Transcript What neurodevelopmental disorders have been identified

Psychology 304:
Brain and Behaviour
Lecture 23
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Announcement
The grades for the first midterm exam are now available
on the course website. The mean score on the midterm
exam was 67% (SD = 17%, range = 23% – 97%).
The TA, Patrick, will be available during his office hours
or by appointment for interested students to review their
exams: Mondays, 10:00-11:00, Kenny 3506,
[email protected].
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Neurodevelopmental Disorders
1. What neurodevelopmental disorders have been
identified? (continued)
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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:
1. describe the causes and symptoms of disorders
associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
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What neurodevelopmental disorders have been
identified? (continued)
4. Fetal alcohol syndrome
 Occurs when the fetus is exposed to alcohol,
resulting in nervous system damage. Caused by
neurotoxin exposure and nutrient deficiencies.
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 Associated with abnormal brain development:
smaller frontal lobes, poor production of celladhesion molecules, reduced gray matter, neural
plasticity and head size, absence of corpus callosum.
 Accompanied by mental retardation, altered facial
features, stunted growth, and cognitive/behavioural
deficits.
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Brain Damage
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Physical Characteristics
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Physical Characteristics
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 See YouTube video clip on fetal alcohol syndrome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9ap3Iimimk (15
minutes).
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5. Autism
 Occurs as a result of a neurodevelopmental error
between 20 and 24 days after conception. Precise
error is unknown.
 Caused by abnormalities in the gene Hoxa 1 in some,
but not all, cases and/or exposure to neurotoxins.
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 Associated with abnormal brain development:
shortened brain stem, underdeveloped and missing
nuclei within the brain stem, abnormal frontal lobes,
reduced mirror neuron activity, smaller corpus callosum
and amygdala.
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 Accompanied by three core symptoms:
1. reduced capacity for social interaction.
2. reduced capacity for communication.
3. preoccupation with a single subject or activity. Typically,
perseveration is observed. In some cases, mental
retardation and/or savant abilities are observed.
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Autism: Mirror Neuron Activity
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6. Williams syndrome
 Occurs when a region of genes on chromosome 7
fails to replicate and, therefore, is missing. Caused
by errors in cell division.
 Among the genes that are missing on chromosome 7
is a gene that controls the production of elastin, a
protein that contributes to elasticity in internal organs
and tissues.
 Associated with abnormal brain development:
characteristic patterns of atypical cortical volume.
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William Syndrome: Cortical Volume
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 Accompanied by mental retardation, impaired spatial
cognition, hypersociability, abnormalities in internal
organs, and altered facial and body features.
 Although individuals with Williams syndrome display
language deficits, their language skills are remarkable
given their relatively low IQ. Often, great musical
abilities are observed.
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William Syndrome: Physical Characteristics
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William Syndrome: Physical Characteristics
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 See YouTube video clip on William’s syndrome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pyNe2TBQi8 (5
minutes).
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Neurodevelopmental Disorders
1. What neurodevelopmental disorders have been
identified? (continued)
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