Neuropsychology

Question 1

What are the 4 main pathologies of the brain?

Answer 1

1. Tumour
2. Meningitis
3. Neurodegenerative diseases
4. Cerebrovascular disorders

Question 2

What is a meningioma?

Answer 2

Tumour resulting from the covering of the brain near the scalp, growing into the brain tissue. Can result in specific motor/cognitive impairments due to pressure exerted

Question 3

What is an astrocytoma?

Answer 3

Tumour that infiltrates the brain, with border between tumour and unaffected tissue so it is difficult to detect

Question 4

What can cancer in the pituitary glands lead to?

Answer 4

Sudden growth of hands, face and ribcage. Can also compress the optic chiasm and lead to visual impairment.

Question 5

What are metastatic tumours?

Answer 5

When tumours travel by the blood from other parts of the body to the brain

Question 6

What is a medullablastoma?

Answer 6

Most common in children. Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid can within hours lead to a high increase of pressure within the brain.

Question 7

What are some initial symptoms of meningitis?

Answer 7

Fever, headaches, stiff neck, nausea, sensitivity to light, confusion and sleepiness

Question 8

What areas of the brain does Parkinson’s disease affect?

Answer 8

Dopamine containing neurones in the substantia nigra targeting striatal and cortical regions

Question 9

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 9

Tremor at rest, muscular rigidity, akinesis (slowness of movement)

Question 10

Name 2 treatments of Parkinson’s disease

Answer 10

1. Medication (e.g L-Dopa)

2. Insertion of electrodes into the basal ganglia

Question 11

What is the cause of Huntington’s disease?

Answer 11

• Mutations to the Huntingtin gene located on chromosome 4 causing mutant form of HTT referred to as mHTT with >36 glutamine molecules
• Autosomal dominant (does not skip generations)

Question 12

What are the psychological symptoms of Huntington’s disease?

Answer 12

Cognitive decline and personality changes such as increased irritability, mood swings and apathy

Question 13

What are the motor symptoms of Huntington’s disease?

Answer 13

Spontaneous movements, a loss of smoothness of coordinated movements

Question 14

What medications are available for those with Huntington’s disease?

Answer 14

• SSRI’s for depression
• Tetrabenazine for motor disturbances
• Neuroleptics for psychiatric disturbances

Question 15

What brain changes are associated with the following symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: a) deficits in autobiographical memory b) language and navigational deficits

Answer 15

a) changes in temporal lobes

b) changes in cortical structure

Question 16

What are the 4 classes of haematoma?

Answer 16

1. Epidural
2. Subdural
3. Subarachnoidal
4. Intracerebral

Question 17

What can result from a Subarachnoidal H.?

Answer 17

Damage to hippocampus/temporal lobes resulting in memory impairment

Question 18

What produces an ischemic stroke?

Answer 18

Cerebrovascular occlusions

Question 19

What are the 3 main arteries that supply the brain?

Answer 19

1. Middle cerebral artery
2. Posterior cerebral artery
3. Anterior cerebral artery

Question 20

Name 3 tests assesing memory

Answer 20

• Corsi block taping test (working memory)
• Benton visual retention test
• Wechsler Memory Scale

Question 21

What is angioma?

Answer 21

uncontrolled capillary growth causing decline of cognitive function over time

Question 22

What is alexia?

Answer 22

• ability to write on command, but being unable to read the words just written
• visual system unable to communicate with the language system

Question 23

What is neglect?

Answer 23

• patient is unaware of meaningful stimuli in the space opposite to their lesion
• can be found in the auditory, visual and somesthetic domain

Question 24

What is a common test for neglect?

Answer 24

Behavioural inattention test - BIT