Week 3

Question 1

brain newborn in grams

Answer 1

400g

Question 2

Brain adulthood in grams

Answer 2

1500 grams

Question 3

Brain percentage of a 3 year old

and what is growing? 3

Answer 3

80%

strong growth spurts
Myelination of the neurons –> increase processing speed

Question 4

growth spurts and sensitive periods occur in these 4 periods in years

Answer 4

0- 1 years

1.5 - 5 years

5 - 10 years

10- 16 years

Question 5

difference in growth of white and grey mater during first growth spurts

Answer 5

White matter: increases linearly

Grey matter: volume peaks at age 10 and is reducing afterwards (dendrites)

Question 6

Selective elimination

Answer 6

Important process for white + grey matter production and decrease

Question 7

Environmentally regulated elimination of unused synapses

Answer 7

Synaptic pruning

Question 8

At which age are the synapses doubled as in adulthood are present?

Answer 8

2-4 years

Question 9

Synaptic pruning. what is this good for?

Answer 9

Defining neural networks and increase network efficiency by removing unused synapses

Learning is optimal if synapses are overgenerated!!

Question 10

With what are the useful synapses protected by

Answer 10

NDMA (glutamate)

Question 11

Astrocyted and microglia

What do they?

Answer 11

Support the useful networks and identify unused networks

Gliacells

Question 12

Abnormal pruning is associated with…

Answer 12

Neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy

Question 13

Too much pruning

Answer 13

Schizophrenia

Question 14

Too little pruning

Answer 14

Autism and epilepsy

Question 15

Programmed cell death

Answer 15

Apoptosis

Question 16

explain the pruning fase:
Apoptosis =

Synaptic pruning =

Answer 16

Apoptosis = programmed cell death (removing unnecessary neurons).

Synaptic pruning = elimination of extra synapses.

Question 17

Which factor is a potential mediator of recovery after early brain insult?

Answer 17

parenting style

Question 18

two types of sensitive periods

Experience expectant

Experience dependent

Answer 18

Experience expectant - CRITICAL period > if the brain does NOT get stimulated the function might be lost forever
hearing, speech, vision and attachement

Experience dependent - SENSTIVE period > most optimal period to learn a function but could be learnt later
reading, writing, gym skills

Question 19

(hubel & wiesel) Development of visual cortex of cats explored through blindfolding blind kittens before opening
their eyes and until adulthood

Answer 19

Critical period for vision

Visual cortex did not develop the same –> blind eye was UNDERDEVELOPED and open eye was OVERDEVELOPED > irreversible

In adult cats there was no difference to be seen

Question 20

The shaping role of early experiences (Nelson)

Answer 20

Genes provide the framework for the brain-to-be experiences fill in this outline

Question 21

the process of social connection between humans through touch, eye
contact, tome of voice, and empathic resonance

Answer 21

Social attunement

Question 22

Biobehavioural synchrony

Answer 22

the coordination of biology and behaviour during social contact

It is disregarded (genegeerd) in current theory of sensitive periods!

Question 23

Which research complements classic attachement theory of bowlby?

Answer 23

The dynamic researcg field by Feldmand and Schore

Question 24

Sensitive period of social attunment. Triggered by the relase of …. during parent-child synchronisation

Answer 24

Oxytocin (the love hormone)

Pregnant mothers high in oestrogen –> oxytocin rises in their brain to prepare for bond with their child

Question 25

High levels of oxytocin during birth and breastfeeding helps with (3 things)

Answer 25

Imprinting of proud Increases calm Decreases pain Also high levels during nursing, holding and dyadic interactions!

Question 26

Oxytocin sets up the system for .... by sharpening social perception, social learning/conditioning, social preferences

Answer 26

social attachment

Question 27

System for social attachement (by oxytocin)

Answer 27

Dopamine Sensory cortices Hippocampus Olfactory amygdala pathway

Question 28

Anterior PFC Bilateral temporal cortex >>>> cortisol

Answer 28

Attachment

Question 29

Ventromedial PFC Cingulate cortex Dorsal striatum >>> dopamine

Answer 29

Social motivation

Question 30

Biobehavioural synchrony

Answer 30

coordination of biological and social processes during social attunement - Body contact is critical - Co-ordination of affection: gaze, affect voice, touch - Coordination of physiology: heart-rhythm, oxytocin release, stress response - Carries long-term effect on children’s social growth, stress management, emotion regulation, and mental health

Question 31

Neurodevelopmental outcomes depend on

Answer 31

* degree of neglect > frenquency * possibility of restoration of function before age 2 - Genetic susceptibility > presence o frisk alleles for externalising and internalising disorders - Development of secure attachment improves outcome > better in girls - Children that were adopted before the age of 2 often gained secure attachment

Question 32

Attachment – forming secure attachments, especially after adoption, improved outcomes. Girls tended to show better recovery than boys. Many children adopted before age .... developed secure attachment bonds.

Answer 32

2

Question 33

Presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities (RRBIs) - Islands of interests - Insistence of sameness - .... (new in DSM-5)

Answer 33

ASD behaviour ll characteristics Sensory processing

Question 34

Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts - .... - Nonverbal communication - Relationship skills: developing, maintaining, and understanding

Answer 34

ASD behaviour l characteristics Social reciprocity

Question 35

How many autistic people is female?

Answer 35

1:4 but its decreasing in 1:3

Question 36

Girls who have autism have...

Answer 36

More subtle problems in communication More sensory issues -> overstimulation Les Repetitive patterns of behaviour interests or activities (RRBI's) Delayed diagnosis (2-4 years later)

Question 37

Which of the following is a correct finding from the Autistic Women’s Experience (AWE) study? A) Women showed significantly lower autism scores than men, supporting the female autism phenotype. B) The study found that men and women had similar overall autism scores, but with subtle gender differences in traits. C) Attention to detail and camouflaging behaviours were more common in women, proving gender-specific diagnostic criteria are needed.

Answer 37

B

Question 38

What was one of the final steps in developing the AWE questionnaire? A) Clinicians selected the best items without patient input. B) Statistical analysis was used to reduce the item pool to 52 items. C) Items were reduced based on age and diagnostic criteria from DSM-5.

Answer 38

B) Statistical analysis was used to reduce the item pool to 52 items.

Question 39

What area was not reported as a key difference in autistic women's experience according to the AWE findings? A) Lack of sensing personal boundaries B) Less social intuition and motivation C) Enhanced motor coordination

Answer 39

C) Enhanced motor coordination

Question 40

Which trait was found to be more prevalent in autistic men compared to women in the AWE study? A) Social camouflaging and masking B) Attention to detail and restricted interests C) Less initiative in social interaction

Answer 40

B) Attention to detail and restricted interests

Question 41

Neuropathology of ASD What did the HDFT brain scan of Temple Grandin reveal about motor-to-visual tracts in autism? A) They were less developed, which explained motor coordination issues. B) They were 10 times more extended than in a typical brain, correlating with enhanced visual skills. C) They showed no significant differences compared to non-autistic brains.

Answer 41

Correct answer: B Rationale: The motor-to-visual tract in her brain was 10x more extended, which was linked to her exceptional visual abilities.

Question 42

Neuropathology of ASD What was observed about the visual-auditory naming tract in the scan? A) It was significantly more extended, contributing to superior verbal memory. B) It was 0.1 times less extended than in neurotypical brains, suggesting difficulty in language acquisition. C) It was absent, confirming nonverbal autism.

Answer 42

Correct answer: B Rationale: The underdevelopment (0.1x extension) of this tract likely contributed to language difficulties.

Question 43

What does the case of Temple Grandin suggest about diagnosing and treating autism? A) Symptom-by-symptom assessment may allow for more effective, individualized treatment. B) An umbrella diagnosis helps categorize symptoms more efficiently. C) Most sensory issues in autism are minor and don't require targeted interventions.

Answer 43

Correct answer: A Rationale: The findings support the idea that autism should be addressed symptomatically, especially given long-overlooked sensory problems.

Question 44

What is one proposed explanation for the brain overgrowth observed in young children with autism? A) Enhanced neural plasticity due to accelerated synaptic pruning B) A lack of synaptic pruning leading to excessive synapse formation and inefficient signal transmission C) Underdevelopment of major brain tracts leading to reduced stimulation

Answer 44

Correct answer: B Rationale: The research suggests that reduced synaptic pruning results in more synapses, which makes signal transmission scattered and inefficient, contributing to sensory overload.

Question 45

Which findings has been consistently reported in young autistic children?

Answer 45

They have 5-10% larger brain volume

Question 46

Which brain areas have been implicated in the neuropathology of autism? A) Frontal cortex, amygdala, cerebellum, caudate nucleus B) Occipital lobe, basal ganglia, brainstem, corpus callosum C) Hippocampus, insula, substantia nigra, spinal cord

Answer 46

Correct answer: A

Question 47

How are inefficient brain systems in ASD thought to be organized? A) Randomly across unrelated brain regions, depending on age and gender B) Around three functional domains: social, communication, and motor coordination C) Around distinct regions responsible for social impairments, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviours

Answer 47

Correct answer: C Rationale: The inefficiency in ASD is thought to be dominated by different brain regions that underlie social impairment, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviours.

Question 48

What does the evidence suggest about attachment behaviours in autistic children?

Answer 48

Selective attachment stays intact as children with autism especially during stressful or dangerous moments.

Question 49

Central coherence

Answer 49

the ability to process and give meaning to information by considering the overall context and global view of that information - Neurotypical children are born with weak central coherence TESTED WITH WECHSLER BLOCK DESIGN TASK

Question 50

the abilities to understand others’ mental states, beliefs, desires, and feelings > perspective-taking, mentalising, mind-reading

Answer 50

Theory of mind TESTED WITH SALLY-ANNE TEST Develops non-linearly with a peak at 7 and a large dip after

Question 51

Which task is commonly used to test weak central coherence in autistic individuals? A) False Belief Task (sally anne) B) Wechsler Block Design Task

Answer 51

B) Wechsler Block Design Task

Question 52

Which set of skills is most directly associated with Theory of Mind development? A) Visual memory, motor coordination, reaction time B) Language, joint attention, early imitation C) Planning, sequencing, and sensory integration

Answer 52

B) Language, joint attention, early imitation

Question 53

What is a key consideration when interpreting executive function deficits in autism? A) EF deficits are unrelated to other cognitive skills. B) EF tests must be administered with language removed. C) Lower-level processing abilities should be evaluated first.

Answer 53

C) Lower-level processing abilities should be evaluated first.