WEEK 1 + 2 - NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

Question 1

neuropsychology

Answer 1

study of how the brain functions to produce behaviours and thought processes

Question 2

clinical neuropsychology

Answer 2

evaluates clients to determine their psychological strengths and weaknesses in relation to level of brain dysfunction/damage

Question 3

research or experimental neuropsychology

Answer 3

evaluates clients with and without brain impairments using a number of brain imaging techniques

Question 4

affective neuroscience

Answer 4

investigates emotions using instruments and psychophysiological measurements

Question 5

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 5

uses neuroimaging approaches to investigate the brain

Question 6

social neuroscience

Answer 6

investigates broader influences of links between brain and social behaviour

Question 7

clinical neuroscience

Answer 7

conduct scientific research on mechanisms behind disorders and diseases of the CNS and PNS (typically focussing on ANS)

Question 8

complications to diagnosis

Answer 8

test selection and administering, test sensitivity, influence of co-morbidity

Question 9

lesion studies

Answer 9

Any sort of brain damage other than the progressive brain atrophy linked to dementias is referred to as lesion - this can be crucial to understand how brain damage affects our thought processes and behaviour

Question 10

computer tomography (CT)

Answer 10

CT scan produces XRAY image of brain

Question 11

structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI)

Answer 11

Provides contrast between the grey and white matter + cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain and ventricles

Question 12

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer 12

Observe the change in blood concentrations in the brain related to a certain task, images of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal are collected over time

Question 13

voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM)

Answer 13

Examines the relationship between performance (on a task) and activity in specific brain regions. Strength of relationship between each voxel with the function tested may be compared between groups

Question 14

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

Answer 14

Nuclear medicine imaging techniques which integrate CT with radioactive tracers. Both PET and SPECT are useful to provide metabolic and functional information

Question 15

Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI)

Answer 15

Advanced MR technique used to inspect the absence or presence of grey and white matter originating from particular brain areas (seeded region)

Question 16

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Answer 16

Technique that uses scalp electrodes to measure the electrical activity of the brain to events.

Question 17

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Answer 17

Non-invasive technique that uses a magnetic pulse to generate a temporary ‘lesion’ or localised brain disruption in order to temporarily interfere with + disrupt specific brain areas. The disruption can provide insight in how the brain functions in the absence of disturbed area

Question 18

STAGE 1) cell birth

Answer 18

neurogenesis and gliogenesis: stem cells produce new stem cells which form specialised neurons and glial cells

Question 19

STAGE 2) cell migration

Answer 19

movement of cells - neuroblasts form cerebral cortex and are produced in middle of pregnancy. Continues post-birth as well

Question 20

STAGE 3) cell differentiation

Answer 20

specialisation of cells - neuron maturation continues for years and can continue into adulthood in some brain regions

Question 21

STAGE 4) cell maturation

Answer 21

dendrite and axon growth: neurons grow dendrites for synapses and extent axons to reach targets - axonal growth is faster than dendritic and influences dendritic differentiation

Question 22

STAGE 5) synaptogenesis

Answer 22

formation of synapses: rapid synapse growth prenatally and after birth - these are independent of experience

Question 23

STAGE 6) cell death

Answer 23

synaptic pruning: just before puberty, there is rapid synapse elimination which continues through puberty - this is experience-expectant and experience-dependent

Question 24

STAGE 7) myelogenesis

Answer 24

formation of myelin: cortex begins to myelinate after birth and continues until 18-years old. Glial cells develop after neurons and continue to develop throughout life

Question 25

adolescent brain

Answer 25

rapid synaptic pruning and growth, changes in brain volume (white and grey matter), changes in neurotransmitter levels and increased risk of mental disorders (peak onset at age 14)

Question 26

functional and neural development

Answer 26

neural development underlies functional milestones in multiple domains (especially in children) and early identification of NDDs is crucial for wellbeing

Question 27

asynchronous development and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs)

Answer 27

asynchronous development can lead to early diagnosis of NDD by identifying issues in neural/functional development across multiple domains (ie. motor, language, cognition)

Question 28

plasticity in development

Answer 28

brain's ability to undergo STRUCTURAL changes due to ENVIRONMENTAL demands and the capacity of organism - tends to decrease in childhood

Question 29

flexibility in development

Answer 29

brain's ability to ADAPT based on EXISTING FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY and can increase in childhood

Question 30

experience-expectant plasticity

Answer 30

brain maturation is dependent on PRESENT environmental information

Question 31

experience-dependent plasticity

Answer 31

incorporation of UNIQUE environmental information

Question 32

critical periods

Answer 32

specific time windows when the brain is highly sensitive and influenced by environmental stimuli (evident in sensory-perceptual functions)

Question 33

challenges and future directions in neurocognitive plasticity

Answer 33

there still needs to be systematic comparisons of sensorimotor and higher-order cognitive training effects and complex neurocognitive functions