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Psychology > Chapter 5 > Flashcards

Chapter 5 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is neuroplastcity?

A

Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the brain and other parts of the nervous system to change in response to experience.

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2
Q

What are synapses?

A

The site where adjacent neurons communicate by transmitting neural signals to one another.

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3
Q

What are neurons (not definition)

A

the building blocks of the brain and nervous system

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4
Q

What is synaptic plasticity?

A

Refers to the ability of the synapse to change in response to experience

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5
Q

What is strengthening in regards to synaptic plasticity?

A

Occurs through continual use of synaptic connections, or through growth of new, additional connections. The synapse strengthens the more it is used.

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6
Q

What is weakening in regards to synaptic plasticity?

A

Occurs through disuse of synaptic connections, results in decay or elimination of synapse. ‘Use it or lose it’

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7
Q

Through synaptic plasticity, ___?

A

The brain can reorganise and rearrange neural connections and pathways based on which parts are over or underused.

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8
Q

What are the factors influencing brain plasticity?

A

Experience-expectant plasticity and experience-dependent plasticity

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9
Q

What is experience-expectant plasticity?

A

Where the brain changes in response to environmental experiences that are ordinarily expected. for example, some birds need to hear a specific song in their early days in life, otherwise they can never learn.

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10
Q

Relate critical and sensitive periods to experience-expectant plasticity.

A

it has critical and sensitive periods. For example, a child surrounded by Korean-speaking people will be exposed to different sounds and tones, and therefore will learn Korean. If they are not exposed to this, it will be more difficult for them to do so (?)

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11
Q

What is experience-dependent plasticity?

A

Brain change that modifies part of its neuronal structure that is already present. It is unique and may occur at any time throughout the lifespan. There is no sensitive or critical period for this.

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12
Q

What is neuroplasticity in response to brain injury?

A

The brain can recover from or compensate for lost function to maximise remaining functions in event of brain injury.

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13
Q

What are the types of change to neuroplasticity in response to brain injury?

A

Generation of new networks, reassignment of functions, neurogenesis, sprouting, rerouting and pruning.

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14
Q

What is sprouting?

A

When a new neural pathway is created, or an extension of a pre-existing neuron.

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15
Q

What is rerouting?

A

Occurs when new connections are made between neurons to create alternate neural pathways.

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16
Q

What is pruning?

A

The elimination of weak, ineffective or unused synapses.
It is the brain’s way of fine-tuning neural circuits to maintain efficient brain functioning.

17
Q

What does sprouting, rerouting and pruning achieve in response to brain injury?

A

It enables neurons to restore or compensate for lost function following brain injury and/or to maximize remaining functions.

18
Q

What is a ‘brain injury’?

A

Brain damage that impairs or interferes with normal/typical functioning of the brain, temporarily or permanently.

19
Q

What is an ‘acquired brain injury’?

A

Used to differentiate brain injury from neurodevelopmental disorders that a person is born with

  • a brain injury that is acquired due to actions in life.
20
Q

What is meant by ‘traumatic brain injury?’

A

A type of acquired brain injury which occurs when external force causes damage to the brain

  • e.g blow to head
21
Q

What is Aphasia?

A

A language disorder which results from acquired brain injury to area responsible for language production or processing.

22
Q

What are the primary signs of Aphasia?

A

Difficulty in expressing oneself when speaking, trouble understanding speech, difficulty reading and writing.

23
Q

What are the types of Aphasia?

A

Fluent, non-fluent and pure

24
Q

What is fluent Aphasias?

A

Where speech is easily produced and flows freely, but sentences don’t make sense, and the person has difficulties understanding what is heard or read.

25
Q

What is non-fluent aphasias?

A

Difficulty speaking clearly, often short sentences with words omitted. Speech includes only key words necessary for communication. But the person has no difficulties understanding what is heard or read.

26
Q

What is pure aphasia?

A

Specific impairments in reading, writing or recognising spoken words, despite being able to hear them (word deafness).

27
Q

What is meant by the term ‘neurological disorder’?

A

Nervous system disorders, often describes as ‘diseases’ of the nervous system

28
Q

What is Epilepsy?

A

A neurological disorder involving recurrent, spontaneous seizures brought on by interference in normal brain activity.

29
Q

What are the main symptoms of epilepsy?

A

Onset of an aura, loss of consciousness, abnormal, involuntary movements

30
Q

What are some of the causes of epilepsy?
(list)

A

Traumatic brain injury, lack of oxygen to brain for long period, brain tumor or infection, neurodegenerative disease, genetic factors.

31
Q

What is the treatment for epilepsy?

A

Anti-seizure medication, surgery where damaged brain tissue is removed if it is the focal point for seizures.

32
Q

What is a concussion?

A

A type of traumatic brain injury caused by blow to head, or hit to body that causes brain to move rapidly back and forth.

33
Q

What is CTE?

A

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive brain degeneration and a fatal condition. It is caused by repeated concussions/blows to the head.

34
Q

What are the symptoms of CTE?

A

Vary in individuals. Similar to symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Can be debilitating and have life-changing effects.

  • loss of memory
  • mood changes
  • personality changes, etc
35
Q

How is CTE diagnosed?

A

Currently no medical or psychological test to diagnose a living person.
Does not often show up on brain scans.
Diagnosed based on history of participating in contact sports, of id symptoms of CTE.
In autopsy, CTE can be diagnosed by examining sections of brain, with build of of tau protein or atrophy.

36
Q

What are the challenges for researching CTE?

A

Still finding link between repeated head traumas and changes in brain resulting in CTE.
Some patients with no concussions or head traumas diagnosed with CTE.
Some athletes with repeated head trauma not diagnosed with CTE, never developed.
Cannot establish cause-effect relationship.

37
Q

What is neurogenesis?

A

The growth and development of nervous tissue, and is the birth of new neurons.

38
Q

What is long-term potentiation?

A

Synapses strengthen over continuous use

39
Q

What is long-term depression?

A

The weakening of synapses as a result of disuse

Psychology (18 decks)

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