Deck 3 Flashcards
Neural plasticity important concepts
The brain physically changes throughout the lifespan
Synaptic pruning
In adolescence, synapses that are relevant persist, refining the efficiency of the brain
Chronic __ and chronic ___ __ ___ can negatively impact neural plasticity
stress and substance use disorder
5 things that can produce positive changes in neural functioning
Psychotherapy Pharmacotherapy Exercise Meditation Other enjoyable activities, like socializing
5 functions of the brainstem/pons/medulla oblongata/midbrain
Blood pressure
Breathing
Level of arousal
Digestion
Relays info to the cerebellum
The 3 other structures that are in the same class as the brainstem
brainstem/pons/medulla oblongata/midbrain
4 effects of damage to the brainstem/pons/medulla oblongata/midbrain
Impaired inhibition
Anxiety
Depression
Personality changes
5 psychiatric conditions associated with the brainstem/pons/medulla oblongata/midbrain
PTSD Psychosis Paralysis Coma Death
7 functions of the cerebellum
Balance Posture Movement Memory Impulse control cognition language
4 effects of damage to the cerebellum
Ataxia
Tremors
Emotional blunting
Lack of inhibition
2 psych disorders associated with the cerebellum
Austism
ADHD
Function of the amygdala
Regulates primitive/powerful emotions (fear, rage, sex)
3 effects of damage to the amygdala
Irritability
Anger
Aggression
5 psych disorders associated with the amygdala
PTSD Panic disorder Depression Autism Schizophrenia
3 functions of the hippocampus
Memory
Converting short-term memory to long-term
Leanring
2 effects of damage to the hippocampus
Impaired memory and attention
3 psych disorders associated with the hippocampus
Depression
Alzheimer’s
PTSD
2 functions of the thalamus
Relay station
Influences affect/mood/and body movements associated with strong emotions
Effective of damage to the thalamus
Impairment when someone’s overwhelmed with information
Psych disorder associated with the thalamus
schizophrenia
2 functions of the hypothalamus
Homeostasis
Basic needs (eating/drinking/temperature)
2 effects of damage to the hypothalamus
Disturbed sleep/eating/temperature
Emotional instability
3 psych disorders associated with the hypothalamus
Depression
Violence
Anorexia
The 4 subdivisions of the frontal lobe
Motor strip
Supplemental motor area
Broca’s area
Prefrontal cortex
6 functions of the frontal lobe
Executive functioning Personality High order planning Speech Motivation Emotional experience/expression
The prefrontal cortex (in the frontal lobe) has 3 regions
Orbitofrontal
Dorsolateral
Medial
The orbitofrontal region, anterior cingulate, and insula work together to
seek and recognize love
Seeking and recognizing love is associated with
The orbitofrontal region, anterior cingulate, and insula
Damage to the orbitofrontal region (in the prefrontal cortex) causes 4 things
Disinhibition
Promiscuity
Poor judgement
Poor executive functioning
7 psych disorders associated with the frontal lobe
Frontal lobe syndrome Schizophrenia Executive dysfunction Depression Bipolar ADHD Anxiety
2 functions of the parietal lobe
Sensory information (smell, hearing, vision, tactile, proprioception)
Language comprehension
Effect of damage to the parietal lobe
Can’t recognize familiar people/objects/surroundings
3 psych disorder associated with the parietal lobe
Agnosia
Aphasia
Apraxia
3 functions of the occipital lobe
Vision
Visual memory
Language formation
2 effects of damage to the occipital lobe
Vision loss
Visual hallucation
2 psych disorders associated with the occipital lobe
Blindness
Color blindness
2 functions of the temporal lobe
Auditory info
Provides emotional context to memories
4 effects of damage to the temporal lobe
Fear
Rage
Anxiety
Paranoia
3 psych disorders associated with the temporal lobe
AH in depression
Mania
Schizophrenia
The 4 dopamine pathways
Nigrostriatal
Mesocortical
Mesolimbic
Tuberinfundibular
What is the mesolimbic dopamine pathway known for
Rewards
Associated with mood disorders/psychosis/addiction/positive symptoms of schizophrenia
What is the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway known for
Voluntary and involuntary movements
Mesocortical dopamine pathway is known for
Cognition
Planning
Behavior
Tuberoinfundibular dopamine pathway is known for
Regulating prolactin
It extends to the pituitary
How many types of dopamine receptors are there
5
What are the 2 subtypes of dopamine receptors
D1 like receptors (include D1 and D5)
D2 like receptors (includes D2, D3, D4)
What do the D1-like receptors do (D1 and D5 receptors)
Stimulate adenyl cyclase activity
What do the D2-like receptors do (D2, D3, and D4)
Inhibit formation of cAMP
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are thought to be from excessive dopamine in the
mesolimbic pathway
Drug induced parkinsonism symptoms occur through
degeneration of the nigral neurons
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are caused by
deficient mesocortical pathways
All antipsychotics (1st and 2nd) have this mechanism in common
They block D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway
How do 1st generation antipsychotics cause EPS
They can block D2 receptors in the nigrostriatal pathway
What is the antipsychotic mechanism that causes elevated prolactin and galactorrhea
Disruption of the tuberoinfundibular pathway
Reduced adverse effects of the 2nd generation antipsychotics is due in part to their actions on the D2 receptors:
Rapid dissociation
Partial antagonists
Epinephrine is found mostly in the
peripheral nervous system
Norepinephrine is involved in these 6 things
Attention Focus Vigilance Fight or flight Learning Speeds up heart rate
Norepinephrine neurons innervate the
amygdala and prefontal cortex- areas important to anxiety and worry
Dysregulation of epi and norepinephrine can be caused by
childhood abuse
Epi/Norepi is involved in which 5 psychiatric disorders
Mood disorders GAD ADHD Panic disorder PTSD
Stimulant medications used for ADHD increase
Norepi and dopamine
Atomoxetine mechanism
selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Serotonin is derived from
tryptophan
Serotonin is a precursor of
melatonin
Serotonin is known as the “___ ___”
Calming neurotransmitter
3 important effect of serotonin
affects sleep
reduces aggression
inhibits behavior
What is the number of serotonin families and subfamilies
7, 15
Dysregulation of serotonin results in 7 things
irritability hostility sleep dysregulation anxiety depression decreased libido
How do 2nd generation antipsychotics involve serotonin
They block serotonin-2 receptors, balancing the action of dopamine and reducing side effects.
Buspirone mechanism of action
Partial agonist to serotonin-1A
the “Triptan” medications (for example sumatriptan) for acute migraine work by
They are serotonin-1B/1D agonists
Mirtazapine mechanism of action
it’s a potent serotonin-2 and -3 receptor antagonist.
What does histamine control
Arousal
Wakefulness
Feeding behavior
Neuroendocrine responsiveness
2 fun facts about histamine
there are 4 substypes
it can be inhibitory or excitatory
Where are most histamine receptors
The CNS, especially the thalamus, cortex, and cerebellum
antagonism of H1 receptors causes
sedation and weight gain (some antidepressants and antipsychotics have antihistamine properties)
3 fun facts about glutamate
It’s found throughout the brain
It’s excitatory
It’s the precursor of GABA
The major receptor of glutamate is
NMDA receptors
What’s the relationship between ketamine and glutamate
Ketamine is an antagonist of glutamate. The antagonism causes schizophrenia like symptoms.
2 fun facts about GABA
It’s inhibitory
There are multiple types of GABA receptors
GABA especially plays a role in ___ disorders
anxiety
Common medication that acts on GABA receptors
benzodiazepines
ACh is the neurotransmitter in the ___ nervous system
autonomic (which includes sympathetic and parasympathetic)
Examples of ACh in the sympathetic nervous, and the parasympathetic
Sympathetic: fight or flight response (ACh is in the preganglionic neurons)
Parasympathetic: rest and digest (ACh is responsible for transmission from nerves to the organs)
Problems with cognition/arousal/attention/motivation occur when ACh decreases because of deterioration of the ___ ___ and ___ ___
cerebral cortex and caudate nucleus
How does donepezil work
it’s an acetylcholinerterase inhibitor, meaning it stops ACh from breaking down
