Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay
Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay
Parietal Lobe The Parietal Lobe is one of the four lobes that acts as the control center of the brain, and is located in the back of the head directly under the skull bone. Since the parietal lobe handles functions of focus, cognition, and perception, a person’s spatial perception or sense of touch, and visual perception or differentiation (identification) of size, shapes and colors will be challenged. . Damage to the Parietal Lobe impair the processing of visual images and other sensory input.
Impact of damage or injury would impair cognition where a person’s “ability to multi-task is reduced or eliminated, as mathematical ability and recognition of the difference between right and left. ” (Newsome Law Firm, 2010) Once a brain is damaged or injury occurs, there is no cure. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.Therefore, the goal of treatment and rehabilitation focus on assisting a patient to strengthen the skills he or she continues to possess, “while helping to find compensatory strategies for adaptation of those lacking. (Newsome Law Firm, 2010) Strengthening existing skills, is the first step toward advancing a person’s technique to adopt new methods of reasoning, planning, and decision-making. Patient assessment and diagnosis include the use of computed tomography (CT Scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-rays, and other specialized tests. A patient’s treatment team of specialists will often include a psychiatrist skilled in neurology and orthopedics, neuropsychologist who will test aspects of competence, speech consultant to help with expression comprehension and communication and finally a social worker who acts as a liaison.
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Frontal Lobe- to be found at the front of the brain and it is associated with thought, motor skills, memories, emotion and moral behavior.
Parietal Lobe- to be found at the middle section of the brain and it is associated with taste, touch and spatial orientation.
Temporal Lobe- to be found at the bottom section of the brain and it is associated with smell, hearing, memory and emotional expression.
Occipital Lobe- to be found at the back portion of the brain and it is associated with language and visual interpretation.
How does the aging process impact the neurological system?
As people get old, the amount of nerve cells in the brain typically decreases, though the amount of lost varies to each person whether he/she is in a good health condition or not. Aging process may affect brain functions like having a short term memory, decline of verbal abilities, information processes and slow response time and performance to activities. The spinal cord become hard and brittle causing pressure that will result to nerve fibers injury in effect is a decreased sensation, strength and balance. On the other hand, peripheral nerves gets slower in conducting impulses because of myelin sheath degeneration in effect is a decreased sensation, slower reflexes and clumsiness. There is also a slow self-repair process that makes people prone to injury or disease.
Compare and contrast the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in terms of function.
Sympathetic nervous system is in alert state thus the heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure increases, the person experiences constipation, less urination, dilated pupil and a constricted blood vessel.
Parasympathetic nervous system is in relax state hence the heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure decreases, the person experiences diarrhea, excessive urination, constricted pupil and a dilated blood vessel.
Web Output
Research a neurological article investigating pathologic changes that affect motor control and those that affect the sensory pathways. Write a one-page paper summarizing your reading. (font 12, times new roman, single space)
Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 70 percent of dementia cases. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older. But Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early-onset Alzheimer’s (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.
Alzheimer’s is not the only cause of memory loss. Many people have trouble with memory – this does NOT mean they have Alzheimer’s. In fact, most do not. There are many different causes of memory loss. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms, it is best to visit a doctor so the cause can be determined.
Alzheimer’s worsens over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from three to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions.
Alzheimer’s has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues. Although current Alzheimer treatments cannot stop Alzheimer’s from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing.
Microscopic changes in the brain begin long before the first signs of memory loss. The brain has 100 billion nerve cells (neurons). Each nerve cell connects with many others to form communication networks. Groups of nerve cells have special jobs. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, hear and smell.
To do their work, brain cells operate like tiny factories. They receive supplies, generate energy, construct equipment and get rid of waste. Cells also process and store information and communicate with other cells. Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen.
Scientists believe Alzheimer’s disease prevents parts of a cell’s factory from running well.Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay. They are not sure where the trouble starts. But just like a real factory, backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas. As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs and, eventually die, causing irreversible changes in the brain.
Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells.
Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd) that build up in the spaces between nerve cells.
Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau (rhymes with “wow”) that build up inside cells.
Though most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more. They also tend to develop them in a predictable pattern, beginning in areas important for memory before spreading to other regions.
Scientists do not know exactly what role plaques and tangles play in Alzheimer’s disease. Most experts believe they somehow play a critical role in blocking communication among nerve cells and disrupting processes that cells need to survive.
It’s the destruction and death of nerve cells that causes memory failure, personality changes, problems carrying out daily activities and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Experts have developed “stages” to describe how a person’s abilities change from normal function through advanced Alzheimer’s.
Stage 1: No impairment (normal function)
The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
Stage 2:
Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease)
The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses – forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-workers.
Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline (early-stage Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms)
Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration. Common stage 3 difficulties include:
Noticeable problems coming up with the right word or name
Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people
Having noticeably greater difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings Forgetting material that one has just read
Losing or misplacing a valuable object
Increasing trouble with planning or organizing.Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
Stage 4:
Moderate cognitive decline
(Mild or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease)
At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect clear-cut problems in several areas:
Forgetfulness of recent events
Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic -for example, counting backward from 100 by 7s
Greater difficulty performing complex tasks, such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills or managing finances
Forgetfulness about one’s own personal history
Becoming moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations
Stage 5:
Moderately severe cognitive decline
(Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease)
Gaps in memory and thinking are noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities. At this stage, those with Alzheimer’s may:
Be unable to recall their own address or telephone number or the high school or college from which they graduated
Become confused about where they are or what day it is
Have trouble with less challenging mental arithmetic; such as counting backward from 40 by subtracting 4s or from 20 by 2s
Need help choosing proper clothing for the season or the occasion
Still remember significant details about themselves and their family
Still require no assistance with eating or using the toilet. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
Stage 6:
Severe cognitive decline
(Moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease)
At this stage, individuals may:
Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings
Remember their own name but have difficulty with their personal history
Distinguish familiar and unfamiliar faces but have trouble remembering the name of a spouse or caregiver
Need help dressing properly and may, without supervision, make mistakes such as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on the wrong feet
Experience major changes in sleep patterns – sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night
Need help handling details of toileting (for example, flushing the toilet, wiping or disposing of tissue properly)
Have increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels
Experience major personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions (such as believing that their caregiver is an impostor)or compulsive, repetitive behavior like hand-wringing or tissue shredding. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
Tend to wander or become lost
Stage 7:
Very severe cognitive decline
(Severe or late-stage Alzheimer’s disease)
In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases.
At this stage, individuals need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may also lose the ability to smile, to sit without support and to hold their heads up. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing impaired.
Today, Alzheimer’s is at the forefront of biomedical research.
Ninety percent of what we know about Alzheimer’s has been discovered in the last 15 years. Some of the most remarkable progress has shed light on how Alzheimer’s affects the brain. The hope is this better understanding will lead to new treatments. Many potential approaches are currently under investigation worldwide. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
SUMMARY:
Alzheimer’s is a disease that targets the brain. It affects the capacity of a person to recall past events, think and act. The risk factors are as follows: age (fossil people), history of the family and heredity. We should know that Alzheimer’s disease progresses as time goes by and it is irrevocable for the reason that brain cells or neurons decline as the person advances his/her age. The manifestations might be loss of memory, inability to recognize, reason out, wise judgment and uncoordinated body movements. Plaques and Tangles is somehow link to the disease because it is believed that it is the cause of nerve cells death due to the log-jam of communication between nerve cells and processes that cells need to carry out to be able to survive is disrupted. There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the stage one is the stage wherein the body functioning is normal. The stage two is the stage wherein the earliest sign of Alzheimer’s occurs for example forgetting simple things like where did the client put his/her reading glasses, a favorite book, it may also be forgetting terminologies that are familiar. The stage three is the stage wherein symptoms of the disease are well evident by the family, colleagues and significant others. Poor concentration and memory are now manifested by the client. The stage four is the stage wherein symptoms increases that even his/her own personal history is forgotten.Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay. The stage five is the stage wherein the client starts to become dependent for he tends to forget his/her home address or landline, also the family and significant others should orient the client to time and place because they also forgets it. The stage six is the stage wherein the clients’ memory continues to deteriorate and the behavior changes, hence the client continues to become dependent. The last stage is the stage wherein the client need a full time help to family or significant others because they already lose the ability to interact with others and to the things that surrounds him/her and unable to control his/her motor movement. Hopefully researchers will be able to discover new treatments to cure Alzheimer’s disease.
Based from its name, the frontal lobe is located at the anterior part of the brain. It is considered as the largest part of the brain which is responsible for some of the major functions of the brain; among these are reasoning, cognition and concentration. The primary motor area is also located at the frontal lobe; it allows the person to consciously control his/her muscles for movement. Aside from motor function, it also has a speech motor function or involved in ability of a person to speak through the Broca’s area.Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
As far as psychology is concern, the frontal lobe has a major contribution to a person’s emotion, behavior and organization of thoughts. It is considered as the body’s emotional center and home of one person’s personality. The frontal lobe, being an emotional center of the body, regulates most of the dopamine-sensitive neurons in the brain which is associated with drive, attention and planning abilities. The higher thinking skills is also included in the functions of the frontal lobe which allows the person to retain long term memories, determine similarities and differences between things or events and suppress unacceptable social behaviors.
The parietal lobe is located at the posterior of frontal lobe occupying the middle section of the brain. It is considered as the part of the brain which is responsible for tactile sensory perception of pressure, touch and pain. The somatic sensory area is located at the parietal lobe which is responsible for processing of the senses of the body; one of this is recognition of pain, coldness and light touch. The knowledge of a being to the location of his/her body in space as well as the spatial knowledge of a person is synchronized by the parietal lobe. It is also known to have an ability to interpret taste sensation because of the gustatory area.
The Occipital lobe is situated at the back portion of the brain and is connected with interpreting visual stimulus and visual information. It contains the primary visual cortex which perceive and interprets information coming from the person’s eye. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay. The controlling of vision and visual processing done by the occipital lobe of the brain allows us to see and identify the things we are looking at. It also gives us understanding to different colors and shades. Visual interpretation is not only function of occipital lobe, it is also involve in differentiating shapes and understanding different letters and symbols. In a case of head injury and there is a damage on occipital lobe of the brain, the vision of the person will be greatly affected.
D. Temporal Lobe
The temporal lobe is located on around the temples inferior to the frontal lobe. This lobe is the location of the primary auditory cortex which is essential for receiving and interpreting sounds and the language a person hears. It reacts to different kinds of sounds and sound frequencies and helps a being to identify the location of a specific sound. The hippocampus is also situated in the temporal lobe, which is also associated with emotion and formation of memories. It plays an important role in long term memory retention which is essential in letting a person recall consciously and describe past memories. Another function of hippocampus in the temporal lobe is to retrieve information stored in brain that can be anything like facts, events, people and places. Another role of this lobe is an effective emotional response through the amygdale; this causes mood swings and unpredictable behaviors. The Wernicke’s area, which is regulated at the temporal lobe of the brain, contains the language zone which is responsible for controlling the mental processing that is needed for speech. It regulates the processes involved in comprehension and verbal memory. Aside from hearing the temporal lobe also contains olfactory centers for sense of smell.
2. How does the aging process impact the neurological system?
The nervous system undergoes various changes throughout the lifespan of a person, especially to an aged person where his neurological function started to run slow and so much vulnerable to general systemic changes. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.Despite that, changes in the nervous system of an aged man vary from person to person. Some can have a major decline in neurologic function and some may demonstrate a little change of function.
For some, a number of changes can occur with advancing age, some of this are decrease in brain
A number of alterations occur in with increasing age. Brain weight decreases, as does the number of synapses. A loss of neuron occurs in selected regions of the brain. Cerebral blood flow and metabolism are reduced. Temperature regulation became less efficient. In the peripheral nervous system, myelin is lost resulting in a decrease in conduction velocity in some nerves. There is an overall reduction in muscle bulk and the electrical activity within muscles. Taste buds atrophy and nerve cell fibers in the olfactory bulb degenerates. Nerve cell in the proprioceptive pathways also degenerates. Deep tendon reflexes can be decreased or in some cases absent. Hypothalamic function is modified such that stage IV sleep is reduced. There is an overall slowing of autonomic nervous system responses. Papillary responses are reduced or may not appear at all in the presence of cataract. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
Changes in motor function often result in a flexed posture, shuffling gait, and rigidity movement. These changes can create difficulties for the older person in maintaining or recovering balance. Strength and agility are diminished, and reaction time and movement time are decreased. Repetitive movements and mild tremors may be noted during an examination and may be a concern to the person. Observation of gait may reveal a wide-based gait with balance difficulties.
Sensory isolation due to visual hearing and loss can cause confusion, anxiety disorientation, misinterpretation of the environment, and feelings of inadequacy. Other manifestations of neurologic changes are related to temperature regulation and pain. The elderly patient may feel more readily than heat and may require extra covering when in bed. Reaction to painful stimuli may be decreased of age.
Another neurologic alteration in the elderly patient is the dulling tactile sensation due to decrease in the number of areas of the body responding to all stimuli and in the number and sensitivity of the sensory receptors. There may be difficulty in identifying objects by touch, and because of fewer tactile cues are received from the bottom of the feet, the person may come confused about body position and location. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
3. Compare and contrast the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in terms of function.
The different organs of the body accept nerve fibers from both divisions of the autonomic nervous system; the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Exceptions to this are most of the blood vessels, large parts of the skin, some of the body glands and the adrenal medulla which only receives sympathetic nerve fibers. Whenever an organ is served by both of the divisions of ANS, it produces antagonistic effects to the body, mainly because the post-ganglionic axons release different neurotransmitters. The parasympathetic fibers are called cholinergic fibers which releases acetylcholine while the sympathetic fibers are called adrenergic fibers that release norepinephrine. Both preganglionic axons of the two divisions release acetylcholine.
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The sympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the “flight-or-fight” system. Its activity is evident when we are excited or find ourselves in emergency or threatening situations, such as being frightened by the dogs along the road.Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay. The other division of the autonomic nervous system is the parasympathetic nervous system; unlike the SNS, PNS is most active when the body is at rest and not threatened in any way. This is sometimes called as the “resting-and-digesting” system; its main concern is to promote normal digestion of food and elimination of feces and urine and save sufficient body energy, particularly by decreasing demands on the cardiovascular system. In SNS, a hammering heartbeat; Tachypnea; cold and clammy skin; prickly scalp; and dilated eye pupils are sure signs of sympathetic activity. During these situations, the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels; dilates the bronchioles of the lungs; and brings about many other affect to help the individual cope up with stressors. In the other hand, the PNS regulates the blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates at normal levels; the digestive tract is actively digesting food, and the skin is warm to touch. The eye pupils are constricted to protect the retinas from excessive light exposure, and the lenses of the eyes are “set” for close vision. The most important role of the PNS is for digestion, defecation and diuresis while the SNS is for exercise, excitement, emergency and embarrassment.
As said earlier, an organ which receives nerve fibers from both divisions of ANS has an antagonistic effect with each other. One example of this is the effect of ANS in the urinary bladder; in SNS the urinary bladder constricts which prevents the person from voiding. Meanwhile, the PNS relaxes the sphincters to provide and allow voiding. When it comes to the salivary and lacrimal gland, there is going to be an increase of production of saliva and tears in PNS and inhibition of production in SNS resulting to dry eyes and mouth. The reproductive system of males have different reactions too, it was erected due to vasodilation in PNS and emission of semen in the SNS. Psychology – Parietal Lobe Essay.
