Module 4 - Introduction to Neuroscience of Mental Illness

Question 1

list the CNS neurotransmitters

Answer 1

• Acetyl Choline (Ach)
• Monoamines
• Amino Acids
• Neuroactive Peptides

Question 2

CNS Neurotransmitters: roles, implications of low levels, - Acetyl Choline

Answer 2

Roles:

• cognition
• memory
• consciousness
• motor control

Low Level:
- dementia

Question 3

CNS Neurotransmitters: roles, mental illness, class of related chemicals,- Monoamines

Answer 3

roles:
- arousal
- cardiorespiratory control
- reward
- affect
- motor control

mental illness:

• schizophrenia
• depression

Class of Related Chemicals:

• noradrenaline
• adrenaline
• dopamine
• serotonin

Question 4

CNS Neurotransmitters : Amino Acids

List the excitatory, excitotoxicity and inhibitory

Answer 4

Excitatory

• glutamate
• aspartate

Excito-toxicity

• MSG
• Huntington’s Disease
• plant toxins

Inhibitory

• Glycine
• GABA

Question 5

CNS Neurotransmitters: Neuropeptides - list and describe behavioural effects

Answer 5

• B endorphin
• Neuropeptide Y
• Substance P

Effects:

• Hunger/Satiety
• Sleep/Wake
• Temp
• Pain modulation
• Reward circuits

Question 6

Describe the effect of Monoamines and balance of Ach

Answer 6

• motor control
• mood
• thought process

e. g. depression
- monoamines at the synapse

Question 7

define agonists

Answer 7

Binds to receptors + have same effect as the neurotransmitters

Question 8

define antagonists

Answer 8

Interfere with the binding of neurotransmitters to receptor to reduce the effect of neurotransmitter

Question 9

Describe how some drugs reduce the deactivation of neurotransmitters

Answer 9

• increase of amount in synapse

- reuptake of inhibitors

Question 10

list the different type of antidepressants

Answer 10

• MAOI’s
• Tricylic Antidepressents
• SSRI’s

Question 11

list the different type of mood stabilisers

Answer 11

• Lithium

- Valproate

Question 12

list the different types of Anxiolytics

Answer 12

• Benzodiazepines
• Hypnotics/Sedatives
  Antipsychotics e.g. rispiridore

Question 13

list the 2 areas that are most affected by age related changes

Answer 13

• hippocampus

- pre frontal cortex

Question 14

list the functional changes in the brain with ageing

Answer 14

• < in agility & memory and processing speed
• < word finding
• < speed of new learning

Question 15

pharmacological treatments of dementia

Answer 15

• Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
• oestrogen
• folate + vitamin B12

Question 16

Neurophathological changes of the brain with dementia

Answer 16

• shrinkage of cerebral cortex + hippocampus
• B amyloid plaques
• neurofibrillary plaques/tangles

damage is evident in hippocampus on onset + progresses to limbic system

Question 17

list the 3 structures of the brainstem,

Answer 17

• midbrain
• pons
• medulla

Question 18

role of the cerebral hemispheres

Answer 18

• controls motor activities
• register + interpret sensations
• intellect, memory, language

Question 19

describe the cerebral white matter

Answer 19

• bundles of myelinated fibres

Question 20

define corpus callosum

Answer 20

large bundles of fibres providing horizontal communication between 2 hemispheres

Question 21

describe the ventricles of the brain

Answer 21

3rd ventricles - receives CSF from lateral ventricles to 4th ventricle

4th ventricle (in brainstem) - passes CSF to subarachnoid space + central canal of spinal cord

Question 22

describe the function of the cerebral cortex

Answer 22

• intellect, memory, language (higher functions)
• motor areas to control voluntary movements
• primary sensory areas

Question 23

describe primary motor cortex

Answer 23

• in precentral gyrus of each hemisphere
• conveys impulses from motor cortex to skeletal muscles
• damage = loss of voluntary movements

Question 24

describe primary somatosensory areas

Answer 24

receives info from skin receptors + proprioceptors in skeletal muscles

Question 25

describe somatosensory association area

Answer 25

analyses info from previous experience - damage = not a loss of sense but loss of identifying object by individual sense

Question 26

describe procedural memory formation

Answer 26

relates to motor skills that are learnt and allow for automatic responses

Question 27

describe declarative memory formation

Answer 27

relates to life events and can influence mental disorders

Question 28

describe the structures that form mood

Answer 28

- limbic system | - temporal + frontal cortex

Question 29

function of the limbic system

Answer 29

- emotion formation, processing, learning and memory - hippocampus = memory storage - amygdala = forming emotional responses

Question 30

describe function of basal ganglia

Answer 30

responsible for coordinating unconscious components of movement e.g. posture + balance

Question 31

describe function of thalamus

Answer 31

receives majority of sensory impulses on way to sensory areas

Question 32

describe function of hypothalamus

Answer 32

- control of release of hormones - control of centres in brainstem e. g. - blood pressure - rate + force of heart contractions - respiration - monitors body temp

Question 33

describe function of brainstem

Answer 33

controls vital reflex centres - cardiac centre - vasomotor centre - respiratory centre

Question 34

describe function of the cerebellum

Answer 34

controls subconscious skeletal muscle contractions for: smooth coordinated movement + balance

Question 35

list the 4 structures that protects the brain

Answer 35

- bone - meninges - cerebrospinal fluid - blood brain barrier

Question 36

list the 3 layers of the connective tissue which makes up the meninges

Answer 36

- dura mater - arachnoid - pia mater

Question 37

list the functions of cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 37

- suspension - cushion - drained to balance volume (fluid escapes into spinal sac)

Question 38

define seizure

Answer 38

episode of inappropriate electrical discharge resulting in disordered brain activity

Question 39

describe the features of myoclonic seizure

Answer 39

- muscle spasms - tonic phase - tension of muscle groups - clonic phase - rhythmic convulsing - unconscious or semi

Question 40

describe the features of absence seizures

Answer 40

- loss of awareness - lip smacking or eye rolling - short duration - may rejoin sentence where it left off

Question 41

describe the features of temporal lobe epilepsy

Answer 41

- hallucinations - altered behaviour - autopilot