Lecture 4: Clinical Research Techniques Flashcards
What are the clinical methods of investigation in neuroscience?
- Clinical history and examination
- Neuropathology
- Imaging
- Electrophysiology
- Chemical studies
What information will be achieved with a Clinical History?
Information about whether it is a targeted or specific problem
What is a Clinical examination?
Systematic assessment from brain to muscle
Who pioneered the standardized neurological examination?
Charcot
What did Charcot standardize?
The order that tests are done and the order in terms of problems in the brain, spinal cord
What is impairment in the brain or spinal cord usually due to?
Upper Motor Neurons
Where do UMNs have their cell bodies and axons?
UMNs usually have their cell bodies in the cortex and have long axons that go down to different spinal levels to connect with LMNs
What six things does a neurological exam assess?
- Mental status
- Cranial nerves
- Motor examination
- Sensory examination
- Cerebellar function
- Deep tendon reflexes
Which part of the NS is Mental Status a part of?
Central
Which part of the NS is Cranial Nerves a part of?
Central
Which part of the NS is Motor examination a part of?
Central and Peripheral
Which part of the NS is Sensory examination a part of?
Central and Peripheral
Which part of the NS is Cerebellar function a part of?
Central
Which part of the NS is Deep Tendon Reflexes a part of?
Central and Peripheral
Which scale assesses wakefulness?
The Glasgow coma scale
What assesses Cranial Nerves 2 and 3?
Shining a light in someones eye and seeing the pupil change
What is the direct response to testing cranial nerves 2 and 3?
When flashing the light in one eye the constriction of the pupil occurs in that eye
What is the consensual response to testing cranial nerves 2 and 3?
When flashing the light in the opposite eye the other pupil still constrics suggesting syncitimus activity
What does increased reflex suggest?
There is UMN lesions
What does decreased reflex suggest?
There is LMN lesions
What is Clonus?
Sustained contration
What does Clonus suggest?
UMN injury
What is normal in the Babinsky test?
There is flexion of the toes
What suggests an UMN injury with the babinski test?
Toes fanning out