PYB102: The Mind and The Brain

Lecture Twelve (Week 12)

Dr Brooke Andrew
Preparing for the Final
Exam
 The Final Exam
• Worth 40% of final grade
• Two sections:
• Section A: 70 Multiple Choice Questions (worth 35%)
• Section B: 1 Reflective Short Answer Question (worth UP
TO 5%)
• No penalties for incorrect answers
• Approx 6 MCQs per lecture topic
 The Final Exam
• Reflective Short Answer Question:
There is one short answer question in SECTION B. This section of
the exam contributes up to 5% towards your overall grade in
PYB102. Please attempt the question in the response booklet
provided.
 
Throughout this Semester you have been encouraged to
participate in approved applied research participation projects
conducted by the School of Psychology and Counselling. In the
examination booklet provided, please briefly describe what you
have learned and observed relating to ethics and research
design from being a participant in these research projects.
 The Final Exam
• The Final Exam is currently scheduled for November
7th at 8.30am- please check exam room details
carefully via HiQ

• Don’t forget your Student ID card and writing

implements (blue and black pens)
 Any Questions?
• For PYB102 specific questions:
• pyb102@qut.edu.au

• For exam period advice and support (e.g., deferring

an exam):
• HiQ (range of contact options)

• For general help with Exam Preparation:

• http://studywell.library.qut.edu.au/
 Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

• Acquired brain injury (ABI) is used to describe all

types of brain injury that occur after birth

• ABI general definition: Injury to the brain that

results in deterioration of cognitive, physical or
behavioural functioning.
• A widely perceived myth is that brain injury is
simply a type of intellectual disability. People who
acquire brain injury usually retain their intellectual
abilities but may have difficulty controlling,
coordinating and communicating their thoughts
and actions.
• ABI is often called the invisible disability. As there
are frequently no outward physical signs of a
disability, effects such as fatigue, lack of initiation,
anger, mood swings and egocentricity may be seen
simply as personality defects by family members,
health professionals and government policy
makers.
 External Causes of ABI
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Motor vehicle and other traffic accidents
• Falls
• Assault
• Sports related
• Work-related or industrial accidents
External Causes of ABI (Continued)
• Poisoning
• Inhalation of organic solvents
• Metabolic disturbance (e.g., diabetic coma)
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Infections and diseases
• HIV/AIDS
• Bacterial (e.g. meningitis and brain abscesses)
• Viral (e.g. herpes simplex)
• Parasitic (e.g. cerebral malaria)
• Encephalitis (inflammation of CNS due to infection)
 Internal Causes of ABI
• Strokes and aneurysms
• Tumours
• Epilepsy
• Hypoxia/anoxia (e.g. near drowning)
• Secondary effects of TBI
• Haemorrhage or haematoma
• Intracranial pressure
• Oedema or brain swelling
• Post-traumatic epilepsy
Progressive Conditions which can
lead to ABI
• Alzheimer’s disease (and other dementia-type
conditions)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Korsakoff’s syndrome
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s disease
 Traumatic Brain Injury
• The pathomechanism of brain injury is typically
shearing, stretching and tearing at the neuron level.
• Broadly, we think of two primary classifications:
• Penetrating head injury
• Closed head injury
• Closed head injury may have many different causes,
but common to all is that the brain undergoes
either marked acceleration, deceleration, or both.
 Some Possible Consequences of
Traumatic Brain Injury
• Physical Effects • Cognitive Effects
• Fatigue • Memory problems
• Headaches • Poor concentration
• Dizziness • Slowed responses
• Paralysis • Lack of insight
• Chronic Pain • Poor planning and problem
solving
• Inflexibility
• Emotional and Behavioural • Impulsivity
Effects
• Lack of initiative and
motivation
• Irritability
• Socially inappropriate
behaviour
• Depression
• Emotional lability
 Stroke
Two broad types:
• Ischaemic
• e.g. thrombosis or embolism

• Haemorrhagic
• e.g., rupturing of an aneurysm
Classification of Severity
GCS LOC PTA

Mild 13 - 15 <30 min <24hr

Moderate 9 – 12 30min – 1-7 days

24hrs
Severe 3-8 > 24 hrs >7 days
 Role of Neuropsychologist

• Not generally involved in the initial weeks/months

following injury

• Role to assess the extent of persisting symptoms –

cognitive and behavioral and infer their impact on
functioning

• Educate clients and families about expected outcome

and management

• Design and implement strategies to assist clients to

compensate for deficits