Family Name____________________________

27424570Student Number|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|

Family Name____________________________

First Name____________________________

00Student Number|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|

Family Name____________________________

First Name____________________________

BMSC 206 INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE Written assignment

Total marks: 50 marks

Weighting: 25%

Your answer must be contained within the boxes and word limit; do not extend the box sizes.

The questions below belong to the Australian Catholic University and must not be shared on any other sites than those of ACU. You are expected to answer the question below in YOUR OWN WORDS. Do not copy and paste from any internet resources.

You need to reference your responses using peer-reviewed journals (DO NOT USE TEXTBOOKS OR LECTURE NOTES as REFERENCES).

CASE STUDY 1:

Lily Lamington, aged 21, met with her grandmother, Coco Croissant, 85 years old, to tell about her recent holiday in Europe. When Lily spoke about the countries she visited, Coco was able to name every capital of the countries she mentioned. Lily spoke about the different activities she did and the great food she had in Paris.

Compare the type(s) of memory used by Lily (when she spoke about her holidays) and Coco (when she named the capitals of the countries Lily visited) and discuss how both of these knowledge were stored. (150 words max; 5 marks)

-38310287000

Lily went back to university and needed to catch up with learning the content she missed during her holidays. Lily received a ketamine infusion to treat her depression just before studying her university subjects. Using your knowledge of molecular processes involved in learning, explain how ketamine could influence Lilys learning. (200 words max; 5 marks)

left120650

00

A few days later, Coco suddenly showed a weakness in her face on the right side, accompanied with numbness in her right arm and leg. She had trouble speaking and seemed very confused. Her husband called the ambulance and Coco was transported to the hospital where she had an MRI, and then a cerebral angiogram. After a few weeks in hospital, Coco is diagnosed with a specific type of dementia related to the event described here. Name and describe the event causing Cocos symptoms described above and name the type of dementia from which Coco is suffering following this event. (200 words max; 5 marks)

-95255905500

During a visit to her GP, Lily mentioned that she experienced a few panic attacks in the preceding few weeks. Taking in consideration that Lilys serotoninergic system (including receptors and transporters) is resistant to common medications (i.e. the usually administered medication targeting this system do not work), describe what other class(es) of medication Lily can take to decrease her anxiety. Your answer should name and describe the receptors that mediate the effects of the drug(s) you state. (150 words max; 4 marks)

left7874000

At a party, Lily met Jayjay Jelly, 25 years old, who has been consuming cannabis every day for the last two years. Jayjay claims that after smoking cannabis all his problems in life are gone. By reflecting on your understanding of the short- and long-term effects of cannabis, explain if you agree with Jayjays statement and provide your rationale. (200 words max; 5 marks)

1714506477000

At the same party, while dancing in a very crowded small room without ventilation, Lily felt very hot, but she was drinking only alcohol. While dancing, she met Marco Marshmallow, who is an ecstasy user and offered an ecstasy pill to Lily. By reflecting on your understanding of the short-term effects of ecstasy, explain if taking ecstasy would be safe for Lily and provide your rationale. (200 words max; 5 marks)

-19050571500

CASE STUDY 2:

Tom Tart, 66 years old, is living alone after being recently retired from his high-pressure job in the finance sector. Tom is feeling quite low since retiring, has lost his appetite, and is spending a lot of time lying on his bed, feeling constantly tired and having dark thoughts.

Based on the case study above, name the disease Tom is most likely to be suffering from. In your answer, discuss the effects of ONE suitable treatment option and explain how this treatment interferes with the action of the neurotransmitter that is most closely involved in the pathogenesis of Toms disease. (150 words max; 4 marks)

left3492500

Tom was invited with a friend to go to the local bowling club. When he arrived there, he started playing pokies. The following day, he could not help himself returning alone to play on the same poker machines. He has been continuing this daily pattern of behaviour for some weeks since his first visit. (200 words max total; 5 marks total)

Describe the neurotransmitter pathway that gets activated and its effects when Tom is expecting to win while playing pokies. (4 marks) (150 words max; 3 marks)

Briefly discuss Toms behaviour. Your answer should explain if his current behavioural pattern is considered normal, and if not, name the disorder you identified based on the case study. (50 words max; 2 marks)left4381500

While playing the poker machines, Tom experienced some tremor in his hands. With time, it is getting harder for Tom to walk to the bowling club and keep his balance. (200 words max in total; 7 marks in total)

Based on the scenario outlined above, name and briefly characterise the most likely pathology Tom may be suffering from and provide your rationale. (100 words max; 4 marks)

Discuss how the treatment for the pathology you identified under the previous question may influence Toms behaviour in reference to his daily activity with poker machines. (100 words max; 3 marks)

95252540000

After falling on the stairs of the bowling club, Tom became unconscious for a few minutes and was transported to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a head injury. Tom was somewhat responsive but baffled by his surroundings. He does not remember his daily activities and goes robotically from place to place and from task to task as directed by his therapists. However, although he cannot recall what he had for breakfast, he can still remember all the events which occurred prior his fall. Name and describe the most characteristic features of the type of memory disorder from which Tom is suffering and justify your answer. (50 words max; 2 marks total)

95257048500

REFERENCE LIST: (3 marks) 5 references is expected (you do not have to reference ALL of your answers)

Word count: