P363-01 PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Spring, 1999

TAKE HOME TEST #3: The Final

Please answer the following four (4) questions as completely as possible. You may your book and notes (other references may also be used, but shouldn't be necessary). While you are encouraged to discuss these questions with others in class, you MUST TURN IN YOUR OWN ANSWERS. Answers that appear to be duplicates of others in the class with be considered cheating- so please do your own work.

Each question is worth a possible 25 points (100 points total). Each answer should be approximately 3/4 to 1 page long (handwritten). Answers need not be typed, however, it is preferred when possible.

Answers are due AT THE ABSOLUTE LATEST BY May 6th by 4:30 pm. Oh- and have fun.

1. As you all now know, poor Dr. Dingbat has had a great deal of trouble with his various little "accidents". Well, its Graduation Eve, and the "boys" are trying to cross the street after an evening of heavy imbibing in the graduation ale. Dr. Dingbat spots you across the street- at least he THINKS he does. Just as he steps into the street he sees what he THINKS are a dozen Hyundai sedans and a large bus coming his way about 100 feet down the street. But, he has very little depth perception left and misjudges the distance.......

Dr. Dingbat’s condition is very grave. He is showing profound swelling to his brainstem and a small portion of his midbrain. What was left of his cortex has basically been obliterated from the prancing of 32 little hooves. He is able to breathe with some assistance from the respirator, and shows some minimal activity in some autonomic functions. He does appears to show some reflexive smiling, with minimal but present withdrawal reflexes from pain stimuli. Prognosis is probable death within several weeks to months.

Your job: Dr. Dingbat’s wife would like him declared brain dead. Based upon your knowledge from this class, you must decide a) if Dr. D is truly brain dead (being stupid doesn't count- or a lot of us would have the plug pulled!); b) if he can be declared brain dead to spare him suffering; c) if one can go ahead and salvage any usable body organs before he "dies" if he is still alive; and d) would your answer be different if one was either elderly or a newborn. Be sure to base your answer upon your knowledge physiology rather than personal biases.

REMEMBER: THERE IS NO "RIGHT" OR "WRONG" ANSWER HERE. This question is to make you THINK about the brain, and what makes us "alive". This is an issue you are likely to face one day. It helps if you've done a little advanced thinking about it!!!!!

2.Given your esteemed reputation as one of the finest neuropsychologists in the Bloomington-Normal area, you have been asked to give a presentation to the local hospital guild on "Mind-body connections". Specifically, they have requested a lecture on stress and the effects on both the mind and the body. You are very excited, as this is one of your pet topics. However, be careful as you draft your speech. Write a lecture or article that would address the physiological mechanisms of stress, the relation between psychological and physical stress, but, be sure and write it in "layperson" terms. It must be understood by the "average Jo". Be sure to support your answer with evidence from the book and lecture!

3. You have learned a lot about psychoactive drugs, and in particular antidepressants such as the drug, Prozac. Now, since you are so knowledgeable, I need your help. A of mine is manic depressive. At times, he is highly manic, but most often he is highly depressed. Once, he ran his car into a tree during a depression, and as a result of the brain injury suffers from grand mal seizures. A CAT scan does reveal, however, an epileptic focus, or triggering point. Generally, this friend is on either antidepressive medications or lithium carbonate. However, he enjoys the "high" of mania, and often goes off his medication. When he becomes depressed, he will often stop taking his seizure medications, and thus induces a seizure. He claims that this results in "shock therapy" for his depression. Strange guy, huh?

I have had great trouble explaining to him (a) what exactly manic depression is; (b) why the antidepressant drugs or lithium often take 10 days to 2 weeks to show behavioral improvements; and (c) why continuing to have grand mal seizures can produce kindling effects, and aren't exactly a great therapeutic intervention. Could YOU please tell him. Maybe he will listen to you, the great and wise expert in physiological psychology.