L24 - Decision-Making 2

Question 1

What model is this?

Answer 1

The classic basal ganglia model for action generation

Question 2

Define “agonist”

Answer 2

a substance which initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor.

Question 3

Define “antagonist” (biochemistry)

Answer 3

a substance which interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another.

Question 4

In the classical basal ganglia model, are both pathways activated at the same time or is only one pathway activated at a time?

Answer 4

Both are activated at the same time, however the pathway with the strongest total output is what determins whether the output will be performed.

Question 5

human beings basal ganglia model is unique to them.

True or False.

Answer 5

False

Very ancient system that belongs to many animals (very adaptive to learn from punishment and rewards)

Question 6

How do we test “go and no-go learning”?

Answer 6

Show them a set of symbols that have a chance of giving correct or incorrect feedback (reward or punishment).

Record which symbols they prefer choosing.

Question 7

In go and no-go learning tests, how do we determine if someone is learning from reward or punishment?

Answer 7

Reward: they choose the stimulus with the highest proportion correct

Punishment: They avoid the stimulus with the lowest proportion correct

• choose A = Go learning*
• Choose B = No-Go learning*

Question 8

Does positive feedback influence Go or No-Go learning?

Answer 8

Go learning

D1 receptors need more dopamine to work, positive feedback boost dopamine levels

Question 9

How did psychologists Frank & O’Reilly (2006) test the basal ganglia model using young healthy individuals

Answer 9

Shifting the balance between the direct and indirect pathways with dopamine agonists and antagonists

Gave either drug or placebo

Question 10

What happens to young healthy individuals when they are given haloperidol (+ dopamine)

Answer 10

Perform better with “go” learning and worse with “no-go” learning

Question 11

What happens to young healthy individuals when they are given cabergoline (decreased dopamine)?

Answer 11

They perform better at “no-go” learning (negative feedback) and worse at “go” learning (positive feedback)

Question 12

Drugs of abuse that boost dopamine levels can lead to what type of mental changes?

Answer 12

Impulsivity

Induce psychosis and schizophrenia

(these disorders are characterised by high levels of dopamine in the midbrain)

Question 13

Most of our DNA is identical between different people, but some parts of our DNA differ.

What are these called?

Answer 13

Mutations

Question 14

How many DNA strands does each DNA have?

Answer 14

Two

Question 15

How many possible genotypes do we have?

Answer 15

3

Because we have two strands, we can either have C+C - T+T - C+T

Question 16

Upon which chromosomes are DRD1 and DRD2 on?

Answer 16

DRD1 = 5

DRD2 = 11

not really important

Question 17

Individuals who possess a genotype that increases neurotransmission via dopamine D1 receptors are better at learning through

Answer 17

Go learning

Question 18

Individuals who possess the T/T genotype that increases expression of the DRD2 gene are better at what type of learning when compared to those who don’t have the mutation.

Answer 18

No-Go learning

Negative feedback

they have a higher density of dopamine D2 receptors

Question 19

How are genetics related to learning?

Answer 19

Genetics influence the capability to produce the receptors (D1/D2) that are necessary to learn through reward or punishment

Question 20

In the Baetu et al. (2015) study where they tested those with different DRD1 genotype and DRD2 genotypes ability to learn a motor sequence learning task -

What did they find happened to those with A1/A1 genes that are associated with lower dopamine D2 receptors?

Answer 20

They found it very difficult to learn from punishment

Question 21

What type of genotype has been shown to be related to those with addiction (e.g. obesity)

Why?

Answer 21

Those with genotypes associated with lower dopamine D2 receptors.

Theyfind it much harder to learn from punishment and therefore they are more likely to become addicted to the positive effects of the habit without learning from the negative effects

Question 22

What happens to our dopamine levels as we age?

What result does that have in our basal ganglia?

Answer 22

Declines

Stronger activity in the indirect pathway

Question 23

Increases in stress and anxiety in older individuals is linked to…

Answer 23

The decline in dopamine levels

Question 24

Older seniors over the age of 77 are better at _____ learning than younger seniors

Answer 24

no-go learning (negative feedback)

Question 25

How is dopamine related to Parkinson's disease?

Answer 25

Dopamine is drastically reduced for people with parkinsons when compared to healthy individuals

Question 26

There is stronger activity in the indirect pathway for those with Parkinson's disease, how can this be reversed?

Answer 26

With dopamine agonist medication

Question 27

What type of disorder is Parkinson's disease classified as?

Answer 27

Motor Disorder

Question 28

What charactaristic cognitive changes happen to those with Parkinson's disease?

Answer 28

Depression, anxiety and faster cognitive decline

Question 29

People with Parkinson's are better at what type of learning?

Answer 29

Far better at No-Go (punishment) learning than Go (reward) learning

Question 30

When you give people with Parkinson's dopamine agonist medication, what happens to their learning?

Answer 30

Improves Go learning and impairs No-Go learning *They recover well for their Go learning but it makes them reduce their ability for No-Go learning*

Question 31

What disorder do many Parkinson's patients develop as a result of their dopamine agonist medication?

Answer 31

Impulse Disorder Overly active "Go" learning and lack of "No-Go" learning when they are medicated.

Question 32

How is dopamine related to **tourette's syndrome?**

Answer 32

It is characterised by excessive dopamine in the midbrain *Same as ADD, impulsivity, obsessions, autism - high comorbidity*

Question 33

What is **Tourette's syndrome?**

Answer 33

Involuntary or habitual movements or sounds (motor and vocal ticks) They are usually preceded by the urge to perform them that they can't control *Usually a child disorder but some go into adulthood*

Question 34

People with Tourette's syndrome are better at which type of learning?

Answer 34

**Go Learning** * Impaired No-Go Learning* * Good at learning from reward, bad from punishment*

Question 35

People with Tourette's syndrome are typically given what kind of medication?

Answer 35

Dopamine antagonist medication

Question 36

What happens to people with Tourette's ability to learn when they are on medication?

Answer 36

They learn better from No-Go (punishment) than Go (reward) learning *It is reversed from their unmedicated state*

Question 37

Is Parkinson's or Tourette's better at learning from punishment (unmedicated)?

Answer 37

Parkinson's

Question 38

Answer 38

Good luck!

Question 39

Negative thoughts are interpreted in the stratium as -

Answer 39

Punishment

Question 40

You can learn motor movements by practicing them in your mind True or False

Answer 40

True

Question 41

If you have positive thoughts, what will happen to you?

Answer 41

Your brain will change for you to be more positive?