Neurology and Psychology

Question 1

the study and treatment of NS disorders and diseases is called…

Answer 1

Neurology

Question 2

NS components are…

Answer 2

Brain
Spinal Cord
Peripheral nerves

Question 3

What is Neuropsychology?

Answer 3

the investigation of how brain structures and their processes mediate behavior.

Question 4

Define: Cognitive Psychology

Answer 4

study of internal mental processes such as thinking, reasoning, memory, perception, attention and language etc.

Question 5

Usefulness of Neuropsychology?

Answer 5

• attempts to understand normal functioning by looking at deficits in brain injury/malfunction.
• studies ND to see which deficits are associated with such disorders.
• Single CS on brain damage provide knowledge.
• a clearer understanding of deficits leads to aid treatment intervention.

Question 6

what are ‘double dissociations’?

Answer 6

two groups (+ control group)
two tasks

Question 7

what are brain lesions?

Answer 7

They are damaged areas or systems that can be natural or deliberate. Damage does not always equal impairment.

Question 8

what are some causes of brain damage?

Answer 8

• brain tumours
• Cerebrovascular Accident/Stroke
• TBI (open or closed)
• Cerebral infections
• Neurotoxins
• Genetic factors
• Neurodegenerative disorders

Question 9

Definition of tumour

Answer 9

uncontrolled cell division either in the brain or in the meninges. Can be Primary or Secondary.

Question 10

Define: Encapsulated

Answer 10

The type of tumour that grows within their own membrane i.e. neurons, and is usually benign, can be surgically removed.

Question 11

Define: Infiltrating

Answer 11

when the tumour grow diffusely through the surrounding brain tissue. Usually malignant, difficult to remove or destroy.

Question 12

Aphasia

Answer 12

a LT symptom of CVA, speech disorder due to difficult producing or comprehending speech.

Question 13

Agnosia

Answer 13

a LT symptom of CVA, loss of ability to recognize objects, sounds, people etc, but senses are not defective nor is there memory loss.

Question 14

Apraxia

Answer 14

a LT symptom of CVA, unable to cary out learned movements, despite the ability or desire to.

Question 15

What are the some types of CVA?

Answer 15

Haemorrhage
Ischemia
Cerebral Thrombosis
Cerebral Embolism

Question 16

What is the aneurysm?

Answer 16

When there is a bulging in a blood vessel due to a disease/weakening, which increases the likelihood of a stroke, due to poisoning or infection.

Question 17

Define: Ischemia

Answer 17

when there is a disruption of blood supply/blockage.

Question 18

Thrombosis

Answer 18

a blood clot (thrombus) forms in an artery (blood vessel) supplying blood to the brain. Interrupts blood supply and causes hypoxia.

Question 19

Embolism

Answer 19

a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body travels through the blood vessels and lodges in the brain, causing damage as a result of hypoxia

Question 20

Hemorrhage

Answer 20

blood vessel ruptures (bleed) and affects local brain tissue.

Question 21

What is the most common cause of neurological impairment?

Answer 21

Traumatic Brain Injury

Question 22

what are the types of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Answer 22

Closed

Open

Question 23

What is a concussion?

Answer 23

an impact to the head which jars the brain and temporarily disrupts its normal functioning.

Question 24

Penumbra

Answer 24

the tissue that is at risk due to a stroke.

Question 25

Confusion

Answer 25

severe head trauma in which impact also causes bruising (hematoma) to the brain.

Question 26

Define: Dementia Pugilistica

Answer 26

syndrome associated with sportsmen (such as boxers), who may suffer brain injury indicative of contusion from multiple concussions.

Question 27

What is an open head injury

Answer 27

Injury in which the skull and outer layer of the meninges are breached.

Question 28

Define: Encephalitis

Answer 28

the resulting inflammation of the brain by an invasion of bacterial or viral microorganisms.

Question 29

Chronic insanity produced by neurotoxins is called

Answer 29

toxic psychosis

Question 30

damage or degeneration in neurological disorders is caused by…

Answer 30

• disease
• physical trauma
• genetic predispositions in brain and CNS

Question 31

what are some the the cognitive impairments in neurological disorders?

Answer 31

• learning and memory
• language
• executive functioning
• motor skills

Question 32

what is the importance of assessment?

Answer 32

• location and nature of deficits
• information on onset, severity and progression of symptoms
• discriminating between neurological and psychiatric symptoms
• helping identify the focus for rehabilitation.

Question 33

what techniques are used for assessments?

Answer 33

1. Neuroimaging techniques i.e. MRI and PET
2. Neuropsychological testing i.e. WAIS/WAIS-R
3. Qualitative observations

Question 34

Define: Plasticity

Answer 34

regions of the brain that were not utilised take over the functions that had previously been performed by the damaged area.

Question 35

‘Phantom Limb Syndrome’

Answer 35

Sensation in a limb that is no longer there, often in a form of pain.

Question 36

what are the patterns of plasticity?

Answer 36

• Degeneration
• Regeneration (regrowth of damaged areas).
• Reorganisation.
• Recovery.

Question 37

the function of the somatosensory is what?

Answer 37

maps every sense part of the body.

Question 38

Define: Deafferentiation pain

Answer 38

Pain which may result from injury to either the peripheral or central nervous system, leading to burning pain below the level of the lesion.

Question 39

Define: Denervation Supersensitivity

Answer 39

the super sensitivty in the post synaptic membrane to passing neurotransmitters.