Week 11 PSY10007 - Lecture and Module Videos - Neuropsychology

Flashcards about neuropsychology, brain function, and related disorders based on lecture notes.

What is Neuropsychology?

Explores the relationship between brain processes, human behaviour, and psychological functioning.

What is the difference between clinical and experimental neuropsychologists?

Clinical neuropsychologists use batteries of tests to assess clients, while experimental neuropsychologists use imaging techniques.

Who was the first to suggest specific regions of the brain control different aspects of mental life?

Frans Gaul

How does lesion analysis help in understanding localization of function?

By looking at the results of brain damage to determine abilities needed to complete a task.

What is a neuropsychological assessment?

A battery of tests used to assess functions like memory, reading, and intelligence.

What training is required to become a neuropsychologist?

Master's or PhD in clinical psychology with a neuropsychology focus, plus internship or supervised practice.

What is a cerebrovascular accident or stroke?

Loss of blood supply to part of the brain, disrupting behaviour or mental processes.

What factors influence recovery from stroke?

Quality and speed of medical attention, stroke severity and location, health of remaining brain tissue, quantity of salvageable tissue, reorganization capacity of the nervous system, and rehabilitation programs.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

Impact on the brain caused by a blow or sudden violent movement of the head.

What are some examples of neurodegenerative diseases and their symptoms?

Parkinson's (motor function and tremors), Alzheimer's (memory problems), and Huntington's (movement, mood, and cognitive deficits).

What is anterograde amnesia?

Difficulty forming new long-term memories after damage to the hippocampus.

What conditions may result from damage to the reticular formation?

Coma, persistent vegetative state, delirium, or anosognosia.

What is anosognosia?

Inability to recognize an impairment in functioning.

What are perceptual disturbances?

Inability to organise, recognise, interpret and make sense of incoming sensory information.

What are some examples of perceptual disturbances resulting from damage to the 'what' pathway?

Visual agnosia (inability to identify objects by appearance) and prosopagnosia (inability to recognize faces).

What are some examples of perceptual disturbances resulting from damage to the 'where' pathway?

Simultaneous agnosia (difficulty perceiving a whole scene) and hemineglect (difficulty seeing or responding to one side of the world).

What are the two types of movement disorders discussed?

Ideational apraxia (incorrect sequence of events) and ideomotor apraxia (difficulty performing movements).

What is dementia?

Significant and disruptive impairment in memory, perceptual ability, language, or learned motor skills.

What is the precursor to dementia?

Mild cognitive impairment.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving brain abnormalities like tangles and amyloid plaques, affecting neurons that use acetylcholine.

How can Alzheimer's disease be diagnosed?

Molecular and brain imaging, EEG brain wave analysis, and refined neuropsychological assessment batteries.

How is Alzheimer's treated?

Drug treatments and transdermal patches for automatic medication doses.

What is vascular dementia?

Restrictions in the brain's blood supply leading to progressive loss of brain tissue.