1. Prepared by Jeffrey W. Grimm Western Washington University
PowerPoint Presentation for Biopsychology, 9th Edition by John P.J. Pinel
Prepared by Jeffrey W. Grimm
Western Washington University
This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:
any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network;
preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images;
any rental, lease, or lending of the program.
COPYRIGHT © 2014 PEARSON EDUCATION, INC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

2. Can the Brain Recover from Damage?
Chapter 10
Brain Damage and Neuroplasticity
Can the Brain Recover from Damage?
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

3. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Causes of Brain Damage
Brain Tumors
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Closed-Head Injuries
Infections of the Brain
Neurotoxins
Genetic Factors
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

4. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Brain Tumors
A tumor (neoplasm) is a mass of cells that grows independently of the rest of the body: a cancer.
20 percent of brain tumors are meningiomas—that is, encased in meninges.
Usually benign; surgically removable
Most brain tumors are infiltrating.
Grow diffusely through surrounding tissue
Malignant; difficult to remove or destroy
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

5. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
FIGURE 10.1 A meningioma.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

6. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
FIGURE 10.3 An MRI of Professor P.’s acoustic neuroma. The arrow indicates the tumor.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

7. Cerebrovascular Disorders
Stroke: a sudden-onset cerebrovascular event that causes brain damage
A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off.
The brain cells die because they are deprived of oxygen and glucose needed to survive.
Cerebral hemorrhage: bleeding in the brain; occur when a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures. The result is blood seeping into the brain tissue, causing damage to brain cells.
Cerebral ischemia: disruption of blood supply
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and the most common cause of adult disability.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

8. Cerebrovascular Disorders (Con’t)
Cerebral hemorrhage: blood vessel ruptures
Aneurysm: a weakened point in a blood vessel wall that makes a stroke more likely; may be congenital (present at birth) or due to poison or infection
Cerebral ischemia: disruption of blood supply
Thrombosis: a plug forms in the brain
Embolism: a plug forms elsewhere and moves to the brain
Arteriosclerosis: wall of blood vessels thicken, usually due to fat deposits
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

9. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
FIGURE 10.4 An angiogram that illustrates narrowing of the
carotid artery (see arrow), the main pathway of blood to the brain.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

10. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Closed-Head Injuries
Brain injuries due to blows that do not penetrate the skull: the brain collides with the skull
Contusions: closed-head injuries that involve damage to the cerebral circulatory system; hematoma (bruise) forms
Concussions: a disturbance of consciousness following a blow to the head and no evidence of structural damage
While there is no apparent brain damage with a single concussion, multiple concussions may result in a dementia referred to as “punch-drunk syndrome.”
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

11. Infections of the Brain
Encephalitis: the resulting inflammation of the brain by an invasion of microorganisms
Bacterial infections
Often lead to abscesses, pockets of pus
May inflame meninges, creating meningitis
Treat with penicillin and other antibiotics
Viral infections
Some preferentially attack neural tissues.
Some can lie dormant for years.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

12. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Neurotoxins
Neurotoxins may enter general circulation from the GI tract or lungs, or through the skin.
Toxic psychosis: chronic insanity produced by a neurotoxin
Some antipsychotic drugs produce a motor disorder called tardive dyskinesia: especially first generation antispychotics like Haldol and Thorazine
involuntary, abnormal movement. It is characterized by repeated and involuntary motions, primarily in the face and fingers. These motions may include grimacing, sticking out the tongue, rapid blinking of the eyes, pursing or smacking the lips, and twitching of the fingers
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

13. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Genetic Factors
Most neuropsychological diseases of genetic origin are associated with recessive genes.
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome occurs in 0.15 percent of births; probability increases with advancing maternal age.
An extra chromosome 21 is created during ovulation.
Characteristic disfigurement, mental retardation, other health problems
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

14. Neuropsychological Diseases
Epilepsy
Parkinson’s disease
Huntington’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Alzheimer’s disease
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

15. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Epilepsy
The primary symptom is seizures, but not all who have seizures have epilepsy.
Epileptics have seizures generated by their own brain dysfunction.
Epilepsy affects about 1 percent of the population.
It is difficult to diagnose due to the diversity and complexity of epileptic seizures.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

16. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Epilepsy (Con’t)
Types of Seizures
Convulsions: motor seizures
Some are merely subtle changes of thought, mood, or behavior.
Causes
Brain damage
Genes: over 70 known so far
Faults at inhibitory synapses
Diagnosis
EEG: electroencephalogram
Seizures are associated with high amplitude spikes. `
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

17. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Epilepsy (Con’t)
Seizures are often preceded by an aura, such as a smell, hallucination, or feeling.
The aura’s nature suggests the epileptic focus.
The aura warns the epileptic of an impending seizure.
Partial epilepsy: does not involve the whole brain
Generalized epilepsy: involves the entire brain
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

18. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Partial Seizures
Simple
Symptoms are primarily sensory or motor or both (Jacksonian seizures).
Symptoms spread as epileptic discharge spreads.
Complex
Often restricted to the temporal lobes (temporal lobe epilepsy)
Patient engages in compulsive and repetitive simple behaviors (automatisms).
More complex behaviors seem normal.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

19. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Generalized Seizures
Grand Mal
Loss of consciousness and equilibrium
Tonic-clonic convulsions
Rigidity (tonus)
Tremors (clonus)
The resulting hypoxia may cause brain damage.
Petit Mal
Not associated with convulsions
A disruption of consciousness associated with a cessation of ongoing behavior
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

20. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is a movement disorder of middle and old age affecting about 0.5 percent of the population.
Tremor at rest is the most common symptom of the full-blown disorder.
Dementia is not typically seen.
No Single Cause
Parkinson’s is associated with degeneration of the substantia nigra; these neurons release dopamine to the striatum of the basal ganglia.
There is almost no dopamine in the substantia nigra of Parkinson’s patients.
Parkinson’s disease can be treated temporarily with L-dopa.
Parkinson’s is linked to about ten different gene mutations.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

21. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is a rare, progressive motor disorder of middle and old age with a strong genetic basis.
Huntington gene
Single, dominant gene
Huntington’s disease begins with fidgetiness and progresses to jerky movements of entire limbs and severe dementia.
Death usually occurs within 15 years.
It is caused by a single dominant gene.
First symptoms are usually not seen until age 40.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

22. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Multiple Sclerosis
MS is a progressive disease that attacks CNS myelin, leaving areas of hard scar tissue (sclerosis).
The nature and severity of deficits vary with the nature, size, and position of sclerotic lesions.
Periods of remission are common.
Symptoms include visual disturbances, muscle weakness, numbness, tremor, and loss of motor coordination (ataxia).
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.

23. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia; one’s likelihood of developing it increases with age.
Alzheimer’s disease is progressive; early stages are characterized by confusion and a selective decline in memory.
Several genes associated with early-onset AD
Decline in acetylcholine levels is one of the earliest signs of AD.
Effective treatments are not yet available.
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.