NEUR1202 Final Exam

What is the essential feature of ADHD

A persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity

Three diagnosable variants of ADHD

inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, combined

Characteristics of Inattentive ADHD

Distractable, problems focusing, does not seem to listen, loses things

Characteristics of Hyperactive/Impulsive Type

Fidgeting, Unable to stay seated, unable to do things quietly, interrupts

What is the Male to Female Ratio of ADHD

3:1

Which mutation causes children to be more likely to exhibit ADHD symptoms

The dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT1)

What is perinatal hypoxia

A temporary shortage of oxygen around the time of birth, has been linked to the development of ADHD

Describe the Dual pathway model

Dysfunctions in both the frontal lobe and dopamine system are to blame

How effective are ADHD medications

Effective in 70-90% of cases

What part of the brain does ADHD medication target?

The Dopamine System

Which other disorder has a strong overlap with the genes for ADHD

Autism Spectrum Disorder

What areas of the brain make up the Alerting Network

Frontal Cortex, Parietal Cortex, Thalamus

How is the Alerting Network different in individuals with ADHD

It is weaker

What is the pharmacological category of drugs that treat ADHD called

Psychostimulants

What does the PFC require for optimal function?

Catecholamines

If there is too little catecholamines (Untreated ADHD) in a person what is the result?

Distraction and poor impulse control

If there are excessive amounts of catecholamines (Excessive Stimulant Dose) in a person what is the result?

Mental inflexibility, stimulus bound

Does more Screen Time lead to more ADHD symptoms

Yes, More screen time = more sleep delay, less sleep = more ADHD symptoms

What has less influence over the behavior of children with ADHD?

Rewards

Describe the Default Mode Network

Brain Regions that become active when your mind is at rest and quiets down when you are focusing on a task

What is the front striatal circuit responsible for?

Controls cognitive components of executive control

Is Autism a weakness?

No

Why does Autism lie on a spectrum

People with ASD can have a range of symptoms

How did the definition of Autism Change in the DSM 5

Aspergers was folded into autism spectrum disorder, now it is on the same scale

When does ASD typically appear

Early Childhood

When is ASD first recognized

Second year of life

What are the three areas of difficulty that characterize autism spectrum disorder

Impaired Communication, Impaired Social Interaction, Restricted interests and activities

Define echolalia

Repeating the speech and intonation of others

What other communicative factors are common in children with ASD

Odd combination of verbal abilities, overly literal understanding of language

Define Theory of Mind

The Ability to attribute mental states to others

Do Low Functioning ASD children ever get theory of mind?

No

Define Affective Social Competence

Capacity to experience emotion, send emotional messages and read emotional signals

Describe the Affective Social Competence of Low Functioning ASD Kids

They are unable to have Affective Social competence

Describe the Affective Social Competence of High Functioning ASD Kids

They lack actual sense or feeling of emotion, they do talk about emotions but in a robotic way

Define Stereotypies

Repetitive, apparently pointless behaviors

What is the Prevalence of ASD in Males

1 in 32

What is the prevalence of ASD in Females

1 in 125

Is the male to female ratio of prevalence for ASD consistent globally?

Yes

What does the consistency of the prevalence of ASD throughout the world possibly suggest

Biology of ASD is related to male development; ASD may manifest itself differently in females

What are some of the etiologies of ASD

Epigenetics, Environment, Sex Linked Modifiers, Double Hit Mutations

Is ASD highly heritable

Yes

What are some Maternal Risk Factors of Autism

Maternal Diet, Smoking, Infection, Age

What are other environmental risk factors of Autism (Not maternally related)

Exposure to air pollutants, socioeconomic status, folic acid status

What is the relationship between Autism and Brain Overgrowth

Accelerated brain development early in life results in overall brain reorganization

Define Gut Microbiota

microorganisms and bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract

Describe the Gut Brain Axis

The gut microbiome can influence brain function

Comorbidities common with individuals with ASD

Immune dysregulation and gastrointestinal issues

Describe Extreme Male Brain Theory and Autism

Autism exaggerates traits typically associated with the male brain

Describe Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire both when performing an action and when they observe that action being performed

How do mirror neurons relate to ASD

Deficits seen in autism are precisely those that are controlled by mirror neurons

Describe Applied Behavioral Analysis

Emphasizes play, social interaction and communication initiation

Define Negative Symptoms

Absence in normal behavior

Define Positive Symptoms

Beyond normal Behavior

Describe the characteristics of anxiety disorder

Comorbid with depression and other anxiety disorders

Describe the relationship between anxiety and fear

Inter-related in some ways but not the same thing

Define Fear

Immediate alarm reaction to present danger

Describe the fear response

Activation of the amygdala, then the SAM Axis

Define Anxiety

Apprehension/worry about real or perceived threats

PTSD is a mixture of what two types of symptoms

Anxiety and Fear

Describe Panic Disorder (DSM-5)

Recurrent and unexpected debilitating panic attacks

Symptoms of a Panic Attack

Palpitations, Sweating Trembling or Shaking, Nausea

Describe the relationship between panic attacks and the normal fear response

They resemble each other

Characteristics of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Excessive Anxiety, worry and rumination

Describe the relationship between GAD and worry

Worry consumes people with GAD, intrusive thoughts

Describe the relationship between GAD and the PFC

Increases activity

Describe the relationship between GAD and the SNS

Reduces activity

Describe Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Challenges distorted cognitions and related behaviors

Describe EMDR Therapy

Patients are asked to recall traumatic memories while doing eye movements

Define trauma related disorders

exposure to a traumatic event is explicitly listed in the criterion

Describe the diagnostic Features of PTSD

Avoidance of stimuli, Confirmed experience of trauma, presence of intrusion symptoms

What is the most common form of traumatic events

Transportation accidents

Describe Fear Circuitry

Optic Nerve, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Amygdala, Hippocampus and hypothalamus

What is enhanced in PTSD patients?

HPA and SAM pathways

Describe propranolol

Beta receptor antagonist, prevents binding of noradrenaline

Describe the relationship between individuals with PTSD and cannabis use

Individuals with PTSD are more likely to use cannabis

What are some symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Feeling Down, Trouble Sleeping, Less energy than usual

Define Addiction

Loss of control over reward seeking behavior

Define Reward

Stimuli that are in some way desirable or positive

How was the reward system discovered

Olds and Milner, rat self stimulation

What is the main neurotransmitter used in the reward system

Dopamine

Describe the Ventral Tegmental Area

Contains neurons that produce dopamine

To what parts of the brain does the VTA release dopamine

Prefrontal Cortex, Nucleus Accumbens, Hippocampus

What is supraphysiological dopamine?

A dopamine release much larger than normal, caused by drugs

How does the DSM Classify Addiction?

Substance Use Disorder

Define Drug Tolerance

Increased amount of a drug needed to achieve intoxication

Define Drug Withdrawal

Behavioral and physiological symptoms that occur upon cessation of drug use

What are two of the greatest predictors of later life addiction

Early Life Trauma and Chronic Stress

What makes up the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system

VTA, Nucleus Accumbens, Prefrontal Cortex, Hippocampus

Define Mood Disorder

general emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent with your circumstances, interferes with functioning

Describe major depressive disorder

Most common mood disorder, persistent feeling of sadness, lose interest in activities

Depression DS-5 Diagnostic Criteria

Fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, slowing down, thoughts of suicide, loss of interest

Do genetics play a role in depression

Yes

Describe The Monoamine Hypothesis

Depression was thought to be strictly due to a deficit in monoamine signaling

Define Monoamine

NT’s that contain one amino group connected to an aromatic ring by a two-carbon chain

How do SSRI drugs work

They block serotonin reuptake transporters, leading to increased serotonin in the synapse

Describe the Glucocorticoid hypothesis of depression

Stressful life events play a role in the etiology of depression

Define hypercortisolemia

Elevated levels of cortisol in the blood, even during non-stressful times

Describe HPA Axis Negative Feedback

Cortisol binds to glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus to shut down the stress response