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Neuropsychology > PSYC2307 Questions > Flashcards

PSYC2307 Questions Flashcards

1
Q

Define Human Neuropsychology and what is the goal?

A

Scientific Study of Brain-Behaviour relationship in humans
Goal - Understand how NS functions lead to emergence of Experience & Behaviour and the functional relationships between different brain structures

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2
Q

Where might you find a Neuropsychologist employed?

A

Research, Universities, hospitals, rehab clinics, private practice, government health agencies, pharmaceutical companies

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3
Q

What does a Clinical Neuropsychologist do?

A

Assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of psychological disorders associated with brain-based conditions

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4
Q

What is the leading cause of disability which also accounts for more hospitalizations an prolonged care than almost all other diseases combined?

A

Central Nervous System Disorders

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5
Q

What does a Clinical Psychologist do?

A

Assess, diagnose and treat psychological and mental disorders
Largely in health and social care settings

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6
Q

Why be a neuropsychologist?

A

Interesting, challenging, rewarding, and important

Brain-Behaviour relationship may be the most difficult problem man has ever studied

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7
Q

What are some valuable skills to have for the study of Neuropsychology?

A

Scientific Research Skills - critical thinking, literature review, experimental methods, data analysis, technical writing
Computer Literacy - computer controlled equipment

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8
Q

Where is Broca’s area and how did it get its name?

A

Paul Broca’s patient, Tan, had a language and speech deficit following stroke - brain autopsy found damage in the Front Lobe of the Left Hemisphere

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9
Q

How did Golgi and Cajal contribute to Neuropsychology?

A

Golgi developed a chemical process for seeing the silhouette of individual cells of the nervous system with the Golgi Stain
Cajal used the stain discover that the nervous system was made up of individual cells

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10
Q

Explain the findings of Gustav Fritsch and Eduard Hitzig

A

They applied electrical stimuli to the cortex in dogs to elicit muscle contractions on the opposite side of the body
Identified primary motor cortex
Other regions control movement via connections with primary motor cortex

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11
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Rostral

A

Towards the Nose (Front of the head)

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12
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Caudal

A

Towards the Tail (Back of the head)

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13
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Dorsal

A

Towards the back (Top of the head)

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14
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Ventral

A

Towards the stomach (Bottom of the head)

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15
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Lateral

A

Towards the side (Left or Right)

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16
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Medial

A

Towards the Midline

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17
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Anterior

A

Infront of

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18
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Posterior

A

Behind

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19
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Superior

A

Above

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20
Q

Define the following Anatomical Terms of Location - Inferior

A

Below

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21
Q

If you split the brain and had a top (Dorsal) and Bottom (Ventral) piece what type of plane would this be?

A

Axial/Horizontal Plane

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22
Q

If you split the brain and had two sides (lateral left and lateral right) what type of plane would this be?

A

Sagittal Plane

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23
Q

If you split the brain and had a front (Rostral) and back (Caudal) piece, what type of plane would this be?

A

Coronal Plane

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24
Q

What are the names for a cluster of cell bodies found in the CNS and PNS?

A

CNS - Nucleus

PNS - Ganglion

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25
Q

A brain function that occurs all on the same side of the brain and body is __________

A

Ipsilateral

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26
Q

A brain function decussates to the other side of the body is _______________

A

Contralateral

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27
Q

A brain structure that lies in both the left and right hemisphere is ______________

A

Bilateral

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28
Q

Structures that are close together are _________ to one another, where as structures that are far apart are _____________ to one another

A

Proximal

Distal

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29
Q

What are Nerves and Tracts and where are they each found?

A

They are both collections of neuron axons, a nerve is found in the PNS and a tract is found in the CNS

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30
Q

Motor nerves, which are directed away from the brain, are ____________ nerves

A

Efferent

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31
Q

Sensory nerves, which are directed towards the brain, are ___________ nerves

A

Afferent

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32
Q

What are the three main types of Neurons and their functions?

A

Sensory Neurons - carry information from receptors to the brain
Motor Neurons - carry signals from the brain to muscles
Interneurons - convey information between different types of neurons

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33
Q

What are the properties of a Graded Potential

A

Created in the dendrites or cell body
Signal amplitude proportional to the stimulus intensity
Can be depolarizing or Hyperpolarizing
Dissipates with distance from stimulus
Only useful for signalling short distances

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34
Q

What are the properties of an Action Potential?

A

Signal frequency is proportional to stimulus intensity
Always depolarizes
Fires in all-or-none action all the way down the axon non-decrementally
Useful for signalling long distances

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35
Q

What are Five properties of a Neurotransmitter

A 
Synthesized in neuron
Released by neuron into cleft
Able to bind to receptors and cause changes 
Able to be decomposed by enzymes
Able to bind to autoreceptors
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36
Q

Name the Five Glial cells and their functions

A 
Astrocytes - Support neurons
Microglia - Immune defence
Ependymal - Line ventricles, CSF 
Schwann - PNS Myelination
Oligodendrocytes - CNS Myelination
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37
Q

What are the meninges and what do they consist of?

A 
The membranes enclosing the Central Nervous System
Dura Mater (tough mother) - tough outermost layer, next to skull
Arachnoid Mater (spider-like mother) - Highly vascularized layer
Pia Mater (soft mother) - innermost membrane, next to CNS
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38
Q

What are the functions of the Dorsal Spinal Horns?

A

Sensory input enters the dorsal side of the spine
Somatic Sensory nerves - input from skin, skeletal muscles and joints (position, stretch, touch)
Visceral Sensory nerves - input from tissue and internal organs (internal temperature, pain, fatigue, inflammation)

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39
Q

What are the functions of the Ventral Spinal Horns?

A

Motor input exits the ventral side of the spine
Somatic Motor nerves - output signals to stimulate muscles
Visceral Motor nerves - output to the ANS, control signals to internal organs

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40
Q

What is the difference between white matter and grey matter?

A

White matter - heavily myelinated

Grey matter - unmyelinated

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41
Q

What are the five main parts of the adult brain and what do they consist of?

A

Telencephalon - Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia
Diencephalon - Thalamus, Hypothalamus
Mesencephalon - Midbrain (Tegmentum and Tectum)
Metencephalon - Pons, Cerebellum
Mylencephalon - Medulla

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42
Q

What are the layers of the neocortex?

A

Layers V and VI - Send axons to other brain areas

Layer IV - Receive axons from sensory systems

Layers I, II, and III - Receive input from layer IV

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43
Q

Define and differentiate a Fissure, Sulci, and Gyrus?

A

Fissure - cleft in the cortex deep enough to indent ventricles
Sulcus - shallow cleft in cortex
Gyrus - Ridge in the cortex

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44
Q

Define and differentiate a Fissure, Sulci, and Gyrus?

A

Fissure - cleft in the cortex deep enough to indent ventricles
Sulcus - shallow cleft in cortex
Gyrus - Ridge in the cortex

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45
Q

Cranial Nerve I

A

Olfactory - Sensory

Smell - Nasal to Brain

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46
Q

Cranial Nerve II

A

Optic - Sensory

Visual - Retina to Thalamus

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47
Q

Cranial Nerve III

A

Oculomotor - Motor

Eye movement and pupil reaction

48
Q

Cranial Nerve IV

A

Trochlear - Motor

Eye movement

49
Q

Cranial Nerve V

A

Trigeminal - Sensory and Motor
Jaw movement, chewing
Face and mouth sensation

50
Q

Cranial Nerve VI

A

Abducens - Motor

Eye movement

51
Q

Cranial Nerve VII

A

Facial - Sensory and Motor
2/3 anterior tongue taste
Facial expression

52
Q

Cranial Nerve VIII

A

Auditory - Sensory

Hearing and Balance

53
Q

Cranial Nerve IX

A

Glossopharyngeal - Sensory and Motor
1/3 posterior tongue taste
Swallowing

54
Q

Cranial Nerve X

A

Vagus - Sensory and Motor

PNS

55
Q

Cranial Nerve XI

A

Spinal Accessory - Motor

Some muscle movement - head, neck, shoulders

56
Q

Cranial Nerve XII

A

Hypoglossal - Motor

Tongue movement

57
Q

Neocortical regions of the brain are connected by four types of axonal projections, what are they?

A

Long Connections - different lobes
Relatively Short Connections - same lobe
Interhemispheric Connections - different side
Connections through Thalamus

58
Q

What is a commissure?

A

A contralateral white matter projection

Tracts that connect the left and right hemispheres, the only place where axons can cross

59
Q

What are the main commissures in the brain, where are they located and what do they connect?

A

Corpus Callosum
Anterior Commisure
Hippocampal Commissure
Posterior Commissure

60
Q

Signals sent within the parts of a single neuron are mainly _____________ while signal sent between different neurons are mainly _______________.

A

Electrical

Chemical

61
Q

What are the Seven Processes in Neurotransmitter Action?

A
  1. Synthesized from precursors
  2. Stored in vesicles
  3. Leaked NT are destroyed by enzymes
  4. Action Potential cause release of NT into synapse
  5. NT bind with autoreceptors - Negative Feedback
  6. NT diffuse across synapse and bind to receptors
  7. Re-uptake, degradation, or diffusion
62
Q

Differentiate Metabotropic receptors and Ionotropic receptors.

A

Metabotropic - contain binding site for a NT which activates an enzyme and begins a series of events opening up an ion channel somewhere else in the neuron’s membrane
Ionotropic - contain a binding site for NT and an ion channel that opens at binding

63
Q

What are the four main categories of Neurotransmitters and examples for each?

A

Monoamines - Dopamine, epinephrine, serotonin
Amino Acids - Glutamate, GABA
Peptide - Neuropeptide Y, cholecystokinin
Gases - Nitric oxide, carbon monoxide

64
Q

What is a Nervous System Agent?

A

Anything capable of changing the physiological condition of the processes of neural communication

Affect nervous system functioning
Typically a drug or a chemical

65
Q

What are the dose response descriptors and what do they mean?

A

Effective Dose (ED50) - Proven to be effective (therapeutic) in 50% of the study sample

Toxic Dose (TD50) - Proven to be toxic in 50% of the study sample

Lethal Dose (LD50) - Proven to be lethal in 50% of the study sample

66
Q

What are the different types of effects Nervous System Agents can have?

A

Therapeutic - intended consequence (treatment)
Side Effects - not related to purpose of taking drug
Contraindictions - negative side effects
Placebo - Physiological response (works with therapeutic effect)

67
Q

What does a Narcotic Analgesic Agent do?

A

Principally acts on sigma and mu receptors in the body to decrease perception of pain

Opiod - Morphine

68
Q

How does a Narcotic Analgesic Agent work?

A

Principally acts on sigma and mu receptors in the body to decrease perception of pain

Opiod - Morphine

69
Q

How does a Non-Narcotic Analgesic Agent work?

A

Reduces the level of prostaglandin synthesis to decrease inflammatory response

Tylenol, Advil

70
Q

How does a Cholinergic Agent work?

A

Acts by either increasing or decreasing amount of available acetylcholine or acetylcholinesterase

Nicotine, Atropine

71
Q

How does an Adrenergic Agent work?

A

Affect the sympathetic nervous system by promoting or depressing the alpha and/or beta responses

72
Q

How does a Central Nervous System Stimulant Agent work?

A

Acts by increasing the available amount of norepinephrine which increases cellular impulse transmission

Adderall, Concerta

73
Q

How does an Anticonvulsant Agent work?

A

Acts in several ways such as increasing Na+ evacuation or preventing its entry into the cell, elevating GABA levels, or decreasing acetylcholine levels

Epilepsy medication

74
Q

How do Sedative and Hypnotic agents work?

A

Reduce the activity in the thalamus and cortex

Anesthetics

75
Q

How does an Antidepressant Agent work?

A

Either increases the norepinephrine and serotonin levels in the brain (SSRI, SNRI) or inhibit the production of mono amine oxidase (MAOI) which breaks down the neurotransmitters

76
Q

How does an Antipsychotic Agent work?

A

Block the dopamine receptor sites in the brain or decrease the responsiveness of the medulla

Seroquel, Risperdal

77
Q

How does an Anxiolytic Agent work?

A

Alters the response in the limbic center or increases GABA levels
Inhibits anxiety

Benzodiazepine, Xanax

78
Q

How does a psychedelic Agent work?

A

Primary action is to alter cognition and perception - typically a serotonin receptor agonist causing thought and visual/auditory changes and an altered state of consciousness

LSD, Shrooms

79
Q

How does an Agonist effect neural communication?

A

Increases neural activity by increasing rate of synaptic communication via Neurotransmitters

Direct-Binding - Drugs that bind directly to the post synaptic receptors (Dopamine, nicotine)

Indirect-Binding - Drugs that enhance the Neurotransmitter actions by stimulating Neurotransmitter release (Cocaine)

80
Q

How does an Antagonist effect neural communication?

A

Decreases neural activity by decreasing the rate of synaptic communication via Neurotransmitters

Direct-Acting - Block Neurotransmitter from binding to the receptors (Atropine)

Indirect-Binding - Inhibit release or production of Neurotransmitter (Reserpine)

81
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug substitutes for one of the precursor chemicals involved in the production of Neurotransmitter
A

Agonist - Increases amount of NT

In the presynaptic processes leading to NT production

Example: L-DOPA

82
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug inhibits production of NT by a precursor chemical
A

Antagonist - Reduces amount of NT being produced

In the presynaptic processes leading to NT production

Example: Fenclonine (PCPA)

83
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug prevents storage of NT in vesicles
A

Antagonist - Prevent packaging so NT can’t be delivered in vesicles

Presynaptic processes in cytoplasm

Example: Reserpine

84
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug stimulates release of NT into vesicles
A

Agonist - Stimulates NT release presynaptically

Presynaptic membrane

Example: Latrotoxin

85
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug inhibits release of NT
A

Antagonist - Inhibits release of NT

Presynaptic membrane

Example: Botulinum Toxin (Botox)

86
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug stimulates postsynaptic receptors
A

Agonist - Increases probability of Action Potential

Postsynaptic receptors

Example: Nicotine

87
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug blocks postsynaptic receptor
A

Antagonist - Inhibits Action Potential

Acetylcholine receptors on the postsynaptic membrane

Example: Curare, Atropine

88
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug stimulates autoreceptor action
A

Antagonist - Shuts off NT production

Presynaptic processes leading to NT production

Example: Apomorphine

89
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug blocks autoreceptor action
A

Agonist - NT keeps getting produced

Presynaptic processes leading to NT production

Example: Clonidine

90
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug blocks reuptake of NT in synapse
A

Agonist - Increases probability of synaptic transmission

Synapse

Example: Cocaine

91
Q

Eleven ways Nervous System Agents affect Neurotransmission:

  1. Drug inactivates Acetylcholinesterase
A

Agonist - Inactivates enzymes that break down acetylcholine

Synapse

Example: Physostigmine

92
Q

What is a hormone?

A

A molecule produced and stored in glands which are broadcasted through the bloodstream or air and effect whatever receptors are within reach

Bind to targets to regulate and control physiological and behavioral activities

93
Q

What are the six steps of Hormonal Signaling?

A
  1. Biosynthesis
  2. Storage and Secretion
  3. Transport
  4. Recognition by receptor
  5. Relay and Amplification of signal
  6. Breakdown
94
Q

What are the fundamental differences between hormones and neurotransmitters?

A 
Distance of signal (Long/Short)
Speed of signal (Slow/Fast)
Transport method (Indirect/Direct)
Location stored (Glands/Neurons)
Length of Effect (Gradual/Quick)
95
Q

How are hormones and neurotransmitters similar?

A

They are both released upon stimulation
They both bind to receptors to stimulate target cells
Some neurotransmitters can also act as hormones depending where they are released

96
Q

What is the hierarchical control of Hormones?

A
  1. Sensory or Cognitive activity result in neurohormones in the hypothalamus to enter and stimulate the pituitary gland
  2. The pituitary gland secretes secondary ‘releasing’ hormones throughout body
  3. Hormones act upon target organs or brain structures
97
Q

How is the stress response shut down?

A

The hippocampus regulates production of cortisol via a negative feedback loop:
High density of cortisol receptors - when stimulated inhibit production of cortisol by signaling to the hypothalamus to stop releasing CRH

98
Q

What are the four types of specialist who focus on different parts of the visual system?

A

Optometrist - optimization of optics
Ophthalmology - diseases of the eye
Neuro-Ophthalmology - diseases affecting neural aspects of the peripheral visual system
Neuropsychology - higher level visual dysfunction

99
Q

What aspect of vision are neuropsychologists involved in?

A

They typically study higher-level losses in visual perception, resulting from dysfunction at higher levels within the visual system

100
Q

What does a Central Vision test look for?

A

Vision near fixation point or center of gaze

Visual acuity, color, vision, contrasts sensitivity

101
Q

What does a Whole Field Vision test look for?

A

Perimetric field, adaptation, flicker sensitivity, motion thresholds, attention to specific areas of the visual field, hemi-neglect, hemi-attention

102
Q

What is a Perimetry test?

A

Test for field of vision - affected by damage to certain areas before or after hemidecussation of retino-genico-cortical pathway

103
Q

What does a Higher-Level Visual Perception test look for?

A

Attention, visual search, object recognition, way findings, visually guided reaching, and manipulation

104
Q

In which lobe is the primary visual cortex?

A

Occipital Lobe

105
Q

What are the functions of the Ventral visual stream?

A

Perception and recognition of objects

106
Q

What are the functions of the Dorsal visual stream?

A

Manipulation and visually guided reaching

107
Q

The Ventral Visual Stream flows from the Primary Visual Cortex to ________________?

A

The Inferotemporal Cortex

108
Q

The Dorsal Ventral Visual Stream flow from the Primary Visual Cortex to __________________?

A

The Parietal Lobe

109
Q

What is a disorder of the Ventral Visual Stream called?

A

Agnosia

110
Q

What is a disorder of the Dorsal Visual Stream called?

A

Apraxia

111
Q

What is Apperceptive Agnosia?

A

Deficit in the ability to develop a complete percept of an object or objects

112
Q

What is Simultagnosia?

A

Inability to perceive more than one object at a time

113
Q

What is Associative Agnosia?

A

Inability to assign meaning to an object that is perceived

114
Q

What is Prosopagnosia?

A

Ability to identify facial features but inability to recognize familiar faces

115
Q

What is Landmark Agnosia?

A

Inability to utilize features of the environment in wayfinding

Neuropsychology (2 decks)

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