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Attention ​ Selective attention is when the brain focuses on one thing, blocking out everything else ○​ Visually it is theorised that this works in the spotlight model or the zoom lens model, where you focus on a central focal point where you see things 100%,...

Attention ​ Selective attention is when the brain focuses on one thing, blocking out everything else ○​ Visually it is theorised that this works in the spotlight model or the zoom lens model, where you focus on a central focal point where you see things 100%, and then out to the fringe where you see things progressively less and less, and very little on the margin ○​ The zoom lens model makes it seem as though you can adjust the size of the focal point but this sacrifices the across the board attention. ​ Inattentional blindness is when you don't notice something because you're focused on something else, and change blindness is when you don’t notice something changing ​ Auditory attention theories ○​ Broadbent’s early selection theory. All information in the environment gets stored and transferred to a selective filter and then perceptual processing - this is disproven by the fact you can hear your own name spoken in a crowded room ○​ Deutsch and Deutsch therefore suggests that the selective filter comes after the perceptual processing. This is viewed as being potentially wasteful, so isn’t always seen to be true ○​ Attenuation theory (treisman) suggests that after the sensory register and before perception processing, there is an attenuator (which weakens signals but doesn't filter them out) This allows you to essentially switch tasks Language Brain lateralization is where a function is only on one side, and language is on the left. ​ Motor theory of lateralization. Left hemisphere controls fine movements such as speech. ​ Brocas area is motor functions associated with speech production, in case of damage that leads to impaired speech, but ability to understand language is retained ​ Wernicke’s area is responsible for the understanding of language, because damage here doesn’t affect speech but does affect understanding ​ Together with the basal nucleui these areas make speech possible ​ Surrounding cortical areas link this system with regions responsible for conceptualisation ​ The right hemisphere is still important as it allows us to do things such as interpret body language, gestures and tone  ​ The werinicke geschwind model includes the: primary motor cortex, arcuate fasciculus, broca’s area, primary auditory cortex, angular gyrus, primary visual cortex, wernicke’s area ​ According to this model these are the steps of listening 1.​ signals sent to primary auditory cortex 2.​ sent to Wernicke's area for comprehension 3.​ sent via arcuate fasciculus to broca 4.​ info sent to primary motor cortex (muscles of the mouth controlled here) ​ According to this model these are the steps of reading allowed 1.​ info sent to the primary visual cortex 2.​ this is then sent to the angular gyrus 3.​ sent to Wernicke's area for comprehension ​ It is theorised that the wirings for Development Piagets stages of development 0-2 years children are in the sensorymotor stage Children gather information via senses. object permenance develops 2-7 years pre operational stage imagining things, mentally reversing actions, when children start to engage in play pretend, can use symbols to represent things children at this age are very egocentric 7-11 concrete operational stage, where children learn the idea of conservation, if a child can tell that there is still the same amount of liquid in different containers 12+ formal operational - able to think about consequences of actions ACE 3 is the addenbrooke cognitive examination. It also assesses attention memory and language Montreal cognitive assessment is a shorter screening tool Cognitive decline ​ Both normal aging and AD are associated with cognitive decline but in normal aging it is from synaptic loss rather than cell loss ​ Older individuals show a decrease in neuronal activation and recruit different brain regions compared to younger individuals. ​ people with mild cognitive impairment are up to 15 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those with normal cognition ​ complaints of memory loss often indicate the presence depression ​ trazodone, clomethiazole and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors areitable alternatives to antipsychotic drugs in people with dementia who are agitated ​ interventions by careers can be as powerful as drug treatment in terms of outcome ​ apathy and withdrawal in people with dementia can be as distressing to carers as agitation and aggression ​ Dementia describes a set of symptoms usually alongside damage to the brain ​ progressive loss of neurones ​ alzeihmers is most common, with plaquex and tangles. ​ You have the amyloid precursor protein which in normal function aids growth and repair - usually broken down by alpha secreatase and gamma secratase ​ the resulting peptide is soluble so can be dissipated ​ If beta secretase is used instead then the resulting fragment isnt soluble, and is a monomer called amyloid beta ​ These form the beta amyloid plaques that interrupt synapses ​ amyloid plaque can also deposit outside of blood vessels making amyloid angiopathy, which can cause haemorrage etc ​ tangles are found within neurons. ​ Cells have loads of microtubles in them, (like minecart tracks) ​ The tau protein adheres these tracks together ​ amyloid beta plaques trigger the action of Kinase maybe but we dont know how (intracellular) ​ Kinase enzyme phosphorylate the tau protein ​ Tau changes shape, stops supporting microtubules and gets tangled ​ This causes the tau proteins to form tangles that confuse intracellular signals in neurons ​ these will break apart the tracks withing the cell ​ The brain will atrophy as a result of neuronal damage ​ you see ventricular enlargement in this ​ alzheimers can be sporadic or familial ​ in sporadic, it is late onset, unknown cause (90-95%) age is generally around 85 ​ e4 allele, apoE4 gene is relevant ​ APOE4 breaks down beta amyloid but the e4 allele is less effective than the others so if you have it you are more likely to get Alzheimer's ​ familial alzheimers ​ dominant gene that speeds progression ​ usually early onset ​ PSEN1 or PSEN2 , chromosomes 14 and 1 respectively. ​ Mutations in these PSEN-1 or PSEN-2 genes can change the location where gamma secretatase chops AFP, producing different length amyloid fragments, meaning plaques forms more easily ​ Trisomy 21 results in increased expression of the AFP gene The mental capacity act says ​ assume a person has the capacity to make the decision for themselves unless proven otherise ​ help people make their own decision ​ decisions made for people lacking capacity must be made in their best interest Its is assessed by understanding ​ if a patient has impairment of their mind or brain ​ does the impairment make them unable to make a specific decision Usually decisions made outside of the mental capacity act are supposed to limit freedoms as little as possible ​ deprivation of liberty is case by case ​ must be checked by local authority Advanced statements are statements of a persons desires about future care and are not legally binding and advance decision, or an advance decision to refuse treatment, or living will, is a legally binding decision that allows a patient to refuse medical treatment for a time in the future when they may lack capacity to consent to or refuse that treatment They have to be clear and valid to be used If the advance decision refuses life saving treatment it must ​ be signed witnessed and in writing ​ state clearly that the decision applies even if life is at risk Lasting power of attorney Enables people to make decisions about health and welfare, or property and financial affairs Enduring power of attorney restricted to making decisions about property and affairs