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EXC 7770 Psychoneurological & Medical Issues in Special Education. Susan B. Brown, Ph.D. Kennesaw State University. Definitions:.
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EXC 7770 Psychoneurological & Medical Issues in Special Education Susan B. Brown, Ph.D. Kennesaw State University
Definitions: • Psychoneurology: of, relating to, or concerned with psychology and neurology especially in their clinical aspects http://www2.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/mwmednlm?book=Medical&va=psychoneurology • Neuropsychology: a science concerned with the integration of psychological observations on behavior and the mind with neurological observations on the brain and nervous system http://www2.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/mwmednlm
Approaches to study of brain: • animal research • people with brain damage/mental illness • lab experiments with primates/humans • brain-imaging technology • chemical composition CAT MRI • electrical transmission EEG SQUID BEAM • blood-flow patterns PET
Chapter 1 (Drubach, 2000) Brain • 3 pints • 3 pounds
Brain function • Receive: uses sensory/perceptual processes to take in objects/events • Process: draws on memory & problem-solving to process • Act: translates thought & decision into behavior & language • Affect: controls emotions & feelings • Control: controls body systems The Secret Life of the Brain : Mind Illusions
Drubach (2000) Structure of the Brain • Neurons • Neurotransmitters • Glial Cells • Brain Structure • Cerebellum • Brainstem • Thalamus • Basal Ganglia • Cerebrum • Hemispheres • Spinal Cord
Neurons • Regulate cognitive activity • Specialized • Collaborative
Produced by enzymes Stored in vesicles Communication (autoreceptors – feedback) Electrochemical Excitatory Inhibiting Depolarize Selective Synapse Receptor Enzymes Reuptake Glial ingestion NeurotransmittersNeuroscience for Kids - Neurotransmitters)
Glial cellsglial cells - multiple sclerosis encyclopaedia • Support & Nourishment (astrocytes) • Neurotransmitter ingestion • Remove waste • Mesh structure • Insulation (oligodendrocytes, Schwann cell • Myelin sheath • Faster conduction
Alterations in neuronal communication • Inadequate level of neurotransmitter production • Decrease in number of presynaptic neurons • Faulty mechanism for release of neurotransmitters • Enzyme levels in synapse • Reuptake functions • Receptors available
Cerebellum • Coordination of movement • Motor learning • Cognition • Motor planning • Rate of information processing • Memory
Brain Stem • Command Center Nuclei • Muscle movements • Organ control • Regulating consciousness • Information highways • Axons transmitting information from brain • Axons transmitting information to brain
Reticular formation • Central core of the brain stem • Regulates attention & flow of sensory information into a general level of attention • Fluctuates in 90 minute cycles (chemical net to increase/decrease information flow) • High in AM, drop until below consciousness to sleep at night
Thalamus Hypothalamus Censor & gatekeeper • Arousal • Relay sensory information to brain • Coordindation of movement • Sensory & motor integration • Autonomic functions • Memory Homeostasis, or maintaining the body's status quo • Neural signals to the autonomic system • Endocrine signals to/through the pituitary • Controls body weight and appetite
Basal Ganglia • Movement • Cognition
Amygdyla • Part of the basal ganglia • Emotional processing • Emotional memory
Autonomic Nervous Systemhttp://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/auto.html runs bodily functions without our awareness or control Sympathetic system: "fight-or-flight" response Parasympathetic system: slowing the heart, constricting the pupils, stimulating the gut and salivary glands, and other responses that are not a priority when being "chased by a tiger“ The state of the body at any given time represents a balance between these two systems.
Cerebrum Hierarchical Hemispheres Functional lobes: Frontal Parietal Temporal Occipital
Frontal Lobe • Initiators & command post for movement • Left frontal lobe – motor functions of language • Personality
Sensory Lobes Temporal Lobe • Processing auditory information • Left – Meaning of language Occipital Lobe • Processing visual information • Parietal Lobe • Processing sensory information
Corpus Callosum Communication between brain hemispheres
Spinal Cord • Information from brain to body: • Fibers • Roots • Motor neurons • Carry information in opposite direction • Information from body to brain: • Sensory receptors • Roots • Proprioception • Reflexes
The Brain: Information Processing System • Attention • Perception • Memory • Association • Responses
Information Processing System Long-term memory Sensory Store Senses Attention Perception S R Short-term memory
Functional Organization • Receptors • Electrochemical impulses • Axons to thalamus – gatekeeper forms units • Primary processing – modality specific • Secondary processing – modality specific • Tertiary processing – integrate across modalities & affective components (limbic) Input Output