Brain Damage

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Brain Damage Neuroplasticity
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Etiology of Brain Damage

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Cerebrovascular Injury (CVI)
• Tumors
• Anoxia (e.g., near drowning, drug overdose)
• Toxins (e.g., lead)
• Diseases (e.g., Herpes, encephalitis)
• Seizures

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Traumatic Brain Injury

• 1. Open Head Injury (e.g., missile wound)
• focal damage and some diffuse damage
• Classic Case Phineas Gage

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Phineas Gage Frontal Lobe Injury
Rosenzweig et al., 2002
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Prefrontal Cortex Organizes cognitions, emotions
and behavior.
Blue dorsolateral prefrontal Green
orbitofrontal region
Rosenzweig et al., 2002
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Prefrontal Cortex Distinguishes Homo Sapiens
from other mammals
Rosenzweig et al., 2002
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Behavioral Disruption Following Prefrontal
Lesions (note any type of brain damage can
result in a Prefrontal Syndrome)
Rosenzweig et al., 2002
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Traumatic Brain Injury (contd)

• Closed Head Injury
• - concussion (mild brain injury)
• - moderate to severe brain injury
  classification dependent on the degree of
  post-traumatic amnesia (or anterograde amnesia
  deficits in new learning)
• - Pathophysiology of TBI
• focal damage (coupe contra-coupe)
• diffuse damage (shearing tearing
  of
• axons referred to as diffuse axonal
• injury)

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Functional Changes

• Depends on where the focal damage is
• Frontal?
• Parietal?
• Occipital?
• Temporal?
• Limbic System?
• Basal Ganglia?
• Hypothalamus?
• Brainstem?

Identify behaviors associated with these areas.
Focal damage can affect specific behaviors and
impact related behaviors. Diffuse damage will
cause widespread tissue loss.
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Cerebrovascular Injury

• Stroke (Ischemia loss or reduction of blood
  circulation)
• Thrombosis (large blockage)
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
• What causes the brain damage? (next slide)

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Stroke Source of Injury and Treatment
Rosenzweig et al., 2002
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Behavioral Disruption following Right Hemisphere
Stroke Hemispatial Neglect
Rosenzweig et al., 2002
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Other Causes of Brain Damage

• Tumors these can be small to large cyst-like
  tumors or sticky, tentacle-like tumors
• Toxins heavy metals such as lead cause damage.
  Lead replaces the oxygen molecule, causing
  widespread damage (sources lead paint, leaded
  gasoline fumes)
• Anoxia loss of oxygen causes diffuse damage
• Diseases numerous
• Seizures uncontrolled electrical activity cause
  Glutamate Toxic Casacade (as occurs with stroke)

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Did you know that

• if you understand the functional organization of
  the brain in a healthy person, you will be able
  to understand functional changes following brain
  damage?
• AND (if you understand
  this)
• you will be able to understand problems
  associated with psychiatric disorders?

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Remember There is always recovery due to
Neuroplasticity
Rosenzweig et al., 2002