Week 1 Continued Flashcards
What causes Down syndrome?
trisomy 21
what does trisomy mean?
additional copy of chromosome 21
brain changes associated with down syndrome
- reduced cognitive abilities
- hypotonia
hypotonia
low muscle tone
neural changes associated with Down syndrome
- reduced brain size
- fewer cortical neurons
- abnormal dendrites
- cerebellar changes
What is Arnold-Chiari malformation?
- congenital anomaly
- medulla and posterior cerebellum elongate into foramen magnum
- may be asymptomatic
- may result in hydrocephalus and other problems
Arnold-Chiari malformation
- Symptoms may include:
- severe headache
- ataxia due to cerebellar compression
- weakness of muscles of face and tongue
- hearing loss and balance disruptions
Why do we get hearing loss and balance disruptions with Arnold-Chiari malformation?
CN VIII compression
developmental coordination disorder
- classification for children with normal intellect, without TBI or cerebral palsy or other neuro problems
- lack motor coordination to perform tasks that most children their age can perform
- condition usually continues into adulthood
ADHD: characterized by
- developmentally inappropriate inattention
- impulsivity
- motor restlessness
ADHD brain
volume of many brain areas is reduced
- prefrontal cortex
- caudate and putamen
- dorsal cingulate cortex
- cerebellum
individuals with autistic disorders
- engage in repetitive behaviors
- have limited interests
- appear to lack imagination
- are not interested in interacting with others
individuals with Asperger’s disorder
- speak and have normal or higher intelligence
- have limited social skills
- have narrow range of interests
- have repetitive and frequently obsessive behaviors that interfere with school, work, or social life
Infants who develop signs of autism later show traits at 12 months that include
- poor eye contact
- decreased shared attention
- decreased communication
- decreased social interaction
brain differences in autism
- reduced communication among cerebral areas
- larger than normal amygdala during childhood
What compete for synaptic sites?
neuronal projections
critical periods of development during infancy: what happens?
- neuronal projections compete for synaptic sites
- nervous system optimizes neural connections during critical period
interruptions in development during a critical period may explain this
some difference between perinatal and adult brain injuries
Adults with brain damage lose
descending control
What is true of adult brain injury patients that is different for infants?
inappropriate connections or abnormal spinal motor circuits do not compound dysfunction
*because development is already complete
