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

25
What is the most common cause of vascular dementia?
Hypoperfusion of brain tissue e.g. in stroke
26
Outline the neurobiology of Lewy body dementia, what condition is it closely associated with?
Accumulation of abnormal protein 'Lewy bodies' | Dementia in Parkinson's disease
27
What type of protein is characteristic of neurodegeneration in fronto-temporal dementia? What is it also known as?
Tau protein aggregates | Pick's disease
28
What is Wernicke's encephalopathy?
Acute neurological emergency resulting from thiamine deficiency (vitamin B1) which is common in alcohol use disorders
29
What disease is the chronic form of Wernicke's encephalopathy and often occurs in conjunction with it?
Korsakoff syndrome
30
What is the triad of symptoms present in Wernicke's encephalopathy?
Ophthalmaplegia Confusion Ataxia