Neuroscience Flashcards
With chronic alcohol exposure GABA receptors become ___. Higher concentrations of alcohol are thus required to achieve the same level of neuronal depression (i.e, tolerance). Alcohol ___ NDMA receptors; therefore, with chronic alcohol use, there is an upregulation of NMDA receptors.
less responsive; antagonizes
The ___ is the generator and modulator of EEG rhythms, including the alpha rhythm. Childhood absence epilepsy is believed to originate from this region
thalamus
Reduction of grey matter in the ___ has been seen in conduct disorder
amygdala
An increase in the size of the ___ has been implicated in the severity of symptoms in OCD
basal ganglia
Brain structures most vulnerable to thiamine deficiency
mammillary bodies
In depressed patients, the ___ is stimulated in TMS
left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Stroke in the ___ have been associated with obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms.
basal ganglia such as the caudate and the putamen
Dopamine is released (particularly in areas such as the ___ and ___) by rewarding experiences such as food, sex, drugs, and neutral stimuli that become associated with them
nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex
Genes in cannabis-induced psychosis or even coexistence of schizophrenia and cannabis use
AKT1 (more consistent data), also COMT (Val/Val and Val/Met/ Val158Met) in homozygous and heterozygous genetic set ups
What endogenous ligand binding with endocannabinoid receptors best explains these effects on the brain (executing effects like the reward, addiction, anxiety, coordination, appetite, learning, sleep, and cognition)?
Full agonist activity of 2-AG at CB receptor 1
2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endocannabinoid, an endogenous agonist of the CB1 receptor and the primary endogenous ligand for the CB2 receptor.
Panic disorder with agoraphobia has a complex genetic component. Of the complex genetic component, variation in ___ has been implicated in this disorder. In particular, the long alleles of the ___ have been associated with panic disorder with agoraphobia. It is implicated in fear conditioning
monoamine oxidase A (MAOA); MAOA-uVNTR promoter polymorphism
Polymorphisms in contactin-associated protein-like 2-gene (CNTNAP2) have been detected in ___
selective mutism and in social anxiety.
Lesions in the ___ cause patients to appear profane, irritable, and irresponsible
Orbitofrontal lobe
Lesions in the ___ cause apathy, characterized by limited spontaneous movement, gesture, and speech
Medial frontal lobe
Lesions in the ___ can cause depression
Left frontal lobe
Since the frontal lobe governs memory, emotion, judgment, executive functions, and behavior, a lesion of this lobe is the most common cause of depression or other mood disorders
Lesions in the ___ can cause mania
Right frontal lobe
Brain autopsy for someone with Wernicke’s encephalopathy would show ___
hemorrhages in the ependyma of the 3rd ventricle and superior vermis
___ results in depigmentation of the pars compacta of the substantia nigra in the midbrain
Parkinson’s disease
___ is the major excitatory neurotransmitter and is the precursor to ___
Glutamate; precursor to GABA
The major inhibitor neurotransmitters are ___ and ___
GABA, glycine
Left prefrontal cortex: if activated –> ___; if there is a lesion –>
activated = mood lifted; lesion = depression
Right prefrontal cortex: if activated –>__; if there is a lesion –>
activated = mood depressed; lesion = euphoria and laughter
The ___ of the brain stem, predominantly in the pons, are the major sites of serotonergic cell bodies
raphe nuclei
What pathway, starting at the ventral tegmental area and projecting to the nucleus accumbens, is thought to be highly involved in the sense of reward one gets from cocaine use and is a major mediator of cocaine’s effects?
mesolimbic pathway of dopaminergic neurons
The ___ contains a high number of adrenergic neurons and mediates the effects of opiates and opioids
locus ceruleus
In PTSD, there is increased norepinephrine turnover in the ___ region of the brain
locus ceruleus
Norepinephrine is synthesized in the ___
locus ceruleus
Dopamine is synthesized in the ___
substantia nigra
Acetylcholine is made in the ___
nucleus basalis of Meynert
___ receptor is associated with constipation, blurred vision, dry mouth, drowsiness
M1 (muscarinic ACH receptor)
___ receptor is assocaited with weight gain and sedation
H1
Melatonin is produced by the ___
pineal gland
What neurotransmitter is associated w/ the nicotinic and muscarinic receptors?
acetylcholine
Neurotransmitter synthesis and release are mediated by ___ influx into the cell
calcium
Degradation of recycled neurotransmitters is done via MAOs, with MAO-A degrading ___ and MAO-B degrading ___
MAO-A: NE, serotonin; MAO-B: dopamine
During an action potential, the first ion channel to open is the #1__ channel, allowing #1 to flow into the neuron. Next #2 channels open, allowing more positively charged ions to enter and contribute to the action potential. Once inside #2 ions act as second messagers involved in protein-protein interactions and gene regulation
1- Na+; #2- calcium
Which dopaminergic tract is responsible for parkinsonian side effects of antipsychotics?
Nigrostriatal
Dopaminergic neurons in the ___ have been linked with Tourette’s syndrome and the development of tics
Caudate
Serotonin is made in the ___
dorsal raphe nuclei
Neuroimaging studies in OCD demonstrate abnormalities in the ___
caudate, thalamus, and orbitofrontal cortex
Acetylcholine is aassocaited with what receptors?
nicotinic, muscarinic
Glutamate is associated with what receptors?
AMPA, kainate, NMDA
___ is responsible for maintaining short-term memory, attention, executive functioning, and novelty-seeking, which are mediated through the nucleus basalis of Meynert
Acetylcholine
What brain structure is critical for formation of memory
Hippocampus
Neuroimaging finding associated with PTSD
decreased hippocampal volume, smaller anterior cingulate cortex volume
TMS for MDD is applied to what brain region?
left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
___ pathway goes from the ventral tegmental area to the frontal cortex and is involved in the negative sx of schizophrenia
Mesocortical
___ pathway goes from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and is involved in the positive psychotic symptoms
mesolimbic pathway of dopaminergic neurons
___ pathway goes from the substantia nigra to the basal ganglia; is important in development of EPS sx
Nigrostriatal
___ pathway goes from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary; important in regulation of prolactin secretion
Tuberoinfundibular
Brain region most implicated in delirium ___
Reticular formation and dorsal tegmental pathway
The GABA receptor is a ___ ion channel
chloride
Inhibitory neurotransmitters open ___ that hyperpolarize the membrane and decrease the likelihood of an action potential being generated
chloride
