Neurological Testing Practical

You will have a practical examination on your ability to differentiate and diagnose problems at the following spinal cord levels: C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, T-1, L-4, L-5, S-1.  You must know how to test the muscle, dermatome and reflex associated with each cord level as instructed in class. (note that some cord levels do not have an associated reflex)  You will actually perform these tests on a patient (me) and be graded on both your knowledge and ability to perform muscle, sensory and reflex testing.  You will also be questioned on the scales used to grade muscles and reflexes.  Testing will take place on December 10, 11, and 12 – you will signup for a particular time slot on a sheet posted in the classroom.

Neuroscience Test

You will have a test on all material covered thus far except for the various drugs (LSD, ecstasy, etc…)  The test will include all material from Chapter 11 in the textbook (including cocaine) and from Chapter 1 in the Brain Facts book.  It will also include any other assigned readings/information such as the study guide pages and chapter review questions.

Test Date: Monday, 10/14/13

Neuroscience Drugs at the Mouse Party

Go to my neuroscience wiki page on drugs located here:

http://www.docfleetwood.net/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Drugs

Complete the “lesson” links to learn how a neuron works, what happens at the synapse and how drugs affect this.  As an added bonus, the “Mouse Party” activity is pretty funny 🙂

Use this site to create a table with the following information: drug name, method of intake, how the drug affects the neurons in the brain.  For example…  Cocaine, snort, inject or smoke, blocks dopamine reuptake receptors thus prolonging the effect of dopamine. (but yours will be in a nice, neat table format)

Chapter 11 Neuroscience Reading and Questions

Use your textbook to complete the reading and questions I assigned in class, which I have summarized below.

1.  Read chapter 11 – there is a lot of good information in this chapter about how nerves work.  Give particular concentration to the items below.

  • Know table 11.1 on pages 371-372
  • Know the pictures on pages 379 & 385.
  • Know table 11.2 on page 387.
  • Know the neurotransmitter information in table 11.3 on pages 392-393
  • Know figure 11.22 regarding second messengers
  • Read the “Closer Look” on page 396-397 and answer the questions below.
    • How can the “wisdom of the body” and the way it responds to neurotransmitter like chemicals be related to antibiotic use/overuse?
    • Why is cocaine addictive? (How does it work?)
    • What is crack?
    • Can you see any problems with treating someone with Manzindol?
    • How does an overdose of Heroin kill?
    • Can you experience constant pleasure (for years), physiologically and psychologically?  Why or why not?

2.  Read pages 456-461 (in chapter 13) and take notes on the sensory receptors.

  • Know table 13.1 on page 459.

3.  Complete the study guide pages given in class.

4.  Answer the following Chapter 11 Review questions: MC #1,3,5,6,10,11;  SA #1,15,16,17,18,19,20,21; CA #1,2,3,4

This is due on Monday, 10/7/13

Vision Readings Homework

Neuroscience students should be sure to read Brain Facts chapter 3 (Senses and Perception) and pages 542-563 in your book, which is about the eye and vision.  In particular, by the time you come back from break, make sure you know the parts of the eye, extrinsic muscles of the eye and which motions they control, and the visual pathway from the retina to the occipital lobe via the optic nerve, tract, chiasm, etc…  Be sure to note which visual information crosses hemispheres and which does not as it pertains to the eye’s visual field.