Cognition

Question 1

6 Neurocognitive Domains

Answer 1

1. Perceptual-motor function (visual perception)
2. Language (object naming, fluency)
3. Learning and memory (free recall, recognition memory)
4. Social cognition (recognition of emotions, insight)
5. Complex attention (sustained attention, divided attention)
6. Executive function (planning, decision-making)

Question 2

Bottom-up attention

Answer 2

-No cognitive input
-Animal: detection of predator
Humans: distinctive color, movement, etc

Question 3

Top-down attention

Answer 3

-Deliberately directed by the brain
-Flipping through a book looking for a specific passage

Question 4

Brain Areas for Top-down attention

Answer 4

Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (LPFC) -> Frontal eye field (FEF) -> Lateral intraparietal cortex (LIP) -> V4 -> V1, V2
(FEF and LIP go to Pulvinar and superior colliculus)

Question 5

Brain Areas for Bottom-up attention

Answer 5

V1,V2 -> V4 -> LIP -> FEF -> LPFC

Question 6

Selective Attention

Answer 6

-The ability to pay attention to a task while ignoring distractions
Ex: having a conversation in a noisy room

Question 7

Speech Pathways

Answer 7

-PVC -> Wernicke’s Area
-PAC -> Wernicke’s Area
-Wernicke’s Area -> Broca’s Area -> Motor Cortex

Question 8

Arcuate Fasciculus Aphasia

Answer 8

-Damage causes conduction aphasia: poor repitation of heard speech

Question 9

Wernicke’s Area Aphasia

Answer 9

-Impaired comprehension but fluent speech

Question 10

Broca’s Area Aphasia

Answer 10

-Normal comprehension but nonfluent speech

Question 11

Common Symptoms of cognitive impairment of Alzheimer Disease

Answer 11

-Short term memory impairment (insidious onset, slow progression, episodic memory affected)
-Language impairment
-Temporal and spatial disorientation
-Impairment of executive functions and judgement

Question 12

Common Non-cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 12

-Behavioral changes (apathy, irritability, aggression)
-Mood Disorders
-Urinary incontinences
-Mutism
-Hallucinations

Question 13

Incidence (# of new cases in specific period) and Prevalence (proportion of population with disease at time) of Alzheimer Disease

Answer 13

-Leading cause of dementia (7th leading cause of death in U.S.
-Increases with age

Question 14

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 14

-Genetics
-Age or Family history of dementia
-Traumatic brain injury
-Diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol

Question 15

Acetylcholine and Alzheimer Disease

Answer 15

-Basal nucleus in the basal forebrain
-Acetylcholine deficiency is related to degeneration of cholinergic neurons
(Neurofibrillary tangles (tau) and Amyloid beta (AB) plaques))