Final 12 (Mental Health)

Question 1

All of the limbic system eventually ends up connecting to…

Answer 1

the brainstem

Question 2

The hypothalamus controls homeostasis, through two structures, what are they and how does this work?

Answer 2

Reticular formation: attached tp autonomic nuclei, exerts control over sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Anterior pituitary gland: influences pituitary to control blood hormones, cortisol and the HPA axis

Question 3

Cortisol inhibits the release of _______________________

Answer 3

CRH and ACTH (negative feedback)

Question 4

The _____________ activates the stress response.

Answer 4

Amygdala

Question 5

The _________________ and ____________________ inactivate the stress response.

Answer 5

Prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

Question 6

Explain the health effects of chronic stress

Answer 6

• Reduced hippocampal function, including suppression of HPA
• Inhibits the ability of pre-frontal cortex to regulate amygdala and HPA stress response
• Decreased dendritic length, branching, number of contacts
• In the process, affects cognitive function, including memory

Question 7

Neurotransmitter have two general functions, what are they?

Answer 7

1. Excitation and inhibition
2. Neuromodulation (signaling cascades that regulate synaptic transmission)

Question 8

Which brain regions provide input to the parts of the reticular formation mediating alertness?

Answer 8

• Ascending sensory inputs
• Fronto-parietal association and limbic cortices
• Hypothalamus

Question 9

Acetylcholine targets which areas of the brain for alertness and memory?

Answer 9

• Cerebral cortex (hippocampus)
• Thalamus
• Cerebellum, pons, medulla

Question 10

Degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain may account for memory loss in what disease?

Answer 10

Alzheimer’s

Question 11

There is a gradual reduction in cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain with normal aging, true or false?

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Dopamine targets which regions of the brain for movements, initiative, and working memory?

Answer 12

• Striatum
• Limbic cortex
• Amygdala
• Nucleus accumbens
• Prefrontal cortex

Question 13

“Negative” symptoms in schizophrenia may result from dysregulation of…

Answer 13

dopaminergic pathways

Question 14

Some antipsychotic medications that prevent binding of dopamine to certain receptor sites decrease…

Answer 14

hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking

Question 15

Norepinephrine targets which regions of the brain for alertness, and mood elevation?

Answer 15

Targets the entire CNS

Question 16

_________________ is associated with the flight or fight reaction.

Answer 16

Norepinephrine

Question 17

High levels of norepinephrine are associated with _________________, low levels are associated with ___________________.

Answer 17

High levels of norepinephrine are associated with vigilance low levels are associated with sleep.

Question 18

Serotonin targets which regions of the brain for alertness, mood elevation and breathing control?

Answer 18

Targets the entire CNS

Question 19

The triangular circuit of emotion involves which three areas of the brain?

Answer 19

• Amygdala
• Thalamus
• Prefrontal cortex

Question 20

Severity of depression correlated with increased blood flow in which areas of the brain?

Answer 20

• Amygdala
• Thalamus
• Prefrontal cortex

Question 21

Individuals with depression often have smaller hippocampal volume, true or false?

Answer 21

True

Question 22

Which mental health disorder is most similar to Parkinson’s disease pathologically?

Answer 22

Schizophrenia

Question 23

Excessive dopamine signaling (at least in some brain regions) is associated with which mental health disorder?

Answer 23

Schizophrenia

Question 24

Name three factors that cause Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 24

1. Neurofibrillary tangles: intracellular
2. Amyloid plaques (brown in figure): extracellular
3. Temporal lobe earliest/most extensive neuronal loss

Question 25

The hippocampus is located in which lobe?

Answer 25

temporal

Question 26

The cerebral cortex receives cholinergic input from group neurons in the __________________.

Answer 26

basal forebrain

Question 27

The cerebral cortex receives cholinergic input from group neurons in the basal forebrain. There is early degeneration of these cholinergic neurons in which disease?

Answer 27

Alzheimer’s

Question 28

The only widely used treatment to slow down Alzheimer’s disease is “cholinergic boosters” like Aricept anticholinesterase, how does this work?

Answer 28

Prevents breakdown of acetylcholine