S2W8 - Neuroplasticity

Question 1

Ontogenetic Period

Answer 1

brain growth from birth to 6 yrs; characterised by synapse formation and pruning with glial call development

Question 2

Extensive Flexibility

Answer 2

the significant plasticity in early brain development; e.g. the ability to have language function switch hemispheres

Question 3

Meningiomas

Answer 3

tumor; encapsulated and (usually) benign tumor that grows between meninges layers

Question 4

Metastatic

Answer 4

tumor; cancerous cells carried to the brain via the bloodstream; will diffuse and are dangerous, likely terminal

Question 5

Haemorrhage

Answer 5

stroke; blood vessel/s rupture and blood leaks into the brain tissue (bad)

Question 6

Aneurysm

Answer 6

can cause stroke; defective elasticity of blood vessel/s are at risk of rupture

Question 7

Ischemia

Answer 7

stroke; blockage in blood vessel/s disrupting supply

Question 8

Thrombosis

Answer 8

can cause stroke; blood clot

Question 9

Embolism

Answer 9

stroke; thrombus moving from larger to smaller vessel, causing a blockage

Question 10

Arteriosclerosis

Answer 10

can cause stroke; artery wall thickens and channels narrow

Question 11

Contusions

Answer 11

TBI; bruised brain

Question 12

Subdural Hematoma

Answer 12

TBI; blood collection b/w dura matter and arachnoid membrane

Question 13

Mild TBI

Answer 13

concussion, but we gave it a new name cause people thought it was a one time thing to have a mini ~traumatic brain injury~

Question 14

Encephalitis

Answer 14

infection; brain inflammation

Question 15

Bacterial Encephalitis

Answer 15

infection; cerebral abscess puts pressure on the brain resulting in damage; can cure abscess but not damage done by the abscess

Question 16

Bacterial Meningitis

Answer 16

infection; meninges inflammed; 30% fatal

Question 17

Syphilis

Answer 17

infection; STI leads to dementia (general paresis)

Question 18

Viral Infections

Answer 18

infections (shocker); e.g. rabies (which likes neurons), fatal with a 30-day window for vaccine

Question 19

Mercury

Answer 19

neurotoxin; “mad as a hatter” due to mercury in hat factories

Question 20

Lead

Answer 20

neurotoxin; “crackpot” due to lead base in pots that would expose people when cracked

Question 21

Endogenous Neurotoxins

Answer 21

neurotoxin (shocker); created by the body, e.g. cortisol (stress hormone)

Question 22

Apoptosis

Answer 22

cell death (good); genetic “self-destruct” program over 1-2 days makes cells shrink then bleb (put dead parts into a vesicle)

Question 23

Necrosis

Answer 23

cell death (bad); fast and disordered death resulting from injury, which can spread to other cells

Question 24

Focal Seizure

Answer 24

epilepsy; doesn’t involve the entire brain; epileptic neurons fire together in the focussed region

Question 25

Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Answer 25

epilepsy (generalised, grand mal); involves entire brain; loss of consciousness, violent convulsions, tongue biting, hypoxia (lack of oxygen); typical hollywood seizure

Question 26

Absence Seizure

Answer 26

epilepsy (generalised, petit mal); involves entire brain; loss of consciousness, NO convulsions, ceases behaviour, stares into space; common in children and usually ceases at puberty

Question 27

Causes: Parkinson’s

Answer 27

substantia nigra degeneration, defficiency in dopamine production;
impacts 1-2% of people over 65;
treatments of L-dopa to implanted electrodes lose effectiveness over time

Question 28

Initial Symptoms: Parkinson’s

Answer 28

slight stiffness; tremor at rest

Question 29

Later Symptoms: Parkinson’s

Answer 29

muscular rigidity; marked tremor at rest; slowness of movement; mask-like face

Question 30

Causes: Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 30

attacks myelin of neurons in the CNS

Question 31

Initial Symptoms: Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 31

microscopic degredation of myelin sheaths

Question 32

Later Symptoms: Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 32

complete degeneration; non-functioning axon; scarring of neurons, leaving the sclera (brain scar tissue)

Question 33

Causes: Alzheimers

Answer 33

Amyloid plaques- scar tissue of degenerating neurons and beta-amyloid proteins in higher concentrations
Neurofibrillary tangles- tangles of Tau protein in cytoplasm
Neuron loss- brain shrinks;
Effects ~50mil people globally

Question 34

Preclinical Symptoms: Alzheimers

Answer 34

1st stage; pathological brain changes with no outward symptoms

Question 35

Predromal Symptoms: Alzheimers

Answer 35

2nd stage; mild cognitive impairment, anxiety, reduced autonomy

Question 36

Dementia Symptoms: Alzheimers

Answer 36

3rd stage; progressive memory loss, attention deficits, personality changes

Question 37

Neural Degeneration (Stages)

Answer 37

1. Axotomy [axon cut]
2. Anterograde Degradation [distal (axon of neuron) degenerates]
3. Retrograde Degradation [proximal (cell body) degenerates]
4. Transneural Degradation [neurons synapsed onto and synapsed by degraded neuron also degrade]

Question 38

Neural Regeneration

Answer 38

not in CNS;
PNS axon regrowth in 2-3 days after injury;
type of injury determines functionality of regeneration

Question 39

Collateral Sprouting

Answer 39

not in CNS;
adjacent healthy neurons sprout axons to take up the sites left by degenerated neurons’ synapses

Question 40

Neural Reorganisation

Answer 40

severing motor area from brain region results in the surrounding motor areas and/ or brain regions to utilise those neurons and their connections;
its free real estate

Question 41

Cognitive Reserve

Answer 41

the ability to regain function due to education and intelligence rather than neural reorganisation;
better outcomes for younger, higher IQ, more educated, and/ or wealthier people

Question 42

Phantom Limbs

Answer 42

The sensation of amputated limbs as if they were still part of the body, as if its a ghost that haunts the amputee;
Ramachandran theorised this and created mirror box-therapy