Neuropsychology: Everything for Midterm

What is Neuropsychology?

the study of brain-behavior relationships

What is the goal of Neuropsychology?

to relate a patient's behavior to their functioning

What is neuropsychological assessment?

the use of tests and techniques to make inferences about a patient's brain function and behavior in order to make an appropriate treatment plan

Who were the first to make reference to the effects of brain damage and treatment?

Ancient Egyptian (3000 BC)

What is phrenology?

study of bumps and divots on the skull as an indication of cognitive strengths and weaknesses

Who created phrenology?

Franz Gall

What is equipotentiality?

all parts of the cortex contribute equally to complex functioning behaviors thus it is not what area but how much

Who started the equipotentialist view?

Pierre Flourens

What did Broca discover?

expressive language can be localized to the left fronto-temporal region

How did Wernicke describe language functioning?

as a system where language message is sent from comprehension area to expressive speech area

Where is language comprehension functioning located in the brain?

posterior left fronto-temporal region

How did Hughlings-Jackson describe brain function?

as a hierarchy made of three levels (spinal cord, brainstem, frontal cortex)

Who developed pathognomonic sign testing?

A.R. Luria

What is pathognomonic sign testing?

tests of task that all neurologically typical people can complete, so if someone can't complete the task, it indicates pathology/brain damage

What did Ward Halstead do?

develop psychological tests that distinguish brain damaged people from non brain damaged people

How did the advent of neuroimaging impact the localization model?

it created doubts in localization because there is variation in behavior areas

What are the three tenets of neuropsychological functioning?

serial processing, hierarchical, parallel

Anterior

toward the front

Posterior

toward the back

Rostral

toward the nose

Caudal

toward the tail

Dorsal

top of the head and back

Ventral

toward the face or front

Superior

above

Inferior

below

Lateral

toward the sides

Medial

toward the midline

Ipsalateral

on the same side of the body

Contralateral

on the opposite side of the body

What is the function of grey matter?

information processing

What is the function of white matter?

move information along

What is included in the telencephalon?

cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, and limbic system

What is the cerebral cortex?

outer layer of the brain responsible for higher order cognitive functions

What are the 4 lobes of the brain?

frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital

What is the basal ganglia?

3 interconnected structures linked to the thalamus in the base of the brain involved in coordination of movement and procedural memory

What structures are included in the basal ganglia?

caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus

What is the limbic system?

interconnected cortical and subcortical nuclei in the frontal and temporal lobes that operate together to control emotions and behavior

What is included in the Diencephalon?

thalamus and hypothalamus

Thalamus

relay station which connects the motor, sensory, limbic, and arousal systems

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus involved in homeostatsis and survival functions

What is included in the Mesencephalon?

tectum and tegmentum

What is the function of the Tectum?

auditory and visual reflexes

What is the function of the Tegmentum?

arousal, eye movement, motor functions

What is included in the Metencephalon?

pons and cerebellum

What is the function of the pons?

arousal and sleep/wake cycles

What is the function of the Cerebellum?

balance, coordination, movement, learning, and memory

What is included in the Myelencephalon?

medulla

What is the function of the Medulla?

arousal, cardiovascular functions, muscle tone, respiration, automatic life or death functions

What are the two roles of the spinal cord?

1. bring sensations in from the body to the brain

2. bring motor commands from brain to muscles

What are the 4 parts of the vertebral column?

cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral

What are meninges?

protective sheaths of connective tissue that cover the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, and spinal nerves

What are the three layers of the meninges?

dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

What is the dura mater?

the outermost layer of the meninges closest to the skull that is thick, tough, and flexible

What is the arachnoid mater?

the web-like middle layer of the meninges that is soft and spongy

What is the subarachnoid space?

the space between arachnoid and pia mater that is filled with CSF to provide a protective layer of buoyancy for the brain

What is the pia mater?

the soft innermost layer of the meninges that is tightly attached to the brain

What are ventricles?

spaces within the brain that hold CSF

How does CSF pass through the ventricles?

through the two lateral ventricles in each cerebral hemisphere, the the third ventricle in the diencephalon, then the cerebral aqueduct, then the fourth ventricle in the hindbrain

Why do we need a continuous supply of blood to the brain?

because the brain can't store glucose so it needs blood for energy

How much of our blood goes to our brain?

20%

Hypoxia

reduced oxygen

Apoxia

no oxygen

What do the vertebral arteries do?

supply the posterior part of the brain with blood

What does the internal carotid artery do?

supply the anterior part of the brain with blood

What is the Circle of Willis?

circular arterial structure in the pons that links the vertebral artery and internal carotid artery

What is the purpose of the cranial nerves?

serve the sensory and motor functions of the head and neck

CNI

smell

CNII

vision

CNIII

eye movement, pupil constriction

CNIV

downward and inward eye movement

CNV

biting/chewing, facial sensation

CNVI

parallel eye movement

CNVII

facial expression, taste

CNVIII

balance and hearing

CNIX

tongue movement, swallowing, taste

CNX

swallowing, speaking, cough, facial sensation

CNXI

strength of neck, shoulder muscles

CNXII

tongue movement

What does CT stand for?

computed tomography

What does a CT scan do?

examines the brain structure by taking x-rays

What does MRI stand for?

magnetic resonance imaging

What does an MRI do?

examines brain structure through magnetic fields

What does SPECT stand for?

single photon emission computed tomography

What does a SPECT do?

examines brain function by measuring activity in cells

What does PET stand for?

positron emission tomography

What does a PET scan do?

examines brain function by measuring oxygen and neurotransmitters

What does an fMRI do?

examines the function of the brain by measuring changes in blood flow with brain activity

What does EEG stand for?

electroencephalogram

What does an EEG do?

examines brain function by measuring electrical activity within the brain

What are the major functions of the Temporal Lobe?

smell, hearing, language, memory, emotions, behavior

What neuropsychological tests are used to assess damage to the Temporal Lobe?

auditory confrontation, smell test, language interview/questions, memory, emotional measures, behavioral measures

What clinical areas can be impacted by Temporal Lobe disturbances?

receptive/expressive language, memory, academic skills, seizures

What is a gyrus?

bump on the brain

What is a sulcus?

indentation on the brain

Where is Heschl's gyrus?

on the superior Temporal gyrus

What would happen if both Heschl's gyri are destroyed?

person would develop cerebral deafness

What is cerebral deafness?

inability to hear wherein the ears work, but the brain can't perceive the sound

Which hemisphere of the Temporal Lobe processes language?

left

What is the classical model of language processing?

sound travels from the ears to Heschl's gyrus to Wernicke's area to arcuate fasiculus to Broca's area to motor

Where is Broca's area?

left frontal lobe