Brain Disorders and Injuries

This material covers manifestations associated with brain injury, stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, brain infections, tumors, and seizure disorders.
A collection of things associated with brain injury includes:
- Focal versus global injury.
- Levels of consciousness.
- Alterations in cognitive ability.
- Motor and sensory function changes.
- Pupillary and eye movement reflex issues.
- Issues with blood pressure and blood flow.
- Respiratory changes.
- Abnormal body positioning.

Specific areas of the brain and spinal cord have established functions, meaning damage from different causes (e.g., a tumor versus a head injury) often results in the same neurological manifestations if the same area is affected.
Focal (Local) Effects: Signs related to the specific area of the brain or spinal cord where a lesion is located.
- Example: Damage to a section of the occipital lobe results in a specific loss of function associated with that region.
Hemispheric Specialization:
- Left Hemisphere: In most people, damage leads to a loss of logical thinking.
- Left Brain Damage: Results in problems with motor and sensory functions on the right side of the body.
- Right Brain Damage: Results in problems with motor and sensory functions on the left side of the body.
Sensory and Motor Loss:
- Damage can result in the loss of touch, pain, temperature, position, and special senses.
- Damage to motor regions, specifically the frontal cortex or the related corticospinal tracts, interferes with voluntary movement, potentially causing weakness or paralysis on the opposite side of the body.