Cognitive Neuroscience of Schizophrenia Midterm Flashcards
ABI
Acquired Brain Injury
Usually from stroke (CVA/cerebral vascular accident) or TBI (traumatic brain injury) (prevalent in kids.)
Degenerative Disease
Genetics causes a break down of the brain.
Alzheimer’s dementia, Lewy Body, etc
Synergistic
Two independent agents act together to create an effect which is greater than the sum of the effects each agent could create alone. (e.g. biological and social factors of schizophrenia)
Schizophrenia statistics:
18-22 years old age of onset
1% of population
Prodromal Phase
Phase before onset of schizophrenia (withdrawn, may be misdiagnosed with autism).
Pathognomonic
Indicative of a disease or condition.
Ubiquitous
found everywhere
Savant Syndrome
a special talent unique to someone despite their mental illness
Genetic Risks
50% if identical twin is schizophrenic
40% if both parents are schizophrenic
15% if non-identical twin is schizophrenic
10% if parent/brother/sister is schizophrenic
Characteristics of Psychosis
Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, negative symptoms, impaired cognitive function.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Higher functioning spectrum of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia Spectrum Inclusion Criteria
Six months of continuous disturbance including prodromal and residual psychotic symptoms.
Schizophrenia Spectrum Exclusion Criteria
Symptoms must not be associated with drug abuse or other medical condition.
Autism
Delusions must be present at least one month.
Biomarker
Biological characteristic unique to a specific population
Genetic Marker
a sequence of DNA used to locate chromosomes or other genes
Startle Reflex
defensive reactions to threatening stimuli which activate autonomic nervous system
PNS
Parasympathetic Nervous System.
Controls homeostasis and the bodies “rest and digest” function.
SNS
Sympathetic Nervous System.
Controls body’s responses to perceived threat (Fight or Flight).
Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) of Acoustic Startle
A weak sound preceding a louder acoustic stimulus prevents the startle reflex. (impaired in schizophrenia)
Frontal Cortex
Vital for executive functioning. Has connections to corpus callosum. Deficits in schizophrenia.
Dysexecutive Syndrome (DES)
Symptoms usually resulting from brain damage that fall into the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional categories and often occur together. (Issues with planning, abstract thinking, flexibility, behavioral control)
First Generation of Antipsychotic Drugs (Typical)
Developed in the 1950s
e.g. Haldol, Thorazine
Still used when new treatment doesn’t work.
High risk of severe side effects.
Second Generation of Antipsychotic Drugs (Atypical)
Developed in the 1990s
e.g. Clozapine, asenapine, paliperidone.
Positive vs Negative symptoms
Positive = addition of something Negative = absence of something
Pseudo psychosis
Resembles psychosis but is not. May be malingering or fictitious.
Prosopagnosia
A disorder in which the ability to recognize faces is impaired.
No connection between hippocampus and amygdala.
Visual Accommodation
process by which eyes change optical power to maintain focus on an object as its distance varies
Robert L. Fantz 1960s Infant Perception Studies
Face preference is innate while visual accommodation is not (recognize face at ~8inches/breast feeding distance).
Consolidation
Information moved from short to long term memory.
(Happens a lot during REM). Schizophrenics have impaired REM.
Delusion
False belief that cannot be explained by a patient’s culture or education. (cannot be persuaded despite evidence)
e.g. guilt, ill health, grandeur, persecution, poverty
Index of Suspicion
awareness and concern for a potentially serious underlying and unseen condition
Affective Forecasting
Prediction of one’s affect or emotional state in the future.
Impact Bias
Tendency to overestimate intensity of future feelings.
Hypnagogia
Transition from wakefulness to sleep.
e.g. lucid dreaming, hallucinations, sleep paralysis
Delirium
Confused state of mind that occurs during fever, intoxication, and other disorders where restlessness, illusions, and incoherence occur.
Visual Closure
The ability to visualize a complete whole when given incomplete information or partial picture.
