Lecture 7 - Brain Plasticity and Neuroplasticity

Question 1

What is a Tumour?

Answer 1

A mass of cells that grows independently than the rest of the body - a cancer

Question 2

What are the three types of tumours?

Answer 2

1.) Meningiomas

2.) Infiltrating

3.) Metastatic

Question 3

What is a Menigioma Tumour?

Answer 3

In the meninges layer - encapsulated

Accounts for 20% of neoplasms

Easily Removable

Question 4

What is a Neuroma?

Answer 4

An encapsulated tumour growing on a nerve

Question 5

What is an Infiltrating Tumour?

Answer 5

The majority of cases

Grow diffusely through surrounding tissue

Difficult to remove or destroy

Question 6

What is a Metastatic Tumour?

Answer 6

Accountfs for 10% of Neoplasms

Originates elsewhere (usually lungs) and migrates to the brain

Question 7

What is a stroke?

Answer 7

A sudden cerebrovascular event that causes brain damage

Question 8

What is Infarct?

Answer 8

Dead or dying tissue caused by a stroke

Question 9

What is the Penumbra?

Answer 9

Damaged tissue surround the infarct. Can be saved with early intervention

Question 10

What is a Hemorrhage Stroke?

Answer 10

Accounts for 13% of strokes

Blood Vessel Ruptures

Question 11

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 11

A weakened point in the blood vessel, that has the ability to burst

Question 12

What is the damage caused by a cerebral hemorrhage?

Answer 12

Components in the blood break down and free radicals are formed

Question 13

What are the free radicals formed?

Answer 13

Oxyhemoglobin breaks down into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which reacts with iron to produce a hydroxyl radical

Question 14

What do free radicals do?

Answer 14

Damage lipid membranes, damage the blood brain barrier and cause DNA damage which all leads too necrosis (cell death)

Question 15

What is the percentage for Ischemic stroke?

Answer 15

Accounts for 87% of stroke

Question 16

What is an Ischemic stroke?

Answer 16

Disruption in blood supply (blood clot)

Question 17

What is Thrombosis?

Answer 17

A blood clot

Question 18

What is Embolism?

Answer 18

A blood clot that developed in a larger artery and then travelled to a smaller artery

Question 19

What is Arteriosclerosis?

Answer 19

A thickened artery wall due to a fat deposit

Question 20

What can a Stent do?

Answer 20

Help open up a carotid artery but cannot do this in the brain

Question 21

What is a Stent

Answer 21

A stent is a small, expandable tube that’s inserted into a blood vessel, vein, or other body structure to keep it open. Stents are used to treat conditions like narrowed arteries, aneurysms, and blocked airways.

Question 22

Does Ischemic stroke develop immediately?

Answer 22

No - it is different in different areas of the brain

Question 23

What is the damage an Ischemic Stroke?

Answer 23

Blood-deprived Neuron become overactive and release glutamate

Question 24

What is Glutamates receptor?

Answer 24

NMDA receptors

Question 25

What does an over-production of Glutamate cause?

Answer 25

An influx in Ca2+ and Na+ which kills cells and before the cell dies, it release more glutamate

Question 26

What are treatments of Ischemic stroke?

Answer 26

1.) Thromboylsus 2.) Endovascular Therapy 3.) NMDA Antagonists

Question 27

What are closed-head injuries?

Answer 27

When the brain collides with the skull (but does not penetrate the skull)

Question 28

What are the types of closed-head injuries?

Answer 28

Direct or Contrecoup Contusions (hematoma/bruise) Concussions (disturbance of consciousness, no structural damage)

Question 29

What is a Direct "Coup" Injury?

Answer 29

Hitting your head directly, damage directly at the impact point

Question 30

What is a contrecoup injury?

Answer 30

A brain injury that occurs on the opposite side of the head from where the initial impact took place, happening when the force of a blow causes the brain to rebound and strike the opposite side of the skull, essentially bruising or damaging brain tissue away from the impact site Whiplash

Question 31

What is a Contusion?

Answer 31

A subdural hematoma

Question 32

What has a subdural hematoma diplsaced?

Answer 32

The left lateral ventricle

Question 33

What can a concussion sometimes result in?

Answer 33

A lack of consciousness

Question 34

What are the cognitive symptoms of a concussion?

Answer 34

Confusion, memory loss

Question 35

What are the somatic symptoms of a concussion?

Answer 35

Sensitivity to light, throwing up

Question 36

What are the affective symptoms of a concussion?

Answer 36

Cant Handle emotions

Question 37

What are the Sleep/Arousal effects of a concussion?

Answer 37

Sleepy

Question 38

What happens after repeated concussions?

Answer 38

A dose response (more concussions, more symptoms)

Question 39

What is Dementia Pugilistia?

Answer 39

"Punch Drunk Syndrome" - an old term for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease that's caused by repeated head trauma.

Question 40

What are NFL players more prone to?

Answer 40

Alzheimers and shrinkage of grey matter

Question 41

What did multiple concussions in NFL players lead to?

Answer 41

Multiple concussions implicated in a 4 fold increase in neurodegenerative disorders in NFL players