Neuro Transmitters
This neurotransmitter is released from the basal forebrain and is essential for memory, learning, and attention. It is significantly decreased in Alzheimer’s disease.
What is acetylcholine?
The loss of the ability to recognize objects through a particular sensory system
What is agnosia
The pupil of the eye constricts
What is a parasympathetic effect?
This cranial nerve is responsible for smell, and damage to it may occur with a cribriform plate fracture.
What is Cranial Nerve I – Olfactory?
This noninvasive test records the electrical activity of the brain and is commonly used to evaluate seizure disorders.
What is an EEG (electroencephalogram)?
This neurotransmitter is produced primarily in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area and plays a key role in movement, motivation, and reward.
What is dopamine?
Test for cerebellar dysfunction that can be done with the patient seated or standing; inability to maintain position for 20 sec is a +
What is the Romberg Test?
The rate and force of the heartbeat is decreased
What is a parasympathetic effect?
This cranial nerve controls vision, and damage may present as loss of visual acuity or visual field defects.
What is Cranial Nerve II – Optic?
This imaging study uses magnetic fields rather than radiation and provides detailed images of brain and spinal cord soft tissue.
What is an MRI?
This neurotransmitter originates mainly in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem and is involved in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and pain perception.
What is serotonin?
What is the inability to coordinate muscle movements, resulting in difficulty walking, talking and performing ADLs
WHat is ataxia
The conversion of liver glycogen to glucose is increased
What is a sympathetic effect?
This cranial nerve controls facial expression and taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue; injury may cause Bell’s palsy.
What is Cranial Nerve VII – Facial?
This diagnostic test involves inserting a needle into the subarachnoid space to obtain cerebrospinal fluid for analysis.
What is a lumbar puncture (spinal tap)?
This neurotransmitter is synthesized in the locus coeruleus and is responsible for alertness, attention, and the fight-or-flight response.
What is norepinephrine?
What is clonus?
The sphincters of the GU tract are contracted
What is a sympathetic effect?
This cranial nerve is tested by asking the client to shrug the shoulders and turn the head against resistance.
What is Cranial Nerve XI – Spinal Accessory?
This test uses contrast dye to visualize cerebral blood vessels and is often used to identify aneurysms or vascular malformations.
What is cerebral angiography?
This is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, reducing neuronal excitability and helping prevent overstimulation.
What is GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)?
A reflex action of the toes: in adults indicative of abnormalities in the motor control pathways leading from the cerebral cortex
What is the Babinski reflex?
Blood vessels in the heart muscle are constricted
What is a parasympathetic effect?
This cranial nerve controls swallowing and speech and contributes to the gag reflex; damage may cause hoarseness.
What is Cranial Nerve X – Vagus?
This test measures electrical activity in muscles and peripheral nerves and helps diagnose neuromuscular disorders.
What are EMG and nerve conduction studies?