FRONTAL LOBE PATHOLOGY, PAROXYSMAL DISORDERS, and the EVILS OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK SU, 09/08/2011

1. FRONTAL LOBE PATHOLOGY, PAROXYSMAL DISORDERS, and the EVILS OF POSITIVE FEEDBACKSU, 09/08/2011 JEFFREY A. CARMEN, PH.D. PRIVATE PRACTICE MANLIUS, NY

2. FRONTAL LOBE PATHOLOGY – recent evolutionary development – more software bugs • PAROXYSMAL DISORDERS – (things that come on suddenly, have a strong presentation, and then leave) including migraine headaches, seizures, sudden onset violent behavior, other • POSITIVE FEEDBACK – bad stuff – generally bad psychology – very bad for electronic and biological circuits – negative feedback is better

3. NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY • The tv advertisement with the howling microphone is an example of positive feedback.

4. HUMAN FRONTAL LOBES • THIS IS THE PART OF THE BRAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE REST OF THE BRAIN, INCLUDING EMOTIONS, SOCIAL RELATIONSIPS, AND GENERAL INHIBITION

5. HUMAN FRONTAL LOBES • This is the most recent evolutionary development. • It is easily injured. • It has the most software bugs. • It is supposed to shut down easily during emergencies.

6. FRONTAL LOBE FUNCTION • LEFT FRONTAL, LEFT TEMPORAL • FUNCTIONS AND PROBLEMS • RIGHT FRONTAL, RIGHT TEMPORAL • FUNCTIONS AND PROBLEMS

7. 50,000 YEARS!!! • THE HUMAN BRAIN WAS DESIGNED FOR AN ENVIRONMENT THAT EXISTED 50,000 YEARS AGO • ADAPTATION TO MODERN LIFE IS ACCIDENTAL

8. FOUR PRIMARY DRIVES(by KARL PRIBRAM) • FEEDING

9. FOUR PRIMARY DRIVES • FIGHTING

10. FOUR PRIMARY DRIVES • FLEEING

11. FOUR PRIMARY DRIVES • MAKING BABIES

12. FOUR PRIMARY DRIVES • THESE ARE SURVIVAL MECHANISMS • THEY ARE GENERALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH EACH OTHER • THEY ARE GENERALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH LESSER DRIVES AND EMOTIONS

13. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY • A mismatch between a primary drive or strong habitual behavior and the internal or external environment.

14. ANXIETY • Anxiety is one of those emotions that tends to be incompatible with other emotions. It also tends to impair activity. It shuts down the prefrontal cortex. • Sexual arousal can shut down anxiety (and anxiety can shut down sexual arousal). • Assertive/aggressive behavior can shut down anxiety. • Most purposeful actions can shut down anxiety. • Activating the prefrontal cortex can shut down anxiety.

15. AGGRESSION • Incompatible with anxiety • Rage is self reinforcing (it feels a lot better than anxiety, and there is a tension release when it is over).

16. DEPRESSION • As a brain mechanism it is a little bit unique. • In terms of brain activity, depression localizes itself as low level of activity in the left prefrontal cortex in right handed left lateralized individual.

17. RECIPROCITY • Planning and thinking inhibit emotions. • Emotions inhibit planning and thinking. • One goes up, the other goes down.

18. HUMAN FRONTAL LOBES • Chopping off a chicken’s head. • Human frontal lobe is to the rest of the human brain as the chicken’s brain is to the rest of the chicken’s body.

19. DSM-IV • This is the “bible” for classification of mental conditions. • About 50% of the conditions listed represent the following: • EXCESSIVE RATE AND MAGNITUDE RESPONSES TO RELATIVELY MINOR STIMULI • If you remember nothing else today, remember this

20. DISORDERS OF RATE AND MAGNITUDE OF RESPONSE RELATED TO FRONTAL LOBE DYSFUNCTION • ADHD • MIGRAINE • ANGER • ANXIETY • DEPRESSION

21. PAROXYSMAL DISORDERSSUDDEN ONSET, SHORT DURATION, QUICKLY LEAVING “EVENTS” • MIGRAINE HEADACHES • SEIZURES • RAGE REACTIONS • PANIC ATTACKS

22. MIGRAINES • Can mimic any other mental disorder, especially if there is an aura. • Aura: progresses in a wave at 2mm to 6mm per minute, usually from back of the brain to front, ending in a headache (tsunami effect). • Called CSD (cortical spreading depression). Wherever this wave passes, the brain malfunctions.

23. TYPICAL AND LESS TYPICAL MIGRAINE AURA • “GHOSTS” • AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS • PANIC • PSYCHOTIC EPISODE • SMELLS • APHASIA (receptive / expressive)

24. BREAKTIME FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BEFORE NEXT SET OF SLIDES