ch2 Flashcards
what is the study of the brain called
what is the study of the structure of the brain called
NeuroScience
NeuroAnatomy
2 NeuroImaging Techniques used most often are ____ and ___ NeuroImaging = difference between the two
Structural NeuroImaging - provides highly detailed images of Anatomical Features of the brain
Functional NeuroImaging - provides an indication of brain activity
what is the NeuroPsychological Approach
compares healthy older adults w those pathological disorders of the brain
what is the NeuroCorrelational Approach
links measures of cognitive performance to measures of brain structure or functioning
what is the Activation Imaging Approach
links functional brain activity w cognitive behavioural data
- compensatory changes
Brain is made up of neurons
neurons consist of _ _ and _
________ travel across the synapase
neurons consist of Dendrites, Axons, and Terminal Branches
Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse
list 6 age related changes that occur in Neurons
of neurons decline
and size of dendrites decreases
tangles develop in axon fibres
increases in deposits of Protein
of Synapses decreases
these changes occur more in dementia brains
age related changes in neurons: WMH and DTI
what are these
White matter HyperIntensities - indicates myelin loss or neural atrophy
Diffusion Tensor Imaging - provides index of density or structural health of the white matter
dopamine is associated with higher level cog functioning, so dopamine declines are related to poorer ___ and ___
episodic memory
and tasks that require higher level cognitive functioning like inhibiting thoughts, attention and planning
what is the Dopaminergic System
neurons that use dopamine
what age related change occurs with serotonin
abnormal processing of serotonin has been shown to be related to cognitive decline
what age related change occurs with Acetylcholine
damage to structures that use Acetylcholine is associated w memory declines
considerable shrinkage occurs in the brain with age - especially in these 3 areas
PreFrontal Cortex, HippoCampus, and Cerebellum
what is the positivity effect w older adults
older adults are more motivated to derive emotional meaning from life and to maintain positive feelings than younger adults
what is the theory of mind effect
ability to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and viewpoints diff from our own
research shows age related decline in TOM
linking structural changes w behaviour: Executive Functioning
difficulty focusing solely on relevant information
due to WMH and reduced volume of prefrontal cortex
linking structura; changes w behaviour: Memory
specific strucutral changes (hippocampus) result in memory decline
better emotion regulation with age
how emotion changes with age slide 15
increased processing of positive emotional info with age
better emo regulation with age
increased processing of positive emotional info
better emotion regulation with age
age related increase in connections
older adults may rely more on ____ judgement processes than ____ processing
older adults may rely more on Automatic Judgement Processes than Reflective Processing
16 - studies show that, when presented w similar tasks, younger adults have activity where ? and older adults have it where?
in this case - older adults are _______
younger adults Exhibit Focal UniLateral Activity in Left PreFrontal Region
older adults Exhibit Bilateral Activity (both left and right prefrontal areas)
older adults are compensating
____ in older adults plays a supportive role in older adults’ cognitive function
Bilateral Activation in older adults plays a supportive role in older adults’ cognitive function
what is the Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory
proposes that intelligence comes from a distributed and integrated network of neurons in the Parietal and Frontal Areas of the brain
what is the CRUNCH hypothesis
Compensation Related Utilization of Neural Circuits Hypothesis
additional mechanisms in aging brains, OverUtilization of other regions in Left Hemi on Demanding Tasks
what is the STAC-r Theory
Scaffolding Theory of Cognitive Age - revised
default network theory holds that hwen the cognitive demands are made on the brain the default network is suppressed
Neural resource Enrichment and Depletion interact w neural Plasticity to account for age-related changes in cognitive functioning
what are default networks (stac-r theory)
regions of brain that are most active when one is at rest
Plasticity
involves interaction between Brain and Environment and its mostly used to describe the effects of experience on the structures and function of the neural system
Neural Stem Cells
give rise to new neurons, persist in adult brains, and can generate new cells throughout adulthood
