Module 4 - Introduction to Neuroscience of Mental Illness Flashcards
list the CNS neurotransmitters
- Acetyl Choline (Ach)
- Monoamines
- Amino Acids
- Neuroactive Peptides
CNS Neurotransmitters: roles, implications of low levels, - Acetyl Choline
Roles:
- cognition
- memory
- consciousness
- motor control
Low Level:
- dementia
CNS Neurotransmitters: roles, mental illness, class of related chemicals,- Monoamines
roles:
- arousal
- cardiorespiratory control
- reward
- affect
- motor control
mental illness:
- schizophrenia
- depression
Class of Related Chemicals:
- noradrenaline
- adrenaline
- dopamine
- serotonin
CNS Neurotransmitters : Amino Acids
List the excitatory, excitotoxicity and inhibitory
Excitatory
- glutamate
- aspartate
Excito-toxicity
- MSG
- Huntington’s Disease
- plant toxins
Inhibitory
- Glycine
- GABA
CNS Neurotransmitters: Neuropeptides - list and describe behavioural effects
- B endorphin
- Neuropeptide Y
- Substance P
Effects:
- Hunger/Satiety
- Sleep/Wake
- Temp
- Pain modulation
- Reward circuits
Describe the effect of Monoamines and balance of Ach
- motor control
- mood
- thought process
e. g. depression
- monoamines at the synapse
define agonists
Binds to receptors + have same effect as the neurotransmitters
define antagonists
Interfere with the binding of neurotransmitters to receptor to reduce the effect of neurotransmitter
Describe how some drugs reduce the deactivation of neurotransmitters
- increase of amount in synapse
- reuptake of inhibitors
list the different type of antidepressants
- MAOI’s
- Tricylic Antidepressents
- SSRI’s
list the different type of mood stabilisers
- Lithium
- Valproate
list the different types of Anxiolytics
- Benzodiazepines
- Hypnotics/Sedatives
Antipsychotics e.g. rispiridore
list the 2 areas that are most affected by age related changes
- hippocampus
- pre frontal cortex
list the functional changes in the brain with ageing
- < in agility & memory and processing speed
- < word finding
- < speed of new learning
pharmacological treatments of dementia
- Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
- oestrogen
- folate + vitamin B12
Neurophathological changes of the brain with dementia
- shrinkage of cerebral cortex + hippocampus
- B amyloid plaques
- neurofibrillary plaques/tangles
damage is evident in hippocampus on onset + progresses to limbic system
list the 3 structures of the brainstem,
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla
role of the cerebral hemispheres
- controls motor activities
- register + interpret sensations
- intellect, memory, language
describe the cerebral white matter
- bundles of myelinated fibres
define corpus callosum
large bundles of fibres providing horizontal communication between 2 hemispheres
describe the ventricles of the brain
3rd ventricles - receives CSF from lateral ventricles to 4th ventricle
4th ventricle (in brainstem) - passes CSF to subarachnoid space + central canal of spinal cord
describe the function of the cerebral cortex
- intellect, memory, language (higher functions)
- motor areas to control voluntary movements
- primary sensory areas
describe primary motor cortex
- in precentral gyrus of each hemisphere
- conveys impulses from motor cortex to skeletal muscles
- damage = loss of voluntary movements
describe primary somatosensory areas
receives info from skin receptors + proprioceptors in skeletal muscles
describe somatosensory association area
analyses info from previous experience
- damage = not a loss of sense but loss of identifying object by individual sense
describe procedural memory formation
relates to motor skills that are learnt and allow for automatic responses
describe declarative memory formation
relates to life events and can influence mental disorders
describe the structures that form mood
- limbic system
- temporal + frontal cortex
function of the limbic system
- emotion formation, processing, learning and memory
- hippocampus = memory storage
- amygdala = forming emotional responses
describe function of basal ganglia
responsible for coordinating unconscious components of movement e.g. posture + balance
describe function of thalamus
receives majority of sensory impulses on way to sensory areas
describe function of hypothalamus
- control of release of hormones
- control of centres in brainstem
e. g. - blood pressure
- rate + force of heart contractions
- respiration
- monitors body temp
describe function of brainstem
controls vital reflex centres
- cardiac centre
- vasomotor centre
- respiratory centre
describe function of the cerebellum
controls subconscious skeletal muscle contractions for: smooth coordinated movement + balance
list the 4 structures that protects the brain
- bone
- meninges
- cerebrospinal fluid
- blood brain barrier
list the 3 layers of the connective tissue which makes up the meninges
- dura mater
- arachnoid
- pia mater
list the functions of cerebrospinal fluid
- suspension
- cushion
- drained to balance volume (fluid escapes into spinal sac)
define seizure
episode of inappropriate electrical discharge resulting in disordered brain activity
describe the features of myoclonic seizure
- muscle spasms
- tonic phase - tension of muscle groups
- clonic phase - rhythmic convulsing
- unconscious or semi
describe the features of absence seizures
- loss of awareness
- lip smacking or eye rolling
- short duration
- may rejoin sentence where it left off
describe the features of temporal lobe epilepsy
- hallucinations
- altered behaviour
- autopilot
