Steve Brain Flashcards
What brain structure is implicated in PTSD?
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
What is observed about the volume of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in PTSD?
The volume is smaller
What mental health conditions are commonly associated with high levels of activity in emotional processing centers?
Anxiety and depression
What is the relationship between brain size and emotional processing in anxiety and depression?
Reduced brain size with high levels of activity
True or False: The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is larger in individuals with PTSD.
False
Fill in the blank: High levels of activity in emotional processing centers are associated with _______ and _______.
anxiety and depression
What is the activity level in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for individuals with PTSD?
High levels of activity
Individuals with PTSD show increased brain activity, especially during emotional processing.
What functions does the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex control when it’s functioning well?
- Working memory
- Good judgment
- Good insight
- Good planning
This area is crucial for executive functions.
What are the symptoms of poor executive functioning?
- Poor planning
- Impaired working memory
- Poor judgment
- Perseveration
- Apathy
These symptoms indicate dysfunction in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
What is the activity level in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for individuals with depression?
Low levels of activity
Depression is associated with reduced activity in this brain region.
What are the characteristics of the orbital frontal cortex when functioning well?
- Focused
- Inhibited
Proper functioning of this area leads to stable emotional and behavioral responses.
What happens when the orbital frontal cortex is not functioning well?
- Disinhibited behavior
- Distractibility
- Emotional lability
Dysfunction in this area can lead to erratic emotional states.
Who was Phineas Gage and what happened to him?
A rail worker who had an accident that altered his personality
Gage’s injury resulted in significant changes in behavior and social functioning.
What is acquired sociopathy?
A condition characterized by antisocial behavior following brain injury
Phineas Gage displayed traits of acquired sociopathy after his accident.
What is the emotional state when the orbital frontal cortex is not functioning well?
Inappropriate euphoria
Dysfunction can lead to unstable emotional responses.
What is the activity level in the orbitofrontal cortex for individuals with OCD?
Low levels of activity
OCD is linked to decreased activity in this brain region, especially in pediatric cases.
What is the function of the medial frontal prefrontal cortex?
It is involved in motor behavior, verbal output, and motivation.
Damage can lead to apathetic akinetic syndrome.
What happens when the medial frontal prefrontal cortex is not functioning well?
Problems with movement, decreased verbal output, and lack of initiative and motivation occur.
This can be observed in strokes affecting this region.
What role does the supplementary motor cortex play?
It is important for visualizing movements and executing self-initiated complex movements.
Activation occurs when performing, imagining, or watching movements.
Define ‘self-initiated complex movements.’
Movements like getting up from a table or throwing a baseball.
Damage to the supplementary motor cortex can impair these movements.
What is the function of the premotor cortex?
It triggers complex movements in response to external stimuli.
Example: Raising a hand when instructed.
How is the premotor cortex activated?
It is activated when performing, imagining, or watching movements.
It responds to external prompts.
What is the primary motor cortex responsible for?
It executes movements.
Damage can lead to paralysis.
What does damage to the right primary motor cortex indicate?
It results in paralysis on the left side of the body.
The left primary motor cortex affects the right side of the body.
