Biopsychology PowerPoint Presentation

Study Notes

Brain Damage

Brain damage can be caused by various factors, including brain tumors, cerebrovascular disorders, closed-head injuries, infections of the brain, neurotoxins, and genetic factors.

Brain Tumors

A brain tumor is a mass of cells that grows independently of the rest of the body, and can be cancerous.
20% of brain tumors are meningiomas, which are usually benign and surgically removable.
Most brain tumors are infiltrating, growing diffusely through surrounding tissue, and are malignant.
About 10% of brain tumors are metastatic, originating from elsewhere in the body, usually the lungs.

Cerebral Ischemia

Cerebral ischemia is a type of brain damage caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain, leading to the release of glutamate, which kills neurons.
Ischemia-induced brain damage takes time and does not occur equally in all parts of the brain.

Closed-Head Injuries

Closed-head injuries occur when the brain collides with the skull, causing damage to the cerebral circulatory system.
Contrecoup injuries can occur on the side of the brain opposite to the blow.
Concussions can occur when there is a disturbance of consciousness following a blow to the head, but no evidence of structural damage.

Infections of the Brain

Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain caused by an invasion of microorganisms.
Bacterial infections can lead to abscesses and meningitis.
Viral infections can preferentially attack neural tissues and lie dormant for years.

Neurotoxins

Neurotoxins can enter the general circulation from the GI tract, lungs, or skin.
Toxic psychosis can occur due to chronic neurotoxin exposure.
Some neurotoxins are endogenous, produced by the body, and can cause auto-immune disorders.

Genetic Factors

Most neuropsychological diseases of genetic origin are associated with recessive genes.
Down syndrome is an example of a genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome 21.

Programmed Cell Death

All six causes of brain damage can produce damage by activating apoptosis.

Neuropsychological Diseases

Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease are all neuropsychological diseases.

Epilepsy

The primary symptom of epilepsy is seizures, but not all who have seizures have epilepsy.
Epilepsy affects about 1% of the population and is difficult to diagnose due to the diversity and complexity of epileptic seizures.
Types of seizures include convulsions, motor seizures, and subtle changes of thought, mood, or behavior.
Causes of epilepsy include brain damage, genes, and faults at inhibitory synapses.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks myelin.
Epidemiological studies find that the incidence of MS is increased in those who spend childhood in a cool climate.
MS is rare amongst Africans and Asians, and only some genetic predisposition and one chromosomal locus are linked to MS with any certainty.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, with a likelihood of developing it increasing with age.
Progressive, with early stages characterized by confusion and a selective decline in memory.
Definitive diagnosis can only be made at autopsy, with the observation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques.

Description

This quiz is based on a PowerPoint presentation on biopsychology by John P.J. Pinel, prepared by Jeffrey W. Grimm at Western Washington University. It covers various topics related to biopsychology. Test your knowledge and understanding of this field!