brain begin to improve functions like planning and impulse control?
From around age 10 and above, the brain begins to improve functions like planning and impulse control, leading to more sophisticated and versatile thinking.
What significant brain development occurs around age 17?
Around age 17, the brain goes through a second growth spurt where the frontal lobes increase in size, and more synaptic connections are made. The final adult brain weight of 1300-1400 grams is reached in the late teens.
What happens to the brain by age 18 in terms of synapses?
By age 18, through a process called “pruning,” the brain sheds weak connections between neurons, reducing the number of synapses from 1000 trillion to 500 trillion—the same number as that of an 8-month-old baby.
What are the adverse impacts of cannabis on brain and overall health?
Cannabis use is associated with increased risk of dependence, other drug abuse, poor educational outcomes (cognition, IQ), poor mental health (psychosis, anxiety), and poor physical health (respiratory disease, cancer).
How does alcohol affect the brain’s ability to store new information?
Alcohol interferes with storing new information as memories.
What is the impact of alcohol use on normal brain “wiring”?
Alcohol use interrupts normal brain “wiring” by slowing down brain activity and development.
When did most alcoholics in America begin drinking?
Most alcoholics in America began drinking before age 18.
How does alcohol consumption affect the hippocampus in underage drinkers?
The brain hippocampus, responsible for learning and memory, can be 10% smaller in underage drinkers.
