Neuro Chapters 1 Flashcards
What is brain plasticity?
The CNS changes through our entire life
What is the order of neural plate induction (3 steps)
Neural plate -> Neural Groove -> Neural Tube
What are the four types of stem cell differentiations?
Totipotent
Pluripotent
Multipotent
Unipotent
What are totipotent stem cells?
They can become any cell in the body
What are pluripotent stem cells?
Stem cells that can become many but not all cell types
What is the difference between totipotent and pluripotent cells?
Relocating a totipotent cell will form a new embryo (twin)
Relocating a multipotent cell will cause tissue formation in the wrong place
What are multipotent stem cells?
Cells found in neural tube and neural crest.
Can only develop into certain cell types within a class
What is neural proliferation?
An increase in total number of cells through growth and division
When does neural proliferation peak?
When the neural tube closes.
What are the 4 types of cell migration?
Radial
Tangential
Multipolar (both)
Chemically guided
What molecules help with cell migration recognition and adhesion?
Cell adhesion molecules
What is Kallmann syndrome?
Abnormal genitals and smell due to genetic mutations impacting CAM proteins.
Where does axon growth cone start?
Axon growth cone
What is the chemoaffinity hypothesis?
Neurons make connections with their targets based on interactions with specific molecular markers
What is the topographic gradient hypothesis?
Two intersecting gradients (up-down and left-right) of chemicals on the originating tissue guide axonal growth from one topographic array (such as a retina) to another (the optic tectum)
What are the key cells in synaptogenesis?
Astrocytes
Why are cells overproduced during proliferation?
Neurons that make incorrect connections die and accurate ones are kept alive.
What is apoptosis vs necrosis?
Clean vs dirty cell death
What are neurotrophins?
they regulate the development, maintenance, and function of the nervous systems
What was the first neurotrophin to be isolated?
Nerve growth factor
What are the key developing events of postnatal development? (4 events)
Dendritic Branching
Synaptogenesis
Myelination
Regressive changes (pruning)
What is the last region of the brain to develop postnatal-ly?
Prefrontal cortex
What is error perseveration?
Kids 7-12 months cant unlearn a learned response when its wrong
(candy in right hand, kid picks right hand, put candy in left hand, kid will keep picking right hand)
When does error perseveration occur in adults?
When the frontal lobe isn’t functioning properly
Why are adolescence more risky than adults?
They overvalue reward
What are the chemical explanations for difference in behavior in teens?
Enhanced dopamine sensitivity
Enhanced oxytocin sensitivity
Where does adult neurogenesis take place?
Olfactory Bulb
Dentate Gyrus
What are the functions of neurogenesis in adults?
Memory formation
Pattern separation (distinguish between memories)
Adaptation and regulation
What intrinsic factors promote neurogenesis in adults?
Hormones
Injury
Aging
Neurotrophins
What extrinsic factors promote adult neurogenesis
Environment
Social interaction
Diet
Sleep
What is the one potential use of cortical reorganization in adults?
Recovery from stroke
What is autism disorder?
Occurs in 1/68 people
Reduced capacity for social interaction
Restricted/repetitive behavior
75% males
Functions of autistic people can be…
Functions can be impaired, normal or improved
What is usually preserved with autism?
Rote memory
Musical ability
Jigsaw puzzles?
What is an autistic savant?
Autistic person with amazing cognitive or artistic ability
What are examples of autistic savant activities?
Naming dates
Number skills
Musical talent
Artistic talent
Is autism genetic?
Maybe. 5% correlation in siblings
60% in MONOZYGOTIC twins
5% cases explained by a single genetic mutation
Genetic factors ___ with the environment triggering autism
interact
What is thalidomide?
Medication prescribed for morning sickness
Caused birth defects, cognitive effects, and autism
What are some neurological phenotype differences of people with autism?
Impaired face recognition
Reduced activation of mirror neuron system
What are the differences of brain growth in autistic people
Slower brain growth age 1-5
Faster brain growth age 6-14
Brain size is no different compared to normal persons brain by adolescence.
what is the connection between oxytocin and Autism?
Kids with autism have reduced plasma oxytocin levels
Oxytocin administration only helped some symptoms (eye contact, socialization, communication)
What is Williams syndrome?
Occurs in 1-7500 people
Very low IQ (<55)
Amazing language ability, very sociable, usually musically talented
Individuals with williams syndrome have ___ features
elf like
Indicators of williams syndrome include:
Spatial cognition impairment
Health problems, usually cardiac
Emotional immaturity
What is the genetic marker of williams syndrome?
Deletion of chromosome 7
Deletes the gene for elastin
What percent of people with williams syndrome lack the elastin gene?
95%
What are anatomical markers for williams syndrome?
Small occipital and parietal cortex
Normal frontal and temporal cortex
Changes in limbic system
What can we learn from comparing autism and williams syndrome?
Autism is a somewhat common condition, sometimes an intellectual disability, linked to several genes
Williams syndrome is a rare condition, linked to genes on chromosome 7, always an intellectual disability
