Exam 2 Study Set: Prenatal Stress, Epigenetics, Pain, and Memory

what is FOAD

Fetal Origins of Adult Disease

When is the CNS present in the embryo

25 days after conception

when does brain activity in the fetus occur

65 days post conception

what is spina bifida, and what are the symptoms (what doesn’t work?)?

when the neural plate does not close all the way in the back, resulting in a lump on the spinal cord; like a spinal cord injury, everything below the waist will not work

name the most used prenatal stress hormone

cortisol

what are the 3 major effects resulting from prenatal stress hormones?

learning impairments, sensitivity to drug abuse, mental health challenges

define embryonic neurolation

forming the neural tube at the back like a zipper

teratogen

any agent that causes birth defects

gene

portion fo DNA molecule; basic unit of heredity

genotype

DNA sequence; all genes present in individual

phenotype

gene expression, observable characteristics

define epigenetics

environmental influences affecting behavior of gene activity without altering DNA. It’s also studying maintenance of organism by its chemical reactions (switching genome on/off based on environment).

name the 4 steps in the biological pain process

contact with stimulus, receptors contact noiceceptors, transmission to CNS, pain center receives and the brain processes the stimuli to prepare for further action

what does the latin term “nocio” mean?

hurt

define fast nerve fibers

long/large myelinated fibers that detect sharp, stinging pains

define slow nerve fibers

small, unmyelinated; carries dull aching pains

define suffering

state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship

define lament

passionate expression of grief or loss

define sovereignty

supreme power or authority

define the gate control theory of pain

there are things that “open the gate” that gives way to pain in some people

characterize acute pain

it’s generally known, short, self limited in the underlying cause is resolved

characterize chronic pain

often unknown, persists after leaving (up to 3 months), underlying cause and pain disorder, the outcome is often pain control, not cure

define “reducers”

those that are able to tolerate pain more easily

define “augmenters”

those that have difficulty tolerating slight discomfort

name the three aspects of CBT therapy

understanding how cognition and behavior affect pain experience, training of coping skills (distraction, pleasant activity, progressive relaxation), applying learned coping skills to everyday life (self monitoring and behavioral contracts)

what does pallaire mean in latin

to cloak

define analgesia (aka painkillers)

pain relief without pain

what system do opioids act on

CNS

what system do non-opioids act on

PNS

what is the function of transduction

tries to turn painful stimuli to non-pain

give an example of a transduction medication

antihistamines

define the function of conduction

works to block information from spinal cord

give an example of a conduction stimuli

IcyHot

define the function of transmission

working at pain signals at dorsal root

give an example of transmission

epidural, local anesthesia

define the function of modulation

inhibition of pain transmission

give an example of modulation

opioids, clonidine

define perception

how we perceive pain

define prosocial

participating in activities society deems as positive

define endogenous

having internal cause or origin

define enkephalins

endogenous opioids specifically for pain relief

define endorphins

released under exercise and stress (runners high)

define encoding

turning working memory into long term memory

define retrieval

controls flow of information from long term memory to working

name the elements of successful remembering

recoding information into chunks; making topic personable; spaced practice, elaborative rehearsal (strategy to remembering (ie. mnemonic), maintenance rehearsal

define explicit memory

things you know you can tell others

name the two subsections of explicit memory

episodic and semantic

define episodic memory

remembering “episodes” of events (first day at school)

define semantic memory

knowing facts (ie. Paris is the capital of France)

define implicit memory

things you can show by doing

name the three subsections of implicit memory

skill learning, priming, conditioning

define skill learning

knowing a skill (riding a bike)

define priming

being more likely to use a word you heard recently

define and characterize working memory

temporary storehouse for small amounts of info; easily interrupted/disturbed type of memory; working memory processes auditory and visual stimuli differently

define forgetting

failure to recall/recognize learned info

define memory

the prices by which we observe, store and recall information

define retrograde amnesia

forgetting BEFORE the event

define anterograde amnesia

forgetting AFTER the event