Cognitive Neuroscience of Schizophrenia Midterm

Question 1

ABI

Answer 1

Acquired Brain Injury

Usually from stroke (CVA/cerebral vascular accident) or TBI (traumatic brain injury) (prevalent in kids.)

Question 2

Degenerative Disease

Answer 2

Genetics causes a break down of the brain.

Alzheimer’s dementia, Lewy Body, etc

Question 3

Synergistic

Answer 3

Two independent agents act together to create an effect which is greater than the sum of the effects each agent could create alone. (e.g. biological and social factors of schizophrenia)

Question 4

Schizophrenia statistics:

Answer 4

18-22 years old age of onset

1% of population

Question 5

Prodromal Phase

Answer 5

Phase before onset of schizophrenia (withdrawn, may be misdiagnosed with autism).

Question 6

Pathognomonic

Answer 6

Indicative of a disease or condition.

Question 7

Ubiquitous

Answer 7

found everywhere

Question 8

Savant Syndrome

Answer 8

a special talent unique to someone despite their mental illness

Question 9

Genetic Risks

Answer 9

50% if identical twin is schizophrenic
40% if both parents are schizophrenic
15% if non-identical twin is schizophrenic
10% if parent/brother/sister is schizophrenic

Question 10

Characteristics of Psychosis

Answer 10

Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, negative symptoms, impaired cognitive function.

Question 11

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Answer 11

Higher functioning spectrum of schizophrenia.

Question 12

Schizophrenia Spectrum Inclusion Criteria

Answer 12

Six months of continuous disturbance including prodromal and residual psychotic symptoms.

Question 13

Schizophrenia Spectrum Exclusion Criteria

Answer 13

Symptoms must not be associated with drug abuse or other medical condition.
Autism
Delusions must be present at least one month.

Question 14

Biomarker

Answer 14

Biological characteristic unique to a specific population

Question 15

Genetic Marker

Answer 15

a sequence of DNA used to locate chromosomes or other genes

Question 16

Startle Reflex

Answer 16

defensive reactions to threatening stimuli which activate autonomic nervous system

Question 17

PNS

Answer 17

Parasympathetic Nervous System.

Controls homeostasis and the bodies “rest and digest” function.

Question 18

SNS

Answer 18

Sympathetic Nervous System.

Controls body’s responses to perceived threat (Fight or Flight).

Question 19

Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) of Acoustic Startle

Answer 19

A weak sound preceding a louder acoustic stimulus prevents the startle reflex. (impaired in schizophrenia)

Question 20

Frontal Cortex

Answer 20

Vital for executive functioning. Has connections to corpus callosum. Deficits in schizophrenia.

Question 21

Dysexecutive Syndrome (DES)

Answer 21

Symptoms usually resulting from brain damage that fall into the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional categories and often occur together. (Issues with planning, abstract thinking, flexibility, behavioral control)

Question 22

First Generation of Antipsychotic Drugs (Typical)

Answer 22

Developed in the 1950s
e.g. Haldol, Thorazine
Still used when new treatment doesn’t work.
High risk of severe side effects.

Question 23

Second Generation of Antipsychotic Drugs (Atypical)

Answer 23

Developed in the 1990s

e.g. Clozapine, asenapine, paliperidone.

Question 24

Positive vs Negative symptoms

Answer 24

Positive = addition of something
Negative = absence of something

Question 25

Pseudo psychosis

Answer 25

Resembles psychosis but is not. May be malingering or fictitious.

Question 26

Prosopagnosia

Answer 26

A disorder in which the ability to recognize faces is impaired.
No connection between hippocampus and amygdala.

Question 27

Visual Accommodation

Answer 27

process by which eyes change optical power to maintain focus on an object as its distance varies

Question 28

Robert L. Fantz 1960s Infant Perception Studies

Answer 28

Face preference is innate while visual accommodation is not (recognize face at ~8inches/breast feeding distance).

Question 29

Consolidation

Answer 29

Information moved from short to long term memory.

(Happens a lot during REM). Schizophrenics have impaired REM.

Question 30

Delusion

Answer 30

False belief that cannot be explained by a patient’s culture or education. (cannot be persuaded despite evidence)
e.g. guilt, ill health, grandeur, persecution, poverty

Question 31

Index of Suspicion

Answer 31

awareness and concern for a potentially serious underlying and unseen condition

Question 32

Affective Forecasting

Answer 32

Prediction of one’s affect or emotional state in the future.

Question 33

Impact Bias

Answer 33

Tendency to overestimate intensity of future feelings.

Question 34

Hypnagogia

Answer 34

Transition from wakefulness to sleep.

e.g. lucid dreaming, hallucinations, sleep paralysis

Question 35

Delirium

Answer 35

Confused state of mind that occurs during fever, intoxication, and other disorders where restlessness, illusions, and incoherence occur.

Question 36

Visual Closure

Answer 36

The ability to visualize a complete whole when given incomplete information or partial picture.