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PSY3105 | The Psychology of Adolescence > Guest speaker 1: The Adolescent Brain > Flashcards

Guest speaker 1: The Adolescent Brain Flashcards

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1
Q

What are dendrites? [1]

A

Branch-like structures that receive signals from other neurons.

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2
Q

What is the cell body? [1]

A

contains the nucleus and helps send the signal down the axon.

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3
Q

How do neurons send information? [1]

A

Neurons send info via action potentials (electrical impulses).

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4
Q

What happens at the synapse? [1]

A

When a nerve impulse reaches the synapse, it may release neurotransmitters (NT) to communicate with other neurons.

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5
Q

What are neurotransmitters (NTs)? [1]

A

chemicals like monoamines, glutamate, and GABA that help transmit signals across the synapse.

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6
Q

How many neurons are there in the human body? [1]

A

around 100 billion

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7
Q

Why is the brain folded? [1]

A

to increase surface area, allowing for more neural connections.

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8
Q

What is grey matter? [1]

A

forms the outer layer of the brain, called the cerebral cortex or neocortex.

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9
Q

What is white matter? [1]

A

located in the inner layers of the brain and helps with communication between brain areas.

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10
Q

How is the brain divided? [2]

A
  • two hemispheres
  • several lobes.
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11
Q

What is the corpus callosum? [1]

A

structure that connects the two hemispheres, allowing them to communicate.

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12
Q

How does MRI work? [1]

A

by displacing and re-aligning protons in a magnetic field, generating a signal based on their movement.

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13
Q

What is the principle behind fMRI? [1]

A

measures energy requirements of active brain regions to create images based on brain activity.

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14
Q

How does PET work? [1]

A

injecting a radioactive tracer; as it decays, it emits gamma rays, which are detected to measure brain activity and biochemistry.

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15
Q

What does EEG measure? [1]

A

voltage changes at the scalp surface, providing a direct measure of brain electrical activity (summed across pyramidal neurons).

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16
Q

What is Event-Related Potential (ERP)? [1]

A

the average of neural activity following a stimulus, calculated by averaging multiple EEG recordings.

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17
Q

What does CT stand for and how does it work? [2]

A
  • Computed Tomography
  • it takes detailed images of brain structures using X-rays.
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18
Q

What is DTI and how does it work? [1]

A
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • tracks the movement of water protons along axons, revealing axonal pathways in the brain.
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19
Q

What happens to the brain after birth? [1]

A

Grows rapidly, producing billions of neurons and forming synapses (connections between neurons) through a process called synaptogenesis.

20
Q

How much does the brain grow in the first 2 years? [1]

A

from 25% to 75% of its adult weight

21
Q

What is synaptic pruning? [1]

A

the gradual disappearance of synapses based on experience, eliminating unnecessary connections between neurons.

22
Q

When does pruning continue? [1]

A

into late adolescence/early adulthood, especially in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which matures into the early 20s.

23
Q

Why has the definition of adolescence expanded? [1]

A

due to new insights about brain development profiles, particularly in the frontal lobe.

24
Q

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC)? [4]

A

regulates:

  • decision-making/planning
  • judgment
  • emotional expression
  • impulse control
25
Q

What is the role of the limbic system during adolescence? [1]

A

helps process and manage emotions and is still developing during adolescence, impacting emotional regulation.

26
Q

Why do adolescents experience more mood swings and impulsive behavior? [1]

A

because the limbic system is not fully inhibited by the still-maturing PFC.

27
Q

What [3] changes occur in the adolescent brain related to pleasure?

A
  • becomes more sensitive to dopamine
  • with more dopamine receptors and enhanced supply
  • leading to feelings of pleasure during activities.
28
Q

How does this sensitivity to pleasure affect adolescents? [4]

A

can lead to:

  • greater sensation-seeking
  • novelty-seeking
  • self-regulation issues
  • changes in motivation.
29
Q

How do gonadal hormones affect sex differentiation? [2]

A
  • Gonadal hormone secretions from the testis in males lead to masculinization
  • both males and females have androgens, estrogens, and progesterone, but in different levels and patterns.
30
Q

What role does testosterone play in male brain development? [1]

A

testosterone and its conversion to estrogen in utero cause masculinization of the fetal brain.

31
Q

How does the absence of androgens affect female brain development? [1]

A

the absence of androgen production and the presence of alpha-fetoprotein lead to feminization of the fetal brain.

32
Q

What are the average brain weights for males and females? [2]

A
  • Males: 1260g
  • Females: 1130g

10% larger in males

33
Q

What structural differences exist in male and female brains? [2]

A
  • Males: higher % of white matter and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Females: higher % of gray matter
34
Q

What are some behavioral differences between males and females? [2]

A
  • Males: enhanced motor and spatial skills
  • Females: excel in memory and social cognition (like emotion identification) and verbal fluency.
35
Q

How does cortical thickness vary between males and females? [2]

A
  • Males: thinning in frontal regions
  • Females: thinning in posterior regions
36
Q

What findings were observed in a study on structural connectivity between 8-22 years? [2]

A
  • Males: more intra-hemispheric connectivity
  • Females: dominance in inter-hemispheric connectivity (frontal lobe)
37
Q

What networks show higher structural connectivity in females? [2]

A
  • Reward processing
  • Memory
38
Q

How does brain perfusion relate to brain activity needs? [2]

A
  • Males have decreased perfusion in insula and amygdala
  • Females: increased perfusion in insula and amygdala
39
Q

What is the relationship between anxiety and brain perfusion in females? [1]

A

Higher trait anxiety in post-pubertal females is linked to increased perfusion in the left amygdala.

40
Q

What is the potential benefit of aerobic exercise for depressed youth? [1]

A

(cardio) is a promising alternative treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in youth.

41
Q

How can repeated cardio exercise benefit the brain? [4]

A
  • Increase neurotrophic factors (molecules that support neuron growth).
  • Modulate serotonin and norepinephrine (chemicals involved in cognition and mood).
  • Enhance HPA-axis regulation (the stress response system).
  • Reduce inflammation.
42
Q

What are the potential outcomes of the benefits of aerobics? [3]

A
  • New neuron formation.
  • Increased connections between neurons.
  • Enhanced brain vasculature.
43
Q

What is the impact of chronic cannabis use on the adolescent brain? [1]

A

may alter brain structure and function, particularly in adolescents who may be more sensitive to THC.

44
Q

What complicates the understanding of cannabis effects? [2]

A
  • poverty
  • abuse
45
Q

What recent findings have emerged regarding cannabis use and mental health? [1]

A

daily cannabis use is associated with increased odds of developing a psychotic disorder compared to non-users

PSY3105 | The Psychology of Adolescence (7 decks)

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