Topic 1: Ch 3 Neurobiology

• monitor changes in the external world and the composition of body fluids

• regulate the contractions of skeletal muscles, internal organs, mood, emotions, and the sleep cycle

• control hunger, thirst, sex, and aggresive self-protection

• produce and interpret language

• think and perform intellectual functions

• mediate conscious sensation

• store and retrieve memories

what are the functions of the brain

hypothyroidism

symptoms of this disorder is associated with symptoms of depression

major depressive disorder (MDD)

Elevated cortisol levels are found in patients with what that makes the patients more vulnerable to infection as well

PTSD

lower levels of cortisol are associated with more severe conditions of what disorder

sympathetic NS (SNS)

the part of the autonomic nervous system that is dominant in stress situations, such as fear and anger; “fight or flight”

parasympathetic NS (PNS)

the part of the autonomic nervous system that conserves and restores energy; “rest and digest”

parasympathetic NS (PNS)

effects includes

• pupil constriction

• increased salivation

• decreased HR

• decreased BP

• decreased respirations

• increased digestion

• increased insulin production

• increased bladder contraction

sympathetic NS (SNS)

effects includes

• pupil dilation

• decreased salivation

• increased HR

• increased BP

• increased respirations

• decreased digestion

• decreased insulin production

• decreased bladder contraction

Circadian rhythms

the fluctuation of various physiological and behavioral patterns over a 24-hour cycle; influences changes in sleep, body temperature, secretion of hormones and NTs

schizophrenia

those with this disorder may have distorted conscious mental experiences resulting in chaotic and incoherent speech and though patterns such as unconnected phrases and topics and delusional interpretations of personal interactions such as beliefs about people or events that are not supported by data or reality

Parkinson’s and depression

what psychiatric disorders is decreased dopamine associated with

schizophrenia and mania

what psychiatric disorders is increased dopamine associated with

depression

what psychiatric disorder is decreased norepinephrine associated with

mania, anxiety, schizophrenia

What psychiatric disorders is associated with increased norepinephrine

depression

what psychiatric disorders is decreased serotonin associated with

sedation, weight gain

what psychiatric disorders is decreased histamine associated with

anxiety, schizophrenia, mania, Huntington’s disease

What psychiatric disorders is decreased GABA associated with

reduction in anxiety

what psychiatric disorders is increased GABA associated with

psychosis

what psychiatric disorders is decreased glutamate associated with

Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s

what psychiatric disorders is decreased acetylcholine (ACh) associated with

depression

what psychiatric disorders is increased acetylcholine (ACh) associated with

pain, mood, and anxiety

what psychiatric disorders is associated with Substance P

narcolepsy

what psychiatric disorders is decreased Hypocretin/Orexin associated with

brainstem

the most primitive area of the brain that connects directly to the spinal cord and is central to the survival of all animals by controlling function like HR, breathing, digestion, and sleeping

limbic system

areas of the cerebellum (located in the brainstem) that play a crucial role in emotional status and psychological function using norepinphrine, serotonin, and dopamine as its NTs

hypothalamus

a small area above the brainstem that controls hunger, thirst, sex, linkts thought and emotion to the functioning of internal organs, processing sensory information that is then sent to the cerebral cortex, regulates sleep and wakefulness cycle and the ability of the cerebrum to carry out conscious mental activity

cerebellum

located behind the brainstem where the spinal cord meets the brain; receives information from the sensory systems, the spinal cord, and other parts of the brain and then regulates voluntary motor movement; coordinates contractions so that movement is accomplished in a smooth and directed manner, balance and maintenance of equilibrium

midbrain

part of the brainstem that is responsible for pupillary reflex and eye movement

pons

part of the brainstem that is a major processing station auditory pathways

medulla oblongata

part of the brainstem that houses the reflex centers controls for balance, HR, rate/depth of respirations, coughing, swallowing, sneezing, maintenance of BP, and vomiting

cerebrum

part of the brain that is responsible for mental activities and a conscious sense of being (emotional status, memory, and control of skeletal muscles), language, and ability to communiecat

CT and MRI

what are the types of structural imaging techniques that provide overall images of the brain and layers of the brain.

fMRI, PET, SCPECT

what are the types of functional imaging techniques that reveal physiological activity in the brain

positron emission tomography (PET) scans

useful in identifying physical and chemical changes as they occur in living tissue

schizophrenia

a PET scan of a client with what disorder would show decreased use of glucose in the frontal lobes and lower brain activity in the frontal lobe

depression

A PET scan of a client with what disorder would show decreased brain activity in the prefrontal cortex and reduced brain activity

most are unknown, recreational drugs (LSD), prescription medications (daily doses or corticosteroids), excess levels of hormones (thyroxine, cortisol), infection (AIDS, encephalitis), trauma, and genetics

what are some causes of mental dysfunction

electroencephalography (EEG)

a recording of electrical signals from the brain made by hooking up electrodes to the patient’s scalp, can show the state a person is in, such as asleep, awake, or anesthetized; provides support from a wide range of sources that brain abnormalities exist which may lead to further testing

computed tomography (CT)

a series of x-ray images taken of the brain and a computer analysis procedures “slices” providing a precise 3D like reconstruction of each segment which can detect lesions, abrasions, areas of infarct, and aneurysms leading to findings of schizophrenia, cortical atrophy, third ventricle enlargement, and cognitive disorders

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

a magnetic field is applied to the brain, the nuclei of hydrogen atoms absorb and emit radio waves that are analyzed by computer which provides 3D visualization of brain structure in sectional images which can detect brain edema, ischemia, infection, neoplasm, and trauma to support findings of schizophrenia, enlarged ventricles, and reduction in temporal and prefrontal lobe

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

measures brain activity indirectly by changes in blood oxygen in different parts of the brain as subjects participate in various activitiesp

positron emission tomography (PET) scans

radioactive substance (tracer) in injected, travels to the brain and is detected as bright spots on the scan; data collected by the detectors are relayed to a computer, which produces images of the activity and 3D visualization of the brain which can detect oxygen utilization, glucose metabolism, blood flow, and NT-receptor interaction to support findings of schizophrenia, abnormalities in the limbic system and temporal lobes, adult ADHD, and decreased utilization of glucose

single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

similar to PET but uses radionuclides that emit gamma radiation (photons) and measures various aspects of brain functioning and provides images of multiple layers of the brain, which can detect circulation of CSF and detect schizophrenia, mood disorders, abnormalities in the limbic system and temporal lobes, adult ADHD, and decreased utilization of glucose