chapter 2-neuroscience as basis Flashcards
neuroimaging
set of techniques in which pictures of the brain are taken in various ways to provide understanding both normal and abnormal cognitive aging
structural neuroimaging
provides highly detailed images of anatomical features of the brain; pictures, what the brain looks like at specific moment; xray, CT, MRI
functional neuroimaging
provides indication of brain activity; information about what parts of the brain are active when doing a specific task; SPECT, PET, fMRI, NIRSI
neuropsychological approach
compares healthy adults to those with pathological disorders of the brain; compares norms; identify factros taht are influential in age related cognitive decline
neuro-correlational approach
links measures of cognitive performance to measures of brain structure or functioning; real time investigation of changes in brain functioning; fMRI; older adults brains compensat for cognitive decline
activation imaging approach
links functional brain activity with cognitive behavior data; support use of compensatory strategies; fMRI to perform task
brain is made up of neurons
dendrites, axon, terminal branches; communicate via neurotransmitters across synapse
neuroanatomy
study of the structure of the brain
frontal lobe
executive functions (think, plan, organize, problem solve), regulating emotions; schizophrenics, addicts have different frontal lobes; first place to be affected by dementia
temporal lobe
memory; understand language; dementia; alzheimers
parietal lobe
perception; sensory input; proprioception; somatosensory cortex
occipital lobe
vision
corpus callosum
connects hemispheres
body connects __ to brain
contralateral
cerebral cortex
white matter; first to go as we get older
cerebellum
balance, coordination
limbic system
memory; emotions, LTM, motivation
hippocampus
limbic system; memory consolidation
amygdala
emotion
age related changes in neurons
- neurons decline
- number and size of dendrites decrease
- synapses decrease
- tangles in axon fibers
- increases in deposits of proteins (plaque)
plaque buildup causes
alzheimer’s; mild to moderate-2-10 years, plaque spreads toward back of brain; sever-most of the brain affects by plaque spread
neurotransmittes
chemicals that facilitate the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons
dopamine
high level cognitive functioning (inhibiting thoughts, attention, planning, emotion, pleasure/pain); too much indicates schizophrenia; too little parkinson’s, addiction
serotonin
mood, memory, appetite, sleep, perceptions, anxiety; low levels-depression, suicidal ideation, OCD
acetylcholine
arousal, sensory perception, attention, memory; alzheimers/dementia (low levels)
age related changes in brain structure: white matter hyperintensities (WMH)
indicates myelin loss or neural atrophy; white matter-neurons that are covered by myelin that serve to transmit info from one part of cortex to another
age related changes in brain structure: considerable __ of the brain
shrinkage; prefrontal, hippocampus, cerebellum
age related changes in brain structure: diffusion tensor imaging
provides index of density or structural health of the white matter; how the white matter is functioning; asses rate and change water diffuses through white matter
structural brain changes mean: executive functioning
difficulty focusing solely on relevant info
structural brain changes mean: memory
specific structural changes (hippocampus) result in memory decline; temporal lobe deficits
structural brain changes mean: social-emotional cognition
older adults may rely more on automatic judgement rather than reflective processes; ingrained responses; harder to process other factors
structural brain changes mean: prefrontal
positivity effect-older adults are more motivated to derive emotional meaning from life and to maintain feelings
parieto frontal integration theory (P-FIT)
proposes that intelligence comes from a distributed and integrated network of neurons in the pariteo frontal regions of the brain; compensate for losses (use both sides)
older adults compensate for brain changes by
using more structures of the brain and using both sides
theories of brain-behavior changes: HAROLD
hemispheric asymmetry reduction in older adults; suggests bilaterality is compensatory in older adults with reduces cognitive abilities; function of reduced lateralization is compensatory in nature
theories of brain-behavior changes: CRUNCH
compensation related utilization of neural circuits hypothesis; aging brain responds to neurological decline by recruiting additional neural circuits in order to complete tasks appropriately; more of the same activation occurs or supplementary processes to compensate
theories of brain-behavior changes: STAC
scaffolding theory of cognitive age; age related changes in ones ability to function reflect life long process of compensating for declining by recruiting additional areas; build up and rely on back up pathways;
plasticity
interaction between the brain and the environment and is 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; expand plasticity
4 facts about plasticity
- varies by age
- ongoing throughout life and involves brain cells other than neurons
- learning/experience/memory formation or result of brain damage
- environment and genetics
improve plasticity
use whole brain; mental activity; socialization; nutrition; exercise; meditation;
