brain and behaviour+ psychological disorders

Question 1

stages of memory

Answer 1

REGISTRAITON (input from our senses into memory system), ENCODING (processing and combining information), STORAGE (holding that info in memory system), and RETRIEVAL (recovring stored info from memory system ie remembering)

Question 2

types of long term memory

Answer 2

declarative (either episodic ie life memory eg what happened last night, or semantic ie recalling info) or non-declarative (doing procedures, priming, CLASSICAL conditioning) ie doesn’t require THINKING

Question 3

how to enhance memory in a clinical setting+ general example

Answer 3

give important info at beginning and end of consultation, repeat important info, chunk info into important categories, avoid overloading with information- MNENOMICS useful example to enhance memory

Question 4

brain regions associated with language including hemispheric specialisation

Answer 4

there is hemispheric specialisation for language- nearly ALL right handers have left hemisphere dominance for language, and MOST left handers and left hemisphere dominance as well- brochas and wernickes (both in left hemisphere) and motor cortex also important

Question 5

types of aphasia with key features

Answer 5

expressive (brochas) aphasia- can understand, but non-fluent speech with lots of repetition): receptive (Wernicke’s) aphasia- can’t understand speech, and speech is fluent, but lots of errors, and substitutes for words similar in sound/meaning

Question 6

dysexecutive syndrome- include damage to what part of brain

Answer 6

disruption of executive function (planning, focusing attention and doing multiple tasks), often due to frontal lobe damage, but also subcortical areas (eg parkisons)

Question 7

key features of someone with this dysexecutive syndrome

Answer 7

eithe hypoactivity (lack of motivation, no empahty), or hyperactivity (perserveration,socially inappropriate, rude), as well as cognitive aspects (memory diffiuclty, poor planning+ multitasking)

Question 8

neural correlates of memory- declarative vs non-declarative

Answer 8

declarative mainly hippocampus (medial temporal lobes), but non-declarative involves striatum, cortex and amygdala

Question 9

exposure therapy to anxiety- who used for, what it is, what types of conditioning involved, what it’s also known as

Answer 9

eg for someone who is scared to drive after a car accident ie ANXIETY responses- treat via exposure to conditioned stimulus (car) WITHOUT unconditioned stimulus (accident)- involves both classical AND operant conditioning approaches- known as systematic desensitisation (GRADUAL exposure)

Question 10

key features of cognitive behavioural therapy- example of what used for

Answer 10

focuses on problematic beliefs that cause disorders eg thinking you have a heart attack every time you are out of breath- it’s GOAL ORIENTED (ie specific goals), there’s a COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP between therapist and patient, it’s BRIEF, and takes SCIENTIFIC APPROACH- often used for cardiac anxiety

Question 11

symptoms for diagnosis of depession

Answer 11

depressed mood and diminished interest for at least 2 WEEKS, changes in appetite/sleep, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, excessive guilt

Question 12

guidelines for treatment for depression

Answer 12

CBT (psychotherapy) first line for mild/moderate depression, antidepressants should be used for more severe cases, and not routinely (MAY be mostly placebo)

Question 13

example of psychological intervention

Answer 13

mindful based cognitive therapy- pay attention on the present: cortisol levels decreased after this therapy