Week Two - Neuropsychology

Question 1

How is theory tested in Neuropsychology?

Answer 1

Experiment or accidental injury/incident - testing - theory - application - revision - back to start

Question 2

Two pathologies of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Answer 2

Amyloid plaques
Tau tangles (neurofibrillary)

Question 3

Early-onset AD vs Late-onset % and reasoning?

Answer 3

1% EO - likely genetic causes, including genes

99% LO - varied reasons and multifactorial (currently unclear)

Question 4

What is the Amyloid Hypothesis?

What is the general outcome/aim?

Answer 4

The main idea is that AD is caused by the accumulation of amyloid deposits.

If we can stop the production of these in the brain, we can slow/stop people from developing AD and its symptoms.

Question 5

% of AD research on Amyloid Hypothesis?

Answer 5

70-80% of AD drug research has focused on this reduction of amyloid plaque.

Question 6

Amyloid Hypothesis drug results?

Answer 6

126 AD drugs (40% were amyloid) - no drugs showed any impact. Some argue that the AH is not right.

Question 7

Criticisms of Amyloid Hypothesis?

Answer 7

Based on EO AD (only 1%).
High plaques does not equal AD and vice versa.
Cause rather than consequence.

Question 8

Arguments for Amyloid Hypothesis?

Answer 8

Healthy people can show plaques (i.e., they could be in the early stages of AD)

Amyloid can increase Tau tangles (therefore a causal factor in AD potentially)

Interventions are often given too late so hard to know true effects

Question 9

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Answer 9

An insult to the brain caused by an external force that may result in diminished or altered states of consciousness - resulting in impacted cognitive abilities and physical functioning

Question 10

2 types of TBI?

Answer 10

Closed head injury

Penetrative head injury

Question 11

What is a concussion?

Answer 11

Temporary unconsciousness or confusion and other symptoms caused by a blow on the head - This is a mild TBI.

Question 12

Closed Head Injury?

Answer 12

Non-penetrative blow to the head.

MVA, assaults, falls, sports etc.

Question 13

Brain damage in TBI typically occurs in what 2 stages?

Answer 13

Primary Injury

Secondary Injury

Question 14

Primary Injury?

Answer 14

Damage occurring at the time of impact - bleeding, diffuse axonal injury, coup/contrecoup damage

Question 15

Secondary Injury?

Answer 15

Secondary effects of physiological processes initiated by the primary injury - oedema (fluid), intracranial pressure, necrotic and apoptotic cell death

Question 16

Three indicators of TBI severity?

Answer 16

1. Length of loss of consciousness
2. Depth of coma, measured by GCS
3. Length of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA)

Question 17

What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?

Answer 17

Assesses the level of consciousness (depth of coma) at a given time following injury

Question 18

GCS scores?

Answer 18

Mild = 14-15
Moderate = 9-13
Severe = 3-8

Question 19

What is Post Traumatic Amnesia?

Answer 19

Length of time following TBI in which the person is incapable of learning new information and remains confused/disoriented

Question 20

PTA Duration times?

Answer 20

<5 mins = Very mild
5-60 mins = Mild
1-24 hr = Moderate
1-7 days = Severe
1-4 weeks = Very severe
>4 weeks = Extremely severe

Question 21

Theoretical debates regarding consciousness?

Answer 21

Consciousness vs Responsiveness (eg locked-in syndrome vs minimally conscious state - veg state). Actually measuring responsiveness when measuring consciousness.

Length vs depth

Question 22

Second Impact Syndrome?

Answer 22

a 2nd concussion while still experiencing post-concussion symptoms - can lead to a fatal response and increased oedema and intracranial pressure

Question 23

Criticisms of SIS?

Answer 23

Still a hypothetical diagnosis
Incidence rate is small
Symptoms overlap with other disorders

Question 24

How can we use theory to predict outcome of concussion/TBI?

Answer 24

Initial severity (eg mild)
Performance on neuropsych measures
Premorbid characteristics

BUT prediction is still poor

Question 25

How can we use theory to predict who will recover?

Answer 25

Cognitive/neural reserve theory

Coping theory

Question 26

Combination of what 3 things to predict outcome and recovery?

Answer 26

Neurological, psychological and sociocultural

e.g., Pleiotropy, Learning Theory and Te Whare Tapa Wha