Brain and Chemical imbalances in it

Question 1

What is the hypothalamus responsible for?

Answer 1

-Thermoregulation
-Water balance

Question 2

What are critical windows?

Answer 2

Periods of time where nervous system needs specific stimuli to develop properly

Question 3

What is Parkinson’s disease associated with?

Answer 3

Lack of dopamine in the brain

Question 4

Where is dopamine secreted?

Answer 4

In the substantia nigra

Question 5

Symptoms of Parkinson’s?

Answer 5

-Muscle tremors, stiffness of muscles
-Poor balance
-Difficulties with speech, breathing and walking

Question 6

Why can levadopa be used against Parkinson’s?

Answer 6

Levadopa can penetrate the blood brain barrier, then absorbed by nerve cells and converted to dopamine

Question 7

How can deep brain stimulation also be used as treatment for Parkinson’s?

Answer 7

-Pulse generator is surgically implanted into your chest wall
-Electric current passed through the generator and then impulse runs through wires to simulate parts of brain affected by Parkinson’s

Question 8

Drug used to treat depression:

Answer 8

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors:

Block the re-uptake of serotonin by neurones, meaning more serotonin is available to pass messages to nearby nerve cells

Question 9

How does MDMA help with depression?

Answer 9

Causes the brain to release large amounts of serotonin, leading to an elevated mood