Download Each of these case histories involves damaged areas of the brain

Each of these case histories involves damaged areas of the brain and/or cerebral
cortex. If the cortex cannot communicate with other brain areas or other cortical areas
we are unable to perceive or interpret much of our surroundings. So, while most of
these answers do not mention the cerebral cortex directly, it is implied that the cerebral
cortex is not getting the information needed to properly integrate and interpret
information. The answers are listed below along with a few websites where you can find
additional information.
1) The regions damaged by the iron rod were the frontal lobes of the cerebrum.
Based on what we have learned, we can hypothesize that the limbic system
was most likely injured since it acts as the link between higher cognitive functions
and primitive emotional responses. The limbic system contains the cingulate
gyrus, which plays a role in emotions, and the amygdala, which is involved in
emotion and memory. Since we can tell from the story that he definitely exhibited
different emotions, we can hypothesize that these areas were injured.
2) Walking normally will depend upon sensory as well as motor control structures.
Damage to leg nerves and muscles could impair walking, as could damage to
spinal cord areas that control the muscles, and spinal cord areas that mediate
relevant sensation from legs and feet. Damage to the spinal tract to and from
the brain could interfere with brain influences on walking. Motor control areas in
the brain that could be damaged include the cerebellum, pons, basal ganglia,
and cerebral cortex. Also, damage to any area containing tracts to and from
motor control areas could prevent normal signals from influencing motor output.
3) Damage to localized areas of the primary motor cortex paralyzes the body
muscles controlled by these areas. If the stroke is in the left hemisphere, the
right side of the body will be weak or paralyzed.
4) For blindness, damaged areas may include the optic nerves or the occipital
lobe of the cerebrum. For loss of normal eye movement, damage to the
midbrain or the oculomotor or trochlear nerves may be responsible.
5) One of the simplest mechanisms for maintaining fluid balance is the thirst
mechanism. Normally, when a person is thirsty, he or she drinks because the
thirst center in the hypothalamus is stimulated. In this patient's confused and
combative state, she is probably refusing (frontal Lobe) or forgetting (damage
to hypothalamus or tracts leading to hypothalamus) to eat or drink, thereby
developing dehydration.
6) Dopamine administered to a Parkinson's patient fails to cross the bloodbrain barrier. Treatment with the dopamine precursor L-dopa, however, is
effective, as this molecule can cross the barrier. However, L-dopa can only be
used for a short period of time before adversely affecting the nervous system.
7) Visual agnosia.. Damage to visual association areas prevents Mr. P from
“making sense” of what he sees. Damage to visual association areas do not
allow the brain to make connections between the sensory information received
by the visual cortex and experience. Patients may be able to describe an object
that they see but not be able to “recognize” the object. This is a case history from
Oliver Sacks. Mr. P is “The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat” For more
information you can read his book of the same name or see this website.
<http//webfusion.net.nz/oliver_sacks_dr.p.html>
8) Korsakov’s syndrome. Damage to neurons occurs due to a lack of thiamine
(Vitamin B1). There are several symptoms associated with alcoholic Korsakoff’s
syndrome. Damage to the mammillary bodies as well as portions of the
thalamus have been linked to this disease. As much as I hate to say
this….Wikipedia has a short, easy to follow description of this syndrome. This is
also a case history from Oliver Sacks’ book ‘The Man who Mistook his Wife for a
Hat’
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wili/Korsakoff’s_syndrome>
9) Alzhiemer’s is a form of dementia in which neural tangles or plaques form within
the brain. There are many resources regarding this disease. I have listed several
below:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
www.alz.org/
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
10) The Medulla Oblongata and Hypothalamus both play a role in vomiting. The
Vestibulocochlear nerve provides information regarding equilibrium. When a
brain is injured, it will often swell. This swelling will put pressure on all parts of the
brain.
11) Individuals with ADHD show differences in the following areas of the brain:
prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum and the tracts connecting
these areas of the brain. Here is a link to an article you can read. Sorry, I the
article is difficult to understand, however is the best source I could find.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07110.x/full
12) When the skin is broken by an animal bite some cutaneous receptors are
physically damaged. It is through these damaged axons that the virus gains
entrance to the neuron. Retrograde axoplasmic transport carries the virus to
the central nervous system, where it can reproduce and spread.
13) Ramón has a damaged left femoral nerve. This nerve also supplies sensory
innervation to the skin on the anteromedial surface of the thigh and medial
surfaces of the leg and foot, so he will also experience numbness in those
regions.
14) Patients suffering from Bell's palsy usually experience paralysis of the facial
muscles on the affected side along with a loss of sensation from the anterior
two-thirds of the tongue. Pain is rare and the condition usually resolves without
specific treatment.
15) This region of the brain contains the centers for regulating the cardiovascular
system and initiating respiration, both vital to life. In addition, most sensory
and motor tracts pass through the medulla oblongata between higher and
lower centers of the nervous system.
16) A.The cerebrum is involved in conscious perception and voluntary motor control.
Various sensory areas of the cortex will detect the mis-step, falling, and landing
on the ground. Motor areas will initiate standing up and brushing yourself off.
B.The cerebellum receives a copy of the motor output from the cerebrum that
controls spinal motor neurons, and also sensory input. The cerebellum compares
the sensory and motor information to coordinate the execution of movement.
Obviously the cerebellum was unable to prevent you from falling; however, your
return to an upright position may be executed smoothly thanks to this brain area.
C.The limbic system is involved in emotion. This is where your fear, anger, or
embarrassment at falling will arise.