Definitions
describe the difference between episodic memory and semantic memory
episodic - Memory of a collection of perceptions of events organized in time and identified by a particular
context
semantic - Memory of facts and general information
What is the Hebb rule? Explain using an example.
Neurons that fire together wire together.
An example: pairing a puff to the eye with a chime will eventually result in a chime --> a blink
Which minor type of aphasia is characterized by frequent tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon?
What compensatory strategy is recommended to work around this deficit and get the point across?
Anomia
Circomlocution
name the 3 deficits involved in Wernicke's area
problems with spoken word recognition, comprehension of word meaning, and ability to convert thoughts into words
____ brain area becomes activated when bilingual children hear either language
prefrontal cortex
This term refers to the increase in a neuron's excitability due to repeated high-frequency activity.
What is Long Term Potentiation?
NMDA channels require 2 things. what are they, and why are both needed?
depolarization and glutamate
at resting potential, Mg2+ blocks the channel and
prevents Ca2+ from entering. Depolarization is required to evict the magnesium ion, and glutamate is required to open the channel. Once both of these things occur, calcium is able to enter.
Where is language mostly laterlized?
What are other hemispheres important for in language?
Left hemisphere (75-95%)
prosody of speech - important for emotion
a patient that cannot recall events that occur AFTER an injury, they likely have...
a patient that cannot recall events that occur BEFORE an injury, they likely have...
Anterograde Amnesia
Retrograde Amnesia
where is the arcuate fasciculus? what is it responsible for?
extra: damage to the arcuate fasiculus results in what aphasia?
the arcuate fasciculus is the white matter tract that connects Broca's and Wernicke's area. it is responsible for transferring language information.
conduction aphasia
what is a malignant tumor?
A cancerous tumor that lacks a distinct border and may metastasize
What are the three regions of the limbic cortex of the medial temporal lobe involved in learning and memory?
Perirhinal Cortex
Parahippocampal Cortex
Entorhinal Cortex
What are similarities and differences in presnetation between Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?
Similarities:
- They are both neurodegenerative diseases involving cognitive and memory deficits
- both are associated with structural changes in the brain (e.g., presence of neurofibrillary tangles)
Differences:
- AD is associated with widespread presence of Amyloid plaques & tangles in the brain / FTD mostly associated with degeneration in the frontal and temporal regions
- Risk factors for AD are somewhat genetic but also lifestyle / FTD is more directly linked to genetic mutation
- AD typically leads to progressive memory decline which can lead to behavioral/emotional / FTD is more likely to initially present as emotional/behavioral (personality) changes and language difficulty
in comparison to controls, individuals with schizophrenia have larger ______
ventricles
what is a partial agonist?
Drug with very high affinity for particular receptor BUT activates that receptor less than the normal ligand does
Serves as agonist in regions of low concentration of normal ligand and as antagonist in regions of high concentrations
What are 2 major brain areas involved in language comprehension and production?
Where are they located respectively?
What white matter tract connects the two?
Broca's / Wernicke's
Frontal lobe / Temporal Lobe
Arcuate Fasciculus
1) What neuropsychological tests assess language?
2) Which Assess Learning (& memory)?
Language:
- Boston Naming Test
- Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination
- Verbal Fluency
- Wrat Word Reading
Learning: (immediate, short/long recall, recognize)
- California Verbal Learning Test-II
- Rey Complex Figure - visual info
- WMS-IV Logical Memory
- Brief Visuospatial Memorv Test-Revised
A patient who has difficulty repeating word sounds (unless they have meaning) likely has...
Conduction aphasia
Please name the biological treatments for affective disorders that were mentioned in class
- Tricyclic antidepressants / SSRIs / SNRIs
- Lithium (Bipolar)
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - immediate effects, high relapse
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - localized magnetic field in the PFC - used for treatment resistant depression (high relapse rates)
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) - Subgenual ACC (mood regulation) and NAcc (reward) - better improvement and fewer remission rates
- Total Sleep Deprivation - Immediate effect in 2/3 but effects return after a night's sleep
1) What is a Thrombus and how is it different than an Embolus? How are they similar?
2) What would you call a cerebral accident caused by the rupture of cerebral blood vessels?
1) They are both types of a primary stroke called Ischemic stroke
- Thromus = clot that forms and occludes (blocks) an artery / blood flow
- Embolus = piece of matter (typically disloged by a clot) that gets stuck in a smaller artery and occludes it
2) Hemorrhagic Stroke another primary type of stroke
Describe what Supersensitivity is
Supersensitivity in the caudate nucleus and putamen (Basal Ganglia) following prolonged treatment with antypsychotic medications cause symptoms of a syndrome called _____
It's a compensatory mechanism - receptors become more sensitive if inhibited for period of time by drug that blocks them (as an attempt to adapt to deficiency of NT's)
Tardive Dyskinesia (chronically blocking D2 receptors)
What Neuropsychological tests Assess Frontal Lobe Functioning?
*(including cognitive flexibility, multi-tasking, working memory, problem-solving, planning, organization, etc.)
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
Controlled Oral Word Association Test
- Verbal Fluency (phonemic/semantic)
Tower Test
Digit Span backwards
Trail Making Test B
Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System
*
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is characterized by abnormalities in transmission of what NT in the brain?
Negative symptoms are associate with ____ (increased/decreased) activity of (NT) in the meso-___ pathway.
Positive symptoms of SCZ are associated with ____ (increased/decreased) transmission of (NT) in the meso-____ pathway
Dopamine (DA)
Mesocortical DA system (frontal lobe)
Mesolimbic DA system (VTA/NAcc)
A patient who exhibits difficulty comprehending the meaning of speech but is able to hear, speak, and (usually) read and write is suffering from...
and likely has damage in what area?
Pure Word Deafness
Isolated area of the Wernicke's area or its connection to A1