Neuropsych Flashcards
What is the difference between retroactive amnesia and anterograde amnesia?
Retrograde amnesia–amnesia of memories of events prior to trauma.
Anterograde amnesia–amnesia of memories after a trauma.
Describe the different aphasias, wernicke’s, broca, and conduction. What do they have in common?
All have impaired repetition of verbal tasks.
Wernicke’s–can’t comprehend language. Do speak fluently but meaningless sentences.
Broca–problems with articulation, changes in prosody (rhythm and tone), and some comprehension problems.
Conduction..connection of these two areas damaged. Path betwn reception and articulation damaged.
They understand language, speak fluently but have anomia and difficulty repeating what they heard.
What is the difference between the recency effect, Barnum effect, and the auto kinetic effect?
Recency effect—improved memory for later items in a word series.
Barnum effect–ppl identify with vague descriptions of themselves, like a horoscope.
Auto kinetic effect– illusion of movement that occurs when a stationary pinpoint of light is shined in a dark environment.
Pt with OCD and Tourette’s presents. Where is the neurological problem?
- Temporal lobe
- Amygdala
- Prefrontal cortex
- Basal ganglia
Both linked to basal ganglia which has a group of nuclei deep in the brain involved in the initation of movement.
Tourette’s–caudate nucleus smaller and is predictive of severity.
Substantial nigra, ventral striatum, globus pallidus also involved.
Basal ganglia get instructions from prefrontal cortex.
Where is the amygdala and what are its functions?
Amygdala is part of the limbus system.
Involved with emotion
Especially aggression.
Long term potentiation is a process that affects:
- Homeostasis
- Emotional development
- Addiction
- Memory
- Process by which short term memories become long term is called long term potentiation. Repeated stimulation of a synapse through rehearsal leads to chemical and structural changes in dendrites receiving neuron. So neuron is more sensitive to stimulation.
Which neurotransmitter is implicated in the etiology of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type?
- Dopamine
- norepinephrine
- Serotonin
- Acetylcholine
- Lower levels of a phosphate that is a precursor to Ach.
72 yr old with hypertension has a stroke, resulting weakness of left hand and arm. Ct would also show:
- Left visual field damage and visualspatial deficits.
- Rt visual field and visualspatial
- Left visual field and language deficits.
- Rt visual field and language deficits.
Weakness in left side indicates right hemisphere damage. Ea side of the body is controlled by opposite hemisphere. Visual spatial is a right hemisphere fx.
Language deficits expected with damage to left hemisphere.
What does acetylcholine do?
Excitatory or inhibitory nt depending on location.
Control voluntary movement Learning Memory Sexual behavior Sleep
Depletion leads to memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s dementia and normal aging.
What disorders have abnormal levels of dopamine?
Dopamine plays a role in movement, learning, mood and reinforcing effects of stimulants, nicotine, opiates and nicotine.
Abnormal levels linked to Depression Schizophrenia Tourette's ADHD Huntington's disease Parkinson's
What 2 things impact the speed of conduction?
Conduction is electrochemical process by which info is received and processed in a nerve cell. Inside cell negatively charged. When get stimulation from other cells the balance changes and the interior is less negative. It becomes depolarized and triggers am action potential.
Speed impacted by
Diameter of the axon..larger is faster
Axon covered by myelin. Thicker increases speed.
Which neurotransmitter plays a role in long term potentiation, which is involved in the formation of memories? A. GABA B. acetylcholine C. Norepinephrine D. Glutamate
D.
Two disorders associated with the malfx of pancreas are: A. Addison and Cushing disease B. diabetes mellitus and insipid is C. Diabetes mellitus and hypoglycemia D. Addison's and hypoglycemia
C
What is GABA?
Main inhibitory neurotransmitter that contributes to motor control and regulates anxiety.
Abnormalities linked to Insomnia Anxiety disorders Huntington's disease Parkinson's
What is glutamate?
The main excitatory neurotransmitter. Role in memory and learning. Long term potentiation.
Implicated in Alzheimer's Huntington's Parkinson's Seizure Stroke
What does serotonin play a role in?
Regulation of anxiety, mood, memory, aggression, pain, sleep, appetite, sexuality. (M2aps2)
Many meds that regulate anxiety or depression affect serotonin.
In most ppl the right hemisphere is dominant for: A. Spoken language B. positive emotions C. Visual spatial skills D. All the above
Right hemisphere
Visual spatial relations
Creativity
Holistic thinking
Negative emotions
Left hemisphere..usually dominant
Language
Logic
Analytic thinking
Positive emotions
When split brain patients were shown a pic to the left visual field only. What happened?
Pt could not verbally id object or pick or out from many objects w rt hand. Could pick w left hand.
Show pic to right visual field only. Could verbally identify and pick out object w rt hand. Not able to w left.
What is getstmanns syndrome?
Caused by lesions in the left parietal lobe.
Agraphia
Acalculia
Finger agnosia
Left rt disorientation
What makes up the hind brain? What are their functions and disorders?
Medulla…regulates vital fx….death
Reflexes
Pons..connects 2 parts cerebellum
Relays sensory and motor info
Regulates arousal
Cerebellum..balance, coordination, posture…ataxia, tremors, loss of balance
What makes up the midbrain? What are their functions and related disorders?
Reticular activating system…sleep wake cycle, screens incoming sensory info…coma
Substantial niagra..voluntary movement and reward seeking…
Parkinson’s
What makes up the forebrain? What are their functions and related disorders?
Hypothalamus..homeostasis, motivated behaviors, strong feelings into physical responses….
Hormonal/emotional disturbances
Inability regulate eating, drinking, temp
Thalamus..relays sensory info to cortex (not olfaction)…
Language, memory, motor
Hypothalamus
Mammillary bodies damaged (thiamine due drinking) korsakoffs
Suprachasmic nucleus regulates circadian
Basal ganglia..(caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putmen)…voluntary movement, outward emotional expression, sensory movement …
Tourette’s, OCD, ADHD, Parkinson’s, schiophrenia, Huntington’s.
Limbic system..
Amygdala..integrate emotional rx, emotions attached to sensory, mediated defensive/aggressive behavior…lack emotional response, kluver-bucy
Hippocampus…memory consolidation…Alzheimer’s, dementia
Septum..inhibits emotions
cingulate cortex..pain perception and regulates emotions
What areas make up the frontal lobes? What are the functions and related disorders?
Primary cortex
Premotor cortex
Broca’s area aphasia
Prefrontal cortex (damage causes dysexecutive syndrome, pseudo depression, pseudopathology, ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia)
What makes up the temporal lobe?
What is the function and related disorders?
Auditory processing (receptive), long term memory, and emotion.
Auditory cortex…auditory agnosia, auditory hallucinations,
Wernicke’s area aphasia
What does the parietal lobe contain and what are the disorders in this area?
Somatosensory cortex..touch, kinesthesia, pressure, pain, temperature, integrates
Somatosensory agnosia
Apraxia (purposeful movement even with normal fx)
Contra lateral neglect..lack interest one side body
Getstmanns syndrome (ageaphia, acalculia, finger agnosia, left rt disorientation)
What does the occipital lobe do and what are common disorders?
Visual processing
Cortical blindness
Blind spots
Loss of depth perception
Jx occipital, temporal, parietal causes prosopagnosia
What do the different hemispheres of the cerebral cortex do in regard to emotions?
The left or dominant side is associated with positive emotions. Lesions produce depression, anxiety, fearfulness.
The right or nondominant side is associated with negative emotions, such as apathy, indifference, inappropriate euphoria
Describe the James Lang theory of emotion.
Arousal is interpreted as emotion.
Afraid because we tremble.
Sad because we cry
Describe the cannon bard theory of arousal.
Simultaneous activity (sympathetic nervous system and cortex)
Arousal and emotion same time.
Sympathetic nervous system produces physical arousal (same for all emotions) while cortex produces emotional feelings.
When event is perceived (take test) messages are sent at the same time to hypothalamus which arouses body and the limbic system which causes the subjective feelings.
Describe schachter and singers theory of emotion.
Cognitive arousal theory
Combo physical arousal and cognitive attributions for that arousal.
Physical sensations similar for most emotional states.
Specific emotion depends on attribution.
Epinephrine study…environmental cues determine attributions for arousal.
How does sexual development occur?
Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland which produces gonadotropin hormones. These hormones stimulate sex hormones (from tested or ovaries).
Hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) onset during puberty. Genetically and environmentally programmed.
What structures of the brain show sexual dimorphism, or sex related differences in physical appearance?
Found in the size, shape, or volume of corpus collision, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum.
May be due to exposure of testosterone and other androgens in prenatal and early postnatal pd.
Discuss the 5 sleep stages.
Go through stages every 90 mins
1--alpha waves..fast, relaxing Move to slower theta waves 2- theta waves..light sleep 3-slow, large delta waves..transition 4- large, slow delta waves. Deep sleep 5-REM. paradoxical sleep. Hrate and breathing like awake, difficult to wake. Vivid dreams.
Most stage 3, 4 occur early part. REM pds increase in length as nite goes on.
What is the pattern of sleep duration over the life span?
First 6 mo.. REM and non REM. during the first 2 or 3 mo..starts with REM.. This reverses.
Total sleep time, stages 3 and 4 sleep, and REM sleep decrease from childhood to adulthood.
Stages 3 and 4; REM continue to decrease through adulthood
Sleep time…newborns…16 hrs
….preadolescents …10 hrs
Adults…8 or less
Infancy..REM is 50 percent
Adult..REM is 20 percent
Older adults not require total less sleepy than young adults..more trouble falling asleep, wake in nite, experience advanced sleep phase (shift in timing of sleep involves going to sleep earlier and waking earlier)
What brain structures are involved in memory?
Hippocampus is involved in memory consolidation (st to ltm)
Amygdala is involved in emotional memories
Prefrontal cortex…working and prospective memory (do in future)
Temporal lobes…stores long term declarative memories.
Long term potentiation…first seen in glutamate receptors of hippocampus and later the brain. Hi frequency stimulation of neurons increases sensitivity and structure of dendrites…memories form
Protein synthesis…new ones for LTM and modifyjng pre existing proteins for STM. Administering a drug that blocks protein synthesis or RNA (needed for synthesis) prevents formation of lt memories.
Neural foundations for memory.
Papez’s circuit was identified as a neural pathway involved in:
A. Fight or flight
B. experience and expression of emotion
C. Onset of puberty
D. Coordination of movement in rt and left sides of body
B. proposed expression of emotion governed by hypothalamus
Experience of emotion is result of interactions among hypothalamus and other structures.
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is the receipt of info by sensory receptors and translation of info to nerve impulses sent to brain.
Perception is process of becoming aware of and interpreting what has been sensed.
What is the visual pathway?
Light waves enter the eye and pass through cornea (transparent cover), pupil (opening in iris; opens and closes to regulate amt of light), and lens (focus light waves on retina at back of eye with 2 types of photoreceptors.
Describe the two types of photoreceptors.
Rods–black, white, grey
Periphery of retina
Sensitive to brightness
Sense stimuli in lo lite
Cones–detect color
Cluster center of eye (fovea)
Fx best in bright lt
Greater visual acuity than
Rods
What is the blind spot?
Where the optic nerve leaves the retina. There are no photoreceptors.
What visual fields are seen by the left hemisphere optic tract?
Right visual field of both eyes.
Optic tract to rt hemisphere carries signals from left visual field of both eyes.
Signals then travel via each optic tract to lateral geniiculate nucleus in thalamus and primary visual cortex in occipital lobe.
Explain the young helmhoktz trichromatic theory and compare it to herings opponent process theory.
Trichromatic theory..3 types of color receptors (cones) that respond to a different primary color..red, blue, green. 1 st level of processing in the retina.
Opponent process theory …3 types of cells (red/ gn, blue/yellow. Black/white). Overall stimulating pattern produces colors. Explains after images .
Second level of processing.
In most ppl the right hemisphere is dominant for: A. Spoken language B. positive emotions C. Visual spatial skills D. All the above
Right hemisphere
Visual spatial relations
Creativity
Holistic thinking
Negative emotions
Left hemisphere..usually dominant
Language
Logic
Analytic thinking
Positive emotions
When split brain patients were shown a pic to the left visual field only. What happened?
Pt could not verbally id object or pick or out from many objects w rt hand. Could pick w left hand.
Show pic to right visual field only. Could verbally identify and pick out object w rt hand. Not able to w left.
What is getstmanns syndrome?
Caused by lesions in the left parietal lobe.
Agraphia
Acalculia
Finger agnosia
Left rt disorientation
What makes up the hind brain? What are their functions and disorders?
Medulla…regulates vital fx….death
Respiration, cardiovascular activity, sleep, consciousness
Pons..connects 2 parts cerebellum
Relays sensory and motor info
Regulates arousal
Cerebellum..balance, coordination, posture…ataxia, tremors, loss of balance
What makes up the midbrain? What are their functions and related disorders?
Reticular activating system…sleep wake cycle, screens incoming sensory info…coma
Substantial niagra..voluntary movement and reward seeking…
Parkinson’s
What makes up the forebrain? What are their functions and related disorders?
Hypothalamus..homeostasis, motivated behaviors, strong feelings into physical responses….
Hormonal/emotional disturbances
Inability regulate eating, drinking, temp
Thalamus..relays sensory info to cortex (not olfaction)…
Language, memory, motor
Hypo or thalamus?
Mammillary bodies damaged (thiamine due drinking) korsakoffs
Suprachasmic nucleus regulates circadian
Basal ganglia..(caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putmen)…voluntary movement, outward emotional expression, sensory movement …
Tourette’s, OCD, ADHD, Parkinson’s, schiophrenia, Huntington’s.
Limbic system..
Amygdala..integrate emotional rx, emotions attached to sensory, mediated defensive/aggressive behavior…lack emotional response, kluver-bucy
Hippocampus…memory consolidation…Alzheimer’s, dementia
Septum, cingulate cortex
What areas make up the frontal lobes? What are the functions and related disorders?
Primary cortex
Premotor cortex
Broca’s area aphasia
Prefrontal cortex (damage causes dysexecutive syndrome, pseudo depression, pseudopathology, ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia)
What makes up the temporal lobe?
What is the function and related disorders?
Auditory processing (receptive), long term memory, and emotion.
Auditory cortex…auditory agnosia, auditory hallucinations,
Wernicke’s area aphasia
What does the parietal lobe contain and what are the disorders in this area?
Somatosensory cortex..touch, kinesthesia, pressure, pain, temperature, integrates
Somatosensory agnosia
Apraxia (purposeful movement even with normal fx)
Contra lateral neglect..lack interest one side body
Getstmanns syndrome (ageaphia, acalculia, finger agnosia, left rt disorientation.
What does the occipital lobe do and what are common disorders?
Visual processing
Cortical blindness
Blind spots
Loss of depth perception
Jx occipital, temporal, parietal causes prosopagnosia
What do the different hemispheres of the cerebral cortex do in regard to emotions?
The left or dominant side is associated with positive emotions. Lesions produce depression, anxiety, fearfulness.
The right or nondominant side is associated with negative emotions, such as apathy, indifference, inappropriate euphoria
Describe the James Lang theory of emotion.
Arousal is interpreted as emotion.
Afraid because we tremble.
Sad because we cry
Describe the cannon bard theory of arousal.
Simultaneous activity (sympathetic nervous system and cortex)
Arousal and emotion same time.
Sympathetic nervous system produces physical arousal (same for all emotions) while cortex produces emotional feelings.
Describe schachter and singers theory of emotion.
Cognitive arousal theory
Combo physical arousal and cognitive attributions for that arousal.
Physical sensations similar for most emotional states.
Specific emotion depends on attribution.
Epinephrine study…environmental cues determine attributions for arousal.
How does sexual development occur?
Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland which produces gonadotropin hormones. These hormones stimulate sex hormones (from tested or ovaries).
Hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) onset during puberty. Genetically and environmentally programmed.
What structures of the brain show sexual dimorphism, or sex related differences in physical appearance?
Found in the size, shape, or volume of corpus collision, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum.
May be due to exposure of testosterone and other androgens in prenatal and early postnatal pd.
Discuss the 5 sleep stages.
Go through stages every 90 mins
1--alpha waves..fast, relaxing Move to slower theta waves 2- theta waves..light sleep 3-slow, large delta waves..transition 4- large, slow delta waves. Deep sleep 5-REM. paradoxical sleep. Hrate and breathing like awake, difficult to wake. Vivid dreams.
Most stage 3, 4 occur early part. REM pds increase in length as nite goes on.
What is the pattern of sleep duration over the life span?
First 6 mo.. REM and non REM. during the first 2 or 3 mo..starts with REM.. This reverses.
Total sleep time, stages 3 and 4 sleep, and REM sleep decrease from childhood to adulthood.
Stages 3 and 4; REM continue to decrease through adulthood
Sleep time…newborns…16 hrs
….preadolescents …10 hrs
Adults…8 or less
Infancy..REM is 50 percent
Adult..REM is 20 percent
Older adults not require total less sleepy than young adults..more trouble falling asleep, wake in nite, experience advanced sleep phase (shift in timing of sleep involves going to sleep earlier and waking earlier)
What brain structures are involved in memory?
Hippocampus is involved in memory consolidation
Amygdala is involved in emotional memories
Prefrontal cortex…working and prospective memory
Temporal lobes…stores long term declarative memories.
Long term potentiation…first seen in glutamate receptors of hippocampus and later the brain. Hi frequency stimulation of neurons increases sensitivity and structure of dendrites…memories form
Protein synthesis…new ones for LTM and modifyjng pre existing proteins for STM. Administering a drug that blocks protein synthesis or RNA (needed for synthesis) prevents formation of memories.
Neural foundations for memory.
Papez’s circuit was identified as a neural pathway involved in:
A. Fight or flight
B. experience and expression of emotion
C. Onset of puberty
D. Coordination of movement in rt and left sides of body
B. proposed expression of emotion governed by hypothalamus
Experience of emotion is result of interactions among hypothalamus and other structures.
What are the theories of color vision?
Trichromatic theory by young helmholtz…3 types of cones that respond to red, blue, green. Applies to the first level of processing in the retina.
Herings opponent process theory says 3 types of opponent process cells (red-green; blue- yellow; black-white). Applies to the second level of processing that occurs as visual signals pass from retina to visual cortex.
What is the auditory pathway?
Ear to auditory canal to eardrum to membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves. Vibs picked up and amplified by ossicles and transmitted to the oval window. Movement here exerts pressure on liquid in cochlea and produces movement in hair cells (auditory receptors). Vibs made to neural activity via auditory nerve is to thalamus, and auditory cortex.
What are the components of sound?
Loudness…amplitude if waves. Db
Decibels. Convo is 60
Pitch frequency of sound waves. Measured cycles per sec. Humans range is 20 to 20,000 hertz
Timbre to tone quality and sounds waves complexity. Makes it possible to distinguish between 2 sounds have same loudness and pitch.
What is pain effected by?
Not caused by a single stimuli but by several types of stimuli like heat; pain, pressure,….
Sensitivity is affected by past pain experience, presence of anxiety, or depression .
For some, more previous experience , greater sensitivity.
What is the gate control theory?
Activation of large myelinated nerve fibers that carry info about touch, pressure, and vibration inhibits transmission of pain by small un myelinated nerve fibers.
Close the gate with massage, heat, cold, info traveling from brain (distraction reduces pain).
What is neuropathic pain?
Caused by nervous system trauma, surgery, disease, and drugs. Phantom limb pain example. Cause unknown…think due to damage to neurons in CNS or PNS. Psych factors don’t cause it may play role in course and severity.
Drug tx..antidepressants (esp tricyclics like amitryptyline, doxepin, imipramine and SRNI venlafaxine)., opioids, anticonvulsants, topical analgesics.
Some evidence TENS reduces…transcutaneous nerve stimulation.
