Introduction to consciousness

Question 1

Which part of the brain is responsible for controlling levels of consciousness?

Answer 1

Reticular activating system

Question 2

What are the 3 main components of the reticular activating system?

Answer 2

Reticular formation
Ventral tegmental area
Locus coeruleus

Question 3

Recall the type of neuron present in the ventral tegmental area of the RAS

Answer 3

Dopaminergic

Question 4

Recall the type of neuron present in the locus coereleus

Answer 4

Noradrenergic

Question 5

What type of scan can measure consciousness?

Answer 5

Combined EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation

Question 6

What is measured by combined EEG and TMS?

Answer 6

Pertubational complexity index

Question 7

What is the pertubational complexity index?

Answer 7

Measure of brain response to EEG activity

Question 8

Recall the range of brainwave frequencies for each type of brain wave

Answer 8

<4Hz = delta
4-8Hz = theta
8-12Hz = alpha
14-30Hz = beta
>40Hz = gamma

Question 9

When are theta brain waves recorded?

Answer 9

Stage N1 sleep

Question 10

Define coma

Answer 10

Unrousable unconsciousness

Question 11

Define vegetative state

Answer 11

presence of sleep wake cycle but no awareness

Question 12

Define the minimally conscious state

Answer 12

Severely altered consciousness, but indivisual may be able to track you around the room and has self-awareness

Question 13

What is neglect?

Answer 13

Unilateral loss of conscious awareness

Question 14

Identify 5 metabolic causes of coma

Answer 14

Drugs
Diabetes
Liver/ renal failure
Hypoglycaemia
Hypercalcaemia

Question 15

Recall the 3 categories of non-metabolic causes of coma and give an example of each

Answer 15

Diffuse intracranial: meningitis
Hemisphere lesion: tumour
Brain stem: cerebellar infarct

Question 16

Recall the scale used to calculate GCS

Answer 16

eyes, voice, motor: 4,5,6