Childhood Disorders Psychology 2617

Introduction To understand developmental disorders we first have to look at development of the nervous system To understand developmental disorders we first have to look at development of the nervous system Basically it goes from head to tail and from near to far Basically it goes from head to tail and from near to far

Gross development When a Mommy and a Daddy really like each other... When a Mommy and a Daddy really like each other... Primitive body at 15 days Primitive body at 15 days Neural plate at about 3 weeks Neural plate at about 3 weeks Plate curls up, forms the neural groove, this becomes the neural tube Plate curls up, forms the neural groove, this becomes the neural tube By 49 days pretty person like By 49 days pretty person like

Stem Cells Neural stem cells line the neural tube Neural stem cells line the neural tube These divide quickly These divide quickly Unlike adult stem cells, these guys divide and divide again, like well, like 'normal' (non neural) cells Unlike adult stem cells, these guys divide and divide again, like well, like 'normal' (non neural) cells Adult stem cells divide, but then one daughter cell dies! Adult stem cells divide, but then one daughter cell dies! Stem cells become neuroblasts or glioblasts Stem cells become neuroblasts or glioblasts

Stages in brain development Cell birth Cell birth Migration Migration Differentiation Differentiation Maturation Maturation Synaptogenesis Synaptogenesis Cell death Cell death mylenogenesis mylenogenesis

Generation, migration and differentiation Much easier to fix trauma if early on Much easier to fix trauma if early on Migration takes about oh 6 to 7 weeks Migration takes about oh 6 to 7 weeks Then differentiation kicks in Then differentiation kicks in Cells formed in a particular region differentiate into different types of neurons Cells formed in a particular region differentiate into different types of neurons Follow the radial glial road (very cool) Follow the radial glial road (very cool) Layers of cortex develop from the inside out, as you would expect Layers of cortex develop from the inside out, as you would expect

Vulnerability and Plasticity Teratogens (like booze for example) Teratogens (like booze for example) Can cause agenisis or dysgenisis Can cause agenisis or dysgenisis Possibility for injury during birth too Possibility for injury during birth too Depending on the insult an immature brain may deal better than a mature one, though this varies more than originally thought Depending on the insult an immature brain may deal better than a mature one, though this varies more than originally thought

Some specific disorders Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus Too much CSF Too much CSF 27 per per Pressure damages brain, usually pervasively Pressure damages brain, usually pervasively Sunting can help Sunting can help Turner’s syndrome Turner’s syndrome Missing X Missing X Low cognitive functioing Low cognitive functioing Less parietal metabolic activity Less parietal metabolic activity

Acquired disorders FAS FAS Growth retardation, facial anomalies Growth retardation, facial anomalies Hard to know how much alcohol is safe Hard to know how much alcohol is safe FSS maybe too FSS maybe too Pervasive cognitive and behavioural deficits Pervasive cognitive and behavioural deficits

Learning disabilities Dyslexia Dyslexia Seems to be a genetic cause Seems to be a genetic cause Slower flicker fusion Slower flicker fusion Magnocellular deficit perhaps Magnocellular deficit perhaps Could be due to planum temporale deficits Could be due to planum temporale deficits (symetric in dyslexic people) (symetric in dyslexic people)

Nonverbal Learning disability Sort of the opposite of dyslexia Sort of the opposite of dyslexia Seems it could be a question of integration Seems it could be a question of integration Right hemisphere, particularly parietal regions Right hemisphere, particularly parietal regions Talk a lot, but don’t get the sort of social aspects of language Talk a lot, but don’t get the sort of social aspects of language

Pervasive developmental disorders Autism Autism Poor (if any) linguistic development Poor (if any) linguistic development Joint attention Joint attention Autistic aloneness? Autistic aloneness? Echolalia Echolalia Neologisms Neologisms Pretend play is abnormal Pretend play is abnormal Book says 20 per , more like 300 Book says 20 per , more like 300

autism Hard to know what the cause is, though genetics do play a role Hard to know what the cause is, though genetics do play a role Hard to say what the problem is, is it cortex? HP? Amygdila? Other limbic areas? Hard to say what the problem is, is it cortex? HP? Amygdila? Other limbic areas? Emotional perception and theory of mind Emotional perception and theory of mind

Putting it all together Canalesthesia Canalesthesia Impaired affective assignment Impaired affective assignment Asociality Asociality Extended selective attention Extended selective attention

Outlook Well, it depends on the severity Well, it depends on the severity Some autistic people never even develop linguistic skills Some autistic people never even develop linguistic skills Some autistic people end up in special ed programs Some autistic people end up in special ed programs Some autistic people finish high school Some autistic people finish high school Some get PhDs! Some get PhDs!

ADHD More males than females More males than females Can continue to adulthood Can continue to adulthood Maybe half of all psychiatric referrals! Maybe half of all psychiatric referrals! Often occurs with other disorders such as ODD and CD Often occurs with other disorders such as ODD and CD Often with anxiety or depression too Often with anxiety or depression too

What is the cause? Genetics Genetics Abnormal corpus collossum? Abnormal corpus collossum? Less communication Less communication Frontal lobe issue? Frontal lobe issue? Lack of asymmetry Lack of asymmetry Frontal basal ganglia? Frontal basal ganglia? Decreased blood flow Decreased blood flow

models So what is the deal on this disorder? So what is the deal on this disorder? Seems that attention cannot be focused Seems that attention cannot be focused Most models suggest that some component of attention, or all the components, are messed up Most models suggest that some component of attention, or all the components, are messed up Why do stimulants work? Why do stimulants work? Well, stimulants focus attention! Well, stimulants focus attention!

Conclusion Some of this stuff is pretty sad Some of this stuff is pretty sad However, new techniques and diagnostic tools have allowed people with say Hydrocephalus and Autism to lead really fairly normal lives However, new techniques and diagnostic tools have allowed people with say Hydrocephalus and Autism to lead really fairly normal lives Drug treatments have been effective for ADHD Drug treatments have been effective for ADHD There is lots of hope There is lots of hope