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 2 areas work closely with the reticular activating system?

Answer 2

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

How can we quantify consciousness?

Answer 5

Combined EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Firstly, TMS is used to cause an evoked potential in the brain. You then measure brain activity using EEG. The complexity of the resulting EEG can be quantified and the number is called the PCI.

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

TMS is used to cause an evoked potential in the brain. You then measure brain activity using EEG. The complexity of the resulting EEG can be quantified and the number is called the PCI.

ie a way of quantifying

Question 8

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

Answer 8

<4Hz = delta
4-8Hz = theta
8-13Hz = alpha
14-30Hz = beta (normal waking frequency)
>40Hz = gamma
generally, wave frequency decreases during sleep (except REM sleep) 
Do The ABGs

Question 9

When are theta brain waves recorded?

Answer 9

Stage N1 sleep

Question 10

Define coma

Answer 10

Unrousable unresponsiveness (no awareness and no wakefulness) lasting for more than 6 hours
arouse= awake.

Question 11

Define vegetative state

Answer 11

presence of sleep wake cycle but no awareness (wakefulness present 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 (wakefulness with minimal awareness)

Question 13

What is hemispatial 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(all across the brain): meningitis
Hemisphere lesion: cerebral infarct
Brain stem: brainstem infarct

Question 16

Recall the scale used to calculate GCS

Answer 16

eyes open, verbal response to stimuli, motor response to stimuli: 4,5,6

Question 17

Define the neural correlates of consciousness

Answer 17

The minimum neuronal mechanisms jointly sufficient for any one specific conscious experience.
Primarily localized to a posterior cortical hot zone that includes
sensory areas (Koch et al., 2016)