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Term 5 Psych > Neuroscience of Adolescence > Flashcards

Neuroscience of Adolescence Flashcards

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1
Q

Bottom up development

A

The brain develops from the bottom up, like a stack of building blocks.

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2
Q

The upper block

A

referred to as the ‘intellectual’ brain

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3
Q

The middle blocks

A

referred to as the ‘primitive’ brain

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4
Q

The lower block

A

referred to as the ‘reptilian’ brain

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5
Q

The Reptilian Brain

A

Developed as simple animals evolved a brain

Mesal aspect of a brain sectioned in the median sagittal plane.

Begins where spinal cord enters the skull

Produces movement and creates a sensory world

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6
Q

Rhombencephalon

A 
Evolutionarily the oldest 
Cerebellum
Reticular Formation 
Pons
Medulla
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7
Q

Cerebellum

A

Controls complex movements and has a role in a variety of cognitive functions, as well

Size of cerebellum increases with the physical speed and dexterity of a species

Because of its large number of tiny granule cells, the cerebellum contains more than 50% of all neurons in the brain, but it only takes up 10% of total brain volume

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8
Q

Reticular Formation

A

“Reticular activating system”

Stimulates the forebrain:

Regulation of sleep-wake behavior and behavioral arousal

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9
Q

Pons

A

(“bridge”)

Connects cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Controls important movements of the body

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10
Q

Medulla

A

Rostral end of brain

Vital functions:
Control of breathing and heart rate

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11
Q

Non-associative learning

A

The reptilian brain regulates non-associative learning - a relatively permanent change in the strength of response to a single stimulus due to repeated exposure to that stimulus.

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12
Q

Habituation

A

the strength or probability of a response diminishes when the response is repeated

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13
Q

Sensitization

A

the progressive amplification of a response follows repeated administrations of a stimulus

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14
Q

The Primitive Brain

A

Developed as animals evolved adaptive behaviors

Produces emotions and motivations that enhance the probability of surviving and reproducing

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15
Q

The Primitive Brain

A

Organize & generate motivated behavior

Motivates behaviors

Homeostatically regulate Behaviors

Learn & predict to guide behavior

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16
Q

The Reptilian Brain

A

Reflexively controls life processes

Non-associative learning

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17
Q

Subcortical Structures

A

Mesencephalon
Diencephalon
Limbic System
Basal Ganglia

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18
Q

Mesencephalon

A

Tectum

Tegmentum

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19
Q

Tectum

A

Sensory processing

Orienting movements

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20
Q

Tegmentum

A

Eye and limb movements
Species-specific behaviors
Perception of pain

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21
Q

Diencephalon

A

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

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22
Q

Thalamus

A

Relay station

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23
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Feedback loops via hormones

Neural Control via Oxytocin

Experiential Responses

Medial Forebrain Bundle

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24
Q

Limbic cortex

A

Cingulate gyrus

Hippocampal formation

Amygdala

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25
Q

Cingulate gyrus

A

Autonomic functions

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26
Q

Hippocampal formation

A

Long-term memories

Spatial navigation

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27
Q

Amygdala

A

Process & associate positive & negative emotions

28
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Nucleus accumbens
Globus pallidus

29
Q

Corpus Striatum

A

Dorsal Striatum

Ventral Striatum

Ventral Pallidum

30
Q

Dorsal Striatum

A

Caudate & Putamen

Procedural/associative learning
Process rewards & punishments

31
Q

Ventral Striatum

A

Nucleus accumbens - indicates incentive salience (i.e., wanting)

32
Q

Ventral Pallidum

A

Process hedonic value (i.e., liking)

33
Q

MESOLIMBIC DOPAMINE (DA) SYSTEM

A

DA projections from the VTA to:

Basal Ganglia
Temporal Lobe

34
Q

Basal Ganglia

A
  1. Learning/predicting in response to rewards/punishments (V. Striatum)
  2. Indicating hedonic value (Pallidum)
35
Q

Temporal Lobe

A
  1. Processing/associating both positive & negative emotions (Amygdala)
  2. Rapidly encoding salient features into memory (Hippocampus)
36
Q

Associative learning

A

The primitive brain regulates associative learning - the flexible learning of an association between two stimuli, or a behavior and a stimulus

37
Q

Operant Conditioning

A

a certain behavior is either reinforced or punished, which alters the probability that the behavior will reoccur

38
Q

Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning

A

a previously neutral stimulus is repeatedly presented, together with a reflex eliciting stimuli, until eventually the neutral stimulus elicits a response on its own

39
Q

The Primitive Brain
Learn & predict to guide behavior
Review

A

Limbic system regulates emotions and motivations - particularly those related to survival - such as fear, anger, and pleasure (sex and eating)

Feelings of pleasure/reward are very powerful and self-sustaining

Pleasurable behaviors activate the reward system circuit in the limbic area that is devoted to producing and regulating pleasure

40
Q

Primitive/ Reptilian Brain
Rapid procedural or habitual learning
Significance

A

The Primitive/Reptilian Brain facilitates reflexive as well as rapid procedural or habitual (i.e., stimulus-response) learning, which is adept at identifying stimuli and selecting actions based on the predicted outcome.

The VTA, basal ganglia, and temporal lobe are largely sufficient to promote adaptations of motivated behaviors in the face of constantly changing environments and ensure survival.

41
Q

The Intellectual Brain

A

Cortex - outer covering; 85% of brain mass

During adolescence, the cortex goes through a major period of growth that helps adolescents transition into adulthood

42
Q

The Intellectual Brain

A

Top-down cognitive control of behavior

43
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Motor Cortex
Premotor Cortex
Prefrontal Cortex

44
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Controls fine movements

45
Q

Premotor Cortex

A

Selection of appropriate movement sequences

46
Q

Prefrontal Cortex

A

Involved in specifying the goals toward which movement should be made

47
Q

Top-down cognitive control of behavior

A

Prefrontal cortex plans movements

Premotor cortex organizes movement sequences

Motor cortex produces specific movements

48
Q

Prefrontal Inputs

A

Receives connections from amygdala, thalamus, posterior parietal (sensory association) cortex, and DA cells of the VTA

49
Q

Prefrontal Outputs

A

Projects to amygdala and hypothalamus (inferior) and to posterior parietal cortex, cingulate cortex, basal ganglia, and premotor cortex (dorsolateral)

50
Q

The Intellectual Brain
Top-down cognitive control of Behavior
Review

A

The PFC regulates executive functions:

Ability to differentiate among conflicting thoughts, determine good and bad, better and best, same and different, future consequences of current activities, working toward a defined goal, prediction of outcomes, expectation based on actions, and social “control” (the ability to suppress urges that, if not suppressed, could lead to socially unacceptable outcomes)

Ability to adapt behavior appropriately to the environmental context

51
Q

The Intellectual Brain

Significance

A

The PFC integrates across all modalities – providing top-down cognitive control while extracting relevant information from these and other structures, translating between different reference frames, as necessary, and amplifying or overriding motivational and affective signals - to predict probable outcomes, coordinate behavior, and select an action based on these probabilities.

In contrast to associative learning mediated by the striatum, the PFC modulates action selection, integrating experiences and predicting both expected and unexpected outcomes before updating stimulus-response associations and selecting an action.

52
Q

The Neuroscience of Adolescence

A
  1. Bottom-up Development
  2. Nature Saves the Best for Last
  3. Correlating Brain Development with Behavior
53
Q

Nature Saves the Best for Last

A

the PFC is one of the last areas to mature

54
Q

Synaptic Pruning in the PFC

A

Following a growth spurt of gray matter that completes around age 11, the PFC goes through a protracted period of synaptic pruning that continues into early adulthood.

Lose ~3% of gray matter in frontal lobes

55
Q

Myelination in the PFC

A

Closely following the pruning process, myelin is added to the remaining connections

Allows for more efficient communication

Continues until early 30’s

56
Q

MESOCORTICAL DOPAMINE (DA) SYSTEM

A

DA projections from the VTA to:

Frontal Lobe
Modulates associative learning (PFC)

PFC also:

Receives Temporal Lobe Inputs
Provide important learning signals
Projects to Limbic System
Amplifying or overriding motivational and affective signals

57
Q

Review

A

Both regressive and progressive processes are occurring in parallel, enhancing neural and cognitive processes.

RESULT: teens move from concrete to abstract thinking…tend to become idealistic and cause-oriented

58
Q

How does Regional Brain Development Map onto Behavioral Development

A

Hallmark of behavioral development is a functional gain in ability to suppress an inappropriate action in favor of an appropriate one (impulse control)

59
Q

Neurobiological Imbalance

A

Differential development of subcortical relative to prefrontal control regions may explain:

High Risk Behaviors
Emotional Susceptibility
Psychiatric Vulnerability

60
Q

High Risk Behaviors

A

Risk-taking declines between adolescence and adulthood because of changes in the brain’s cognitive control system – changes which improve individuals’ capacity for self-regulation.

61
Q

Developmental Differences in Response to Rewarding Events

A

Accumbens activity is correlated with risky behavior

Adolescents are similar to adults in volume of accumbens activity
BUT similar to children in PFC activity

62
Q

Emotional Susceptibility

A

Exaggerated emotional reactivity declines between adolescence and adulthood because of strengthening of functional connections between the PFC and amygdala

63
Q

Hormonal Changes are Linked to Emotionality

A

The presence of testosterone and estrogen both affect the development of the brain
Can alter:
Number of neurons
Dendritic branching
Synaptic growth
Not just areas of brain related to sexual behavior: These hormones can affect “higher functions” such as cognition

64
Q

Developmental Differences of Emotionality

A

Functional connectivity between orbital PFC & Amygdala is associated with regulating emotional reactions

Adolescents are similar to adults in volume of accumbens activity
BUT similar to children in PFC activity

65
Q

Psychiatric Vulnerability

A

Many mental health disorders first present during adolescence, and may lead to poor school performance, school dropout, strained family relationships, involvement with the child welfare or juvenile justice systems, substance abuse, and risky sexual behaviors.

66
Q

Correlating Brain Development with Behavior

A

Increased risking taking behavior in adolescence may be related to differential development of limbic subcortical vs. cortical control regions.

Developmental changes may be exacerbated by individual differences in tendency to engage in risky behavior.

Exaggerated emotionalreactivity declines between adolescence and adulthood because of strengthening of functional connections between the PFC and amygdala

Individual differences in responses to positive or negative events may put certain teens at risk for poor outcomes

The still developing PFC may be especially vulnerable to environmental factors that increase risk for psychiatric disorders

Genetic differences and how teens spend their time influences both the organization and the capacity of the brain

67
Q

Significance

A

“USE IT OR LOSE IT”
Brain connections that are stimulated and used repeatedly grow stronger while unused connections wither away.
How teens spend their time is CRUCIAL to brain development since their activities guide the structure of the brain

Term 5 Psych (20 decks)

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