Neurobiology of Cognition Flashcards

1
Q

List all the functions of the frontal lobe

A
Voluntary movement
Reasoning
Executive functioning
Personality
Inhibition
Initiative
Expressive language
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2
Q

What is a specific way to test verbal fluency (frontal lobe function)?

A

List as many words beginning with F in 60 seconds

10-15 words is normal function

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3
Q

What is involved in the Luria step test for frontal lobe function?

A

Show sequence of movements and ask patient to copy in the right order

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4
Q

List all the functions of the parietal lobe

A
Distinguish right and left
Reading
Writing
Body orientation
Calculations
Two point discrimination
Graphesthesia
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5
Q

What is graphesthesia?

A

Ability to recognise writing on the skin without looking (pure sensation)

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6
Q

List clinical features of damage to the dominant hemisphere of the parietal lobe

A
Dysphasia
Dyscalculia
Dyslexia
Apraxia
Agnosia
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7
Q

List clinical features of damage to the non-dominant hemisphere of the parietal lobe

A

Spatial disorientation

Constructional/dressing apraxia

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8
Q

List all the functions of the temporal lobe

A
Speech
Emotion
Hearing
Memory
Sense of identity
Recognising faces
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9
Q

Which lobe of the brain is the primary visual reception area?

A

Occipital lobe

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10
Q

Where is Broca’s area in the brain?

A

Left inferolateral aspect of frontal lobe

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11
Q

Where is Wernicke’s area in the brain?

A

Left posterosuperior aspect of temporal lobe

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12
Q

What is Broca’s aphasia?

A

Non-fluent, effortful type of language that ultimately is meaningful
Slow rate of speech with limited word output

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13
Q

What is Wernicke’s aphasia?

A

Fluent, excessive type of language filled with errors that make speech non-meaningful
Nonsense vocab and grammar

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14
Q

Individuals with Wernicke’s aphasia understand language spoken to them. True/False?

A

False

Individuals with Broca’s aphasia understand language spoken to them

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15
Q

Which individuals typically lack insight into their disability - those which Broca’s or Wernicke’s aphasia?

A

Wernicke’s

Broca’s aphasia individuals are typically depressed due to awareness of their disability

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16
Q

List the main structures of the limbic system

A

Hippocampus
Amygdala
Cingulate gyrus
Hypothalamus

17
Q

What is the function of the hippocampus with regards to memory?

A

Formation of new memories

18
Q

What is the main function of the amygdala?

A

Involved with emotions and reward

19
Q

What is the shortest type of memory?

A

Sensory memory

20
Q

What are the 2 main neurotransmitters involved in memory?

A

Glutamate

ACh

21
Q

List aspects of neurobiology involved in Alzheimer’s dementia

A

Neurofibrillary tangles

Amyloid plaques

22
Q

State two drug classes used in the management of Alzheimer’s dementia

A
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (block AChE in synaptic cleft to boost cholinergic transmission)
NMDA antagonist
23
Q

Give an example of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

A

Donepezil
Galantamine
Rivastigmine

24
Q

Give an example of an NMDA antagonist

A

Memantine

25
Q

What is the most common cause of vascular dementia?

A

Hypoperfusion of brain tissue e.g. in stroke

26
Q

Outline the neurobiology of Lewy body dementia, what condition is it closely associated with?

A

Accumulation of abnormal protein ‘Lewy bodies’

Dementia in Parkinson’s disease

27
Q

What type of protein is characteristic of neurodegeneration in fronto-temporal dementia? What is it also known as?

A

Tau protein aggregates

Pick’s disease

28
Q

What is Wernicke’s encephalopathy?

A

Acute neurological emergency resulting from thiamine deficiency (vitamin B1) which is common in alcohol use disorders

29
Q

What disease is the chronic form of Wernicke’s encephalopathy and often occurs in conjunction with it?

A

Korsakoff syndrome

30
Q

What is the triad of symptoms present in Wernicke’s encephalopathy?

A

Ophthalmaplegia
Confusion
Ataxia