Mini Exam #2 Flashcards
(120 cards)
Do all individuals have the same functional connectivity at resting state?
No, there is inter-subject variability in resting-state functional activity. At resting state, different regions have greater variability whereas others have low levels of variability.
Which areas of the brain have high inter-subject variability?
The frontoparietal control (FPN) has the greatest amount of variability. It was also found that the highest variability is found in regions that are phylogenetically late-developing, and essential to complex, human-specific cognitive functions such as reasoning and language.
Which area of the brain has the lowest inter-subject variability?
The visual system.
What is the default network?
The default network, also known as the “mind-wandering network” are areas of the brain activated and engaged when we are not doing a task.
True or False: The dorsal attention system has higher variability than the ventral attention system.
False. The ventral attention system has higher inter-subject variability.
What does top-down and bottom-up refer to in regards to both the attention networks?
The dorsal attention network is top-down. This means that region is activated when we actively engage in a taste and we shift our attention consciously.
The ventral attention network is bottom-up. Bottom-up processing is automatic and works very fast.
Why is it bad to homogenize all Autistic people into one group?
Individuals with autism fall on a spectrum. The severity of their symptoms vary, and hence cannot be thought of as homogenous.
How is heterogeneity seen in those with Autism?
Autism is a multi-level phenomenon. It is diverse in many ways including differences in top-down/bottom-up processing, mRNA, biochemical mechanisms, cognition, neural circuits, etc.
What are mirror neurons?
The MNS is a set of cortical regions with common selectivity for both action execution and action observation. These neurons serve in understanding other’s actions and intentions from observation.
When is the mirror neuron network engaged?
It is engaged when we are trying to mimic or understand someone. The most basic function of this system occurs when you look at someone doing an action. As you observe, your brain mimics their brain as if YOU are doing the action.
When researchers looked at differences in the IFG (inferior frontal gyrus) between neurotypicals and those with ASD, what did they find?
In the typical brain, this area is very active during imitation of facial expressions, however, the ASD group did not exhibit IFG activity while observing/imitating facial expressions.
In order to see the activity levels, researchers looked at individual scores to compare activity, what did they find?
Individuals with a higher score had a great severity of symptoms. In addition, the higher score equated to less activity in the IFG.
On the opposing side, individuals with more IFG activity had better functioning in a social domain.
What did this research tell us?
Instead of seeing Autism as a dichotomy (autism vs. control), we now see it as a spectrum (control vs. different subgroups).
What is the definition of a disease?
Something is defined as a disease if the biomedical mechanistic cause of a disorder becomes known.
What is the definition of a disorder?
A disorder is a deviation from normal functioning (physical level) with nothing positive about the condition consistent across contexts.
What is the definition of a disability?
Below-average performance in a specific psychological/function (domain).
What is the definition of a difference?
Simply atypical (relative to the norm) with no negative impact on functioning or well being.
Which of these four categories include neurodiversity?
All four categories MAY include neurodiversity.
Disease and disorder refer to the _____ level, whereas disability takes into account the physical, personal, and societal level of the condition?
Medical.
From the four categories, which ones have potential cures, prevention, intervention, and support?
Disease, disorder, and disability.
How are “differences” treated?
They require acceptable, flexibility and inclusion.
How come society sometimes does more damage by homogenizing all four categories?
Each type of issue requires different attention, but as a society, we sometimes treat them all the same.
Is neurodiversity just Autism?
No, autism is one of the many sides to diversity.
How can individuals with neurodiversity have a competitive average?
In the past, we have often excluded neurodiverse individuals on the basis of their differences and called it “weird.” However, it is important to note that many people from neurodiverse groups have higher-than-average abilities in specific domains (pattern recognition, memory, mathematics, etc.). In order to allow neurodiverse people to leverage their skills, we have to be more accommodating and offer greater sensitivity to individual needs.
