CNS Drugs 🧠 Flashcards
L: intro to CNS
what can input to CNS be described as (2 words)
afferent
sensory
what can output to CNS be described as (2 words)
efferent
motor
2 functions of the brain
sensory: reception vs perception
motor: decision based activity
What is reception?
stimulation of a receptor such as light, touch, or sound
What is perception?
process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
What is memory?
- storage and retrieval of information
- info can be relied on and used to compare future experiences
What is the independent motor function?
- ability for motor function to occur without the use of sensory info
- useful in decision-based activity
How does information get in to (and out of) the brain?
- different tracts that carry axons and sensory info to the brain and feedback to the muscles
- sensory neurons send information from the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin -> brain
- motor neurons carry messages away from the brain -> rest of body
What is Brodmann’s map?
The Brodmann areas are a way of mapping the cortex and its distinguished functions
.. where the info goes to
How may areas are found on the Brodmann map?
- 52 areas
2 cell types on brain and what are their funcitons?
neurones: info processing
glia: other functions
What is the consequence of damage to different areas of the Broadmann map
changes in an individual’s behaviour or personality
examples of areas of Brodmann mapping and function (vision, speech and language perception)?
- vison (area 17)
- speech (45)
- language reception (32)
What is a homonculus?
topographical-organized map of the proportional representation of the contralateral somatosensory or motor neurons on the cortex or passing through a part of the brain.
What are the primary sensory or motor cortices?
- areas of the cortex that are able to receive simple sensory/motor information
- the same info can be passed to other areas of the cortex that can deal with this info in a more complex way
What are the secondary sensory or motor cortices?
- info from the primary corticies are passed here
- The neurons in this secondary area are still able to process the information
unimodal association
Why are secondary cortices unimodal?
still processing 1 source of info (auditory) in a more complicated way
What are the tertiary sensory or motor cortices?
- multimodal areas
- bring info together from different sensory modalities and compare it to what is stored as info within the brain
- gives 3D representation, pain (combines detection of painful stimuli with memories of painful emotions in the past) and create a mental image
What is a connectome?
- a neural map of the connections within the brain
- shows the interactions between >1000 neurons to form circuits?
- circuits, synapses
- vast connectivity
- neuropharmacology
3 examples of drugs affecting neurotransmission
LDopa: mimics NT (Parkinsons)
SSRI: impact reuptake into synaptic terminal : depression
Opioid: act as NT receptor: pain
what drugs affect ion channels?
anti-epileptics- have unusual elect activity
brain= complex but to simplify, what 2 tyoes of signals?
electrical: APs
chemical: NT released @ synapses
L: drug abuse and addiction
What is drug misuse and an example?
- Using meds in ways other than intended use
- like taking 4 tablets when you were supposed to take 2
prescribed
what is drug abuse?
- Excessive use of a drug inconsistent with medical practice
- can lead to to psychoactive effects
- drug doesn’t have to be illegal
not prescribed