• Class Structure

  • Lecture interactions included an opening group lecture followed by breakout rooms for discussion.

  • Important to note that the recordings of breakout rooms are not available for accessibility.

  • Emphasis that lecture recordings are supplements and not substitutes for attendance.

• Final Exam Details

  • Date: April 12, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM

  • Makeup Exam: Scheduled for April 23, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

  • All material discussed in class, including today’s lectures, will be on the exam.

  • Examination procedure: starts at 2:00 PM, all answers after 4:30 PM will not be counted. Accommodations will be provided where applicable.

• Class Conduct

  • The instructor will clarify any points before leaving the session to ensure students are prepared.

  • Importance stressed on attending lectures rather than solely relying on recorded content.

• Key Lecture Topics

  • Lectures covering brain disorders and neuropsychological assessments are essential for understanding cognitive functions.

  • Discussion on brain anatomy, aging, and dementia, with a historical reference to Phineas Gage as a case study for frontal lobe impacts on personality and cognition.

• Neurotransmitter Functions

  • Acetylcholine: Associated with muscle contractions. Important in attention; deficits linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Dopamine: Linked to movement control, mood regulation; deficits involved in Parkinson's disease.

  • Norepinephrine: Affects alertness and mood; plays a role in bipolar disorder.

• Dementia Overview

  • Distinction between cortical (involving the cerebral cortex) and subcortical dementias (affecting subcortical structures).

  • Symptoms linked to cognitive domains like memory and attention.

  • Importance of identifying types of dementia relevant to patient prognosis and treatment plans.

• Memory Processes

  • Memory undergoes three phases: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval.

  • Errors: Can occur during these phases leading to forgetting or misremembering.

  • Types of memories explained: indexing between declarative, semantic, and episodic memory.

  • Emphasis on the reliability of memory performance influenced by brain structure (i.e., hippocampus).

• Cognition and Aging

  • Cognitive functions may decline with age, even in healthy individuals.

  • Some functions, like semantic memory, can remain stable or improve.

• Cognitive Rehabilitation

  • Rehabilitation is necessary for recovery from brain injuries; emphasizes the role of brain plasticity.

  • Techniques for compensating cognitive deficits include cognitive strategies and therapies focused on executive functions and memory enhancement.

  • Importance of social interactions, physically engaging activities, and mental exercises on cognitive health.

• Assessment Protocols

  • Comprehensive understanding through neuroimaging paired with cognitive assessments.

  • Need for a blended approach including psychological evaluations for accurate diagnosis.

• Guest Lectures

  • Carly/Adina’s segment on autism, neurodevelopmental disorders, and correlations to mental health.

  • Autism focus on social communication, differences in presentation based on gender.

  • Importance of collaborative approaches in interventions, emphasizing inclusive practices in educational settings.

• Strategies for Inclusion:

  • Engaging with autistic individuals in creating interventions and support programs.

  • Awareness of ethical considerations in designing assessments and rehabilitation methods.

• Psychological Outcomes

  • Discussion on how anxieties and mental health challenges can overlap with autism, potentially complicating diagnoses.

  • Techniques for enhancing understanding and acceptance within therapeutic frameworks to address individual experiences.

Lecture interactions consisted of an opening group lecture followed by breakout rooms designed for in-depth discussions among students. These breakout sessions were essential for fostering peer engagement and collaborative learning, providing students with a platform to explore concepts more thoroughly.

It is important to note that due to legal and privacy concerns, recordings of breakout rooms are not accessible to students, emphasizing the need for active participation during these discussions.

There is a clear emphasis on the belief that lecture recordings serve as valuable supplements to the actual class experience, but should not be relied upon as substitutes for attendance. Engaging in the live lecture offers immediate opportunities for clarification and interactive learning that recordings may not fully capture.

Final Exam Details

The final exam is scheduled for April 12, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Students should arrive promptly and be prepared for a comprehensive assessment covering all material discussed throughout the course. A makeup exam is arranged for April 23, running from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, offering a second chance for those unable to attend the original date.

It’s crucial to note that the examination procedure mandates that it starts sharply at 2:00 PM; any answers submitted after 4:30 PM will not be counted. For students with documented accommodations, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure a fair assessment process.

Class Conduct

The instructor emphasizes their commitment to clarity and student preparedness. They will ensure that any points of confusion are addressed before concluding each session, allowing students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the material. The value of attending lectures is heavily stressed, combined with the notion that reliance solely on recorded material can lead to gaps in knowledge and comprehension.

Key Lecture Topics

Key themes of the lectures included an exploration of brain disorders, neuropsychological assessments, and their significance in understanding cognitive functions. Notable discussions revolved around brain anatomy, aging processes, and dementia, using the historical case study of Phineas Gage to illustrate the impacts of frontal lobe damage on personality and cognition, thus providing real-world implications of theoretical concepts.

Neurotransmitter Functions

• Acetylcholine: This neurotransmitter is critically associated with muscle contractions and plays a pivotal role in attentive processes; deficits in acetylcholine transmission are closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease, impacting memory and learning.

• Dopamine: Central to movement control and mood regulation, dopamine deficits are a significant factor in conditions like Parkinson's disease, which is characterized by motor dysfunctions and emotional instability.

• Norepinephrine: Influencing alertness and mood states, norepinephrine is a critical component associated with various mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, where its fluctuations contribute to the manic and depressive cycles.

Dementia Overview

An overview of dementia highlighted the distinction between cortical dementias, which primarily affect the cerebral cortex, and subcortical dementias, which impact deeper brain structures. Symptoms associated with dementia were linked to specific cognitive domains, such as memory loss and attention deficits. Understanding the different types of dementia is vital for informing patient prognoses and developing effective treatment plans tailored to individual needs.

Memory Processes

The memory framework was elaborated into three distinct phases: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval. Memory errors can manifest at any of these stages, leading to forgetting or misremembering events. The types of memory discussed included declarative (knowledge-based), semantic (conceptual), and episodic (event-based) memory, emphasizing the indexing mechanisms that differentiate them.

The reliability of memory performance is significantly influenced by brain structures, particularly the hippocampus, which is essential for the encoding and retrieval processes.

Cognition and Aging

Cognitive functions are known to decline with advancing age, although this decline can vary among individuals, with some remaining cognitively intact. Specific functions such as semantic memory may show resilience or improvement over time, indicating a complex interplay between aging and cognitive capabilities.

Cognitive Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in the recovery from brain injuries, highlighting the importance of brain plasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize itself. Various techniques aimed at compensating for cognitive deficits include cognitive strategies and therapeutic interventions focused on enhancing executive functions and memory. Additionally, the significance of social interactions, physically engaging activities, and mental exercises is pivotal for maintaining cognitive health and fostering recovery.

Assessment Protocols

A comprehensive understanding of cognitive impairments is achieved through neuroimaging technologies combined with cognitive assessments. It is increasingly recognized that a blended approach, incorporating psychological evaluations alongside neuroimaging, is essential for accurate diagnosis and designing effective treatment strategies.

Guest Lectures

The guest segment presented by Carly/Adina covered essential topics related to autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting their correlations with mental health. The focus on autism included discussions surrounding social communication difficulties and the observance of differences in its presentation based on gender.