Hydrocephalus Definition An abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and (in infants)enlargement of the skull Can result either from increased production or decreased absorption of CSF, or from blockage of one of the normal outflow pathways of the ventricular system … Read more
Brief Overview of Huntington’s Disease 30,000 affected in US; 200,000 at risk Affects striatum/basal ganglia (esp. caudate nucleus) Triad of clinical symptoms: motor (unsteady gait, involuntary movements; slurred speech; difficulty in swallowing; intoxicated appearance) cognitive and behavioral (personality changes, depression, mood swings,impaired judgment) diagnosis relies on emergence of chorea (traditional); progressively disabling, adult-onset, lethal usual … Read more
DEFINITION Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is an infection by one of two viruses that progressively destroys white blood cells called lymphocytes, causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other diseases that result from the impaired immunity Types HIV-1 Most common in the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, and in Central, South, and East Africa HIV-2 Most … Read more
HISTORICAL ROOTS First Uses of the Term 1913: Term first used by Sir William Osler 1936: Entered psychology nomenclature after use by Karl Lashley 1949: Term used by D. O. Hebb in his book, The organization of behavior: A neuropsychological theory. The term was undefined, however. 1957: The term became a recognized designation for a … Read more
ANTIDEPRESSANTS/MOOD STABILIZERS Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) Common TCAs imipramine (Tofranil) clomipramine (Anafranil) amitriptyline (Elavil) Mechanism of Action NE and 5-HT receptors Uses Somatic and vegetative symptoms of depression, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and obsessive states Side Effects Anticholinergic (e.g., dry mouth, blurred vision, pupil dilation, urinary retention, nasal congestion, skin rash, cardiovascular effects, memory, confusion, and insomnia) … Read more
Frontal Subcortical Circuits The General structure shared by ALL frontal-subcortical circuits (direct connections) (CSGT: Cortex, Striatum, Globus Pallidus, Thalmus) There are 5 frontal-subcortical circuits that provide a neuroanatomical basis for movement and behavior, named by either function or cortical site of origin. Each circuit uses the same transmitters at each anatomic site. The relative … Read more
Endocrinology Overview Endocrinology is the study of chemical communication systems that provide the means to control a huge number of physiologic processes Two systems control all physiologic processes The nervous system sends electrical messages to control and coordinate the body The endocrine system uses chemicals to communicate, called hormones Three general classes or groups of … Read more
Definition Acute inflammation of the parenchyma secondary to viral infection Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis most common sporadic encephalitis no age, sex, racial, seasonal, or geographical predilection Neonatal Presentation vertical transmission recognized during the 1st – 3rd week diffuse neurological signs, seizures, hypotonia, diminished responsiveness, poor feeding, irritability, systematic manifestations Children & Adults predilection for medial … Read more
Affect (review articles & studies) Hemispheric Specificity Studies Blonder, Bowers, Heilman (perception of facial express and prosody) Florida Affect Battery RHD impaired on perception of facial expression and prosody not due to VS properties b/c stim were presented verbally not due to inability of RBD to interpret emotional signif of events b/c able to comprehend … Read more
Overview The term “disconnection syndrome” is applied to the effects of lesions of association pathways, either those which lie within a single cerebral hemisphere or those which join the two halves of the brain (Geschwind,1965). Often the disconnection syndromes are talked about more generally as Collosal Syndromes. Of course, the corpus callosum is by far … Read more