Intro to Brain and Behavior #4

paralytic dementia

sudden onset of delusions, grandiosity, poor judgment, impulsivity

schizophrenia

a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions

hypofrontality hypothesis

the idea that schizophrenia may reflect underactivation of the frontal lobes

lobotomy

a psychosurgical procedure once used to calm uncontrollably emotional or violent patients. The procedure cut the nerves connecting the frontal lobes to the emotion-controlling centers of the inner brain

chloropromazine

low potency typical antipsychotic

antipsychotic

a drug that opposes psychoses

dopamine hypothesis

the idea that schizophrenia involves an excess of dopamine activity

first-generation antipsychotics

a group of medications originally developed to combat psychotic symptoms by reducing dopamine levels in the brain; also called conventional or typical antipsychotics

second-generation antipsychotics

drugs that alleviate schizophrenia without producing movement problems

clozapine

atypical antipsychotic

mood disorder

an illness that involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday living

depression

a prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness

electroconvulsive shock therapy

electric shock therapy used to treat severe cases of depression

repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

the application of repeated pulses of magnetic energy to the brain; used to stimulate or suppress brain activity

antidepressants

a class of psychotropic medications used for the treatment of depression

monoamine oxidase

a class of enzymes that destroy the monoamines: dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin

selective serotonin uptake inhibitors

a type of antidepressant which prevents the uptake of serotonin by pre-synaptic neurons so it leads to a relief of symptoms

cognitive behavioral therapy

a popular integrative therapy that combines cognitive therapy (changing self-defeating thinking) with behavior therapy (changing behavior)

bipolar disorder

mood disorder in one experiences both manic and depressed episodes

anxiety disorder

a condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control

phobic disorders

disorders characterized by marked, persistent, and excessive fear and avoidance of specific objects, activities, or situations

panic disorders

recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety that usually occur suddenly or unexpectedly

anxiolytic drugs

medication administered to temporarily relieve anxiety and reduce tension

generalized anxiety disorder

an anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

benzodiazepines

drugs that lower anxiety and reduce stress

post-traumatic stress disorder

an anxiety disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

obsessive-compulsive disorder

an anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive obsessions and compulsions

Tourette's syndrome

A neurological disorder beginning in childhood that involves stereotypical, repetitive motor movements (tics). These are often accompanied by multiple vocal outbursts such grunting or inappropriate words such as swearing. It is about three times more prevalent in boys than in girls.

dementia

a slowly progressive decline in mental abilities, including memory, thinking, and judgment, that is often accompanied by personality changes

Alzheimer's disease

a progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning

cortical atrophy

death of cells in the cerebral cortex

amyloid plaques

fragments of the protein beta-amyloid that accumulate into insoluble plaques that inhibit communication between neurons

beta-amyloid

a protein that accumulates in amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease

neurofibrillary tangles

spiral-shaped masses formed when fibers that compose the axon become twisted together

Parkinson's disease

a progressive disease that destroys brain cells and is identified by muscular tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis

Huntington's disease

a hereditary disease marked by degeneration of the brain cells and causing chorea and progressive dementia

chronic traumatic encephalopathy

form of dementia caused by repeated head trauma such as concussions

concussion

violent shaking up or jarring of the brain

tauopathy

any disease that is associated with abnormal accumulations of the protein Tau, forming neurofibrillary tangles that impair the normal function of neurons

tau protein

part of the intracellular support structure of axons