Task 2 Flashcards

1
Q

List the three stages of prenatal brain development

A
  1. Geminal
  2. Embryonic
  3. Fetal
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2
Q

When does the geminal period occur?

A

2 weeks after fertilization of egg and sperm

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3
Q

When does the embryonic period occur?

A

2nd to 8 weeks gestation

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4
Q

What is the embryonic period?

A

Division of cells and differentiation to form different organs

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5
Q

What is proliferation?

A

Production of nerve cells

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6
Q

What happens in the migration stage of cellular development?

A

Cells formed from progenitor cells in the neural tube move to their location and some migrate to radial glia cells.

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7
Q

What is myelinization?

A

Insulation of cells by fatty tissues

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8
Q

What is sypnaptogenesis?

A

Formation of synapses to allow communication with other neurons

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9
Q

What is the last stage of cellular development in the brain?

A

Myelinization & Synaptogenesis

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10
Q

Some brain structures are already present & functional by 11 weeks gestation. What are they?

A

Superior Collicus
Inferior Colliculus
Cerebellum
Medulla
Cerebral cortex is still developing

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11
Q

Touch is the first sensory modality to develop prenatally. When does it develop?

A

8 weeks

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12
Q

When does hearing abilities develop prenatally?

A

22-24 weeks

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13
Q

What can the fetus hear in the uterus?

A

Low frequencies. The mother’s skin acts as a filter so some sounds cannot be processed (e.g. high frequencies).

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14
Q

Vision is the last sensory modality to develop. When does it develop?

A

week 26

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15
Q

What are teratogens?

A

They are toxic substances that affect the fetus’ development upon exposure during the uterus.

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16
Q

Teratogens can cause impairments and organ malformations if it the fetus is exposed to it during the embryonic period. Why is that?

A

Because the embryonic period is when cells differentiate to form different organs.

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17
Q

Provide examples of teratogens

A

Alcohol, drugs, stress,

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18
Q

What are some physical symptoms of Fetal Alchohol Syndrome?

A

Small head
Abnormal facial appearance
Small height

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19
Q

Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome consists of 3 categories. List them.

A
  1. Growth Deficiencies (small head & height)
  2. CNS Disorders (microencephaly)
  3. Distinctive abnormal facial features
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20
Q

In what way does Fetal Alcohol Syndrom affect children?

A
  • hyperactivity in 4 year olds
  • psychological deficits & behavioural problems
  • aggressive & externalizing behaviours
21
Q

How does Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affect adolescents?

A
  • Alcohol problems & drug abuse
  • Social behaviour deficits
22
Q

What happens before the fetus brain starts to form?

A

The fertilized egg forms a neural plate 18 days later.

This neural plate the forms a groove and eventually closes.

The closing of the neural plate forms 3 swells called the forebrain, mid brain and hind brain

23
Q

In which week does the forebrain subdivide into the diencephalon and telencephalon?

A

week 4

24
Q

Towards the end of week 4, the hindbrain divides into two cephalons. What are they?

A

metencephalon & myelencephalon

25
Q

At which week does the telecephalon cover the diencephalon to form the cerebral hemispheres?

A

week 11

26
Q

Initially, the appearance of the fetus’ cerebral appears smooth. They eventually fold and assume their adult-like appearance. What are the grooves and convolutions called?

A

Groove = sulci

Convolutions = gyri

27
Q

What is the telencephalon?

A

The anterior part of the brain which is also called the cerebrum

28
Q

What is the diencephalon?

A

the part of the brain that is placed between the telencephalon and the midbrain

29
Q

What is another name for the anterior part of the brain, that is also referred to as the cerebrum?

A

Telencephalon

30
Q

What is the name of the part of the brain that is placed between the telencephalon and the midbrain?

A

Diencephalon

31
Q

What is another name for midbrain?

A

Mesencephalon

32
Q

What is another name for mesencephalon?

A

Midbrain

33
Q

What is the metencephalon?

A

Embruonic part of the hindbrain that differentiates into the pons and cerebellum

34
Q

What is the name of the structure that the pons and cerebellum originate from before they are differentiated?

A

Metencephalon

35
Q

What does the myelencephalon consist of?

A

The medulla oblongata

36
Q

Two of the following structures appear on the 4th week of the fetus’ brain development. Which one are they?

A

Diencephalon and telecephalon

37
Q

When do the mesen, meten, and myelencephalon appear?

A

week 7

38
Q

Alcohol is a teratogen that is said to have a dose-dependent effect on development. Research shows there are little to no effects at low doses.

What are the effects of high doses of alcohol on cognitive development?

A

1 year olds score lower on visual perception, spatial relations, short term memory, attention and receptive language.

Learning problems, IQ decrement in processing speed.

Difficulties with sustained attention

39
Q

The effects of alcohol on development are also thought to only be effective during certain periods of pregnancy, especially during the 1st trimester.

What are its effects on development during exposure in the first trimester of pregnancy?

A

Cognition: long term learning and memory impairment

Brain:
Selective loss of hippocampal pyramid cells or cerebellar purkinje/granule cell.

Apoptotic neural death in hippocampus & cerebral cortex.

Affects proliferation (production of nerve cells), growth, and maturation of glia

40
Q

One of the effects of alcohol exposure during 1st trimester on development is selective loss of hippocampal pyramid cells or cerebellar purkinje/granule cells.

What are Purkunje and granule cells and why are they so important?

A

Purkinje cells have long dendrites & are able to integrate large amounts of info.

Granule cells are involved in visual & motor info to learning & memory.

41
Q

How does alcohol exposure during pregnancy affect the child’s brain development?

A

Selective loss of hippocampal pyramid cells or cerebellar purkunje/granule cells

Apoptotic neural death in hippocampus and cerebral cortex

Affects glia cells

Affects proliferation, growth, and maturation of glia

42
Q

What are retrospective studies?

Where can the participants be recruited?

A

It is part of longitudinal studies and participants are asked to recall past events.

They can be recruited in hospitals, clinics, or birth defect registries.

43
Q

What are some challenges of retrospective studies?

A

Recall bias: may not recall specific timing of teratogen exposure

Under-reporting due to social stigma

Differential misclassification instead of random classification

44
Q

What are prospective studies?

A

Longitudinal approach where subjects are followed over a period of time to gather information and record developmental outcomes

45
Q

What are some advantages of prospective studies?

A

Systematic obsevation
Minimized recall bias
Extent and timing of teratogen can be determined

46
Q

Evaluate cross-sectional studies used to investigate effects of teratogens on development

A

Allows for comparisons
Does not control for confounding variables
Selection bias

47
Q

List 6 types of studies used to study the effects of teratogens on development

A
  1. Retrospective
  2. Prospective
  3. Longitudinal
  4. Cross-Sectional
  5. Genetic - twin studies
  6. In vitro using animals
48
Q

What are some methodological issues related to teratogen studies?

A

Statistical issues:

Limited statistical power
Difficult to identify main predictor variable
Role of environment
Expected effects are not large
Issues with longitudinal study: drop outs, non-response bias

Outcome measures:

Long term beurobehavioural/cognitive domains are not accounted for
The fx of teratogens are not consistent over time
Maternal reports are not always reliable
Some behaviours are not testable due to immaturity of the brain