Psychotherapy: 89b - Limbic System
This flashcard set covers the effects of thiamine deficiency in alcohol use disorder—particularly damage to the mammillary bodies and symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, such as confabulation and amnesia. It also reviews the core functions of the limbic system using the mnemonic HOME, and describes how amygdala stimulation relates to fear and anxiety responses.
A patient with a history of alcohol use disorder is explaining to you that they are late for their appointment because there was a bank robbery that they were stuck in on their way to the doctor. You know that this is unlikely, so you order a brain MRI.
Imaging shows increased signal intensity in the area of the mamillary bodies
How would you treat this patient?
Give thiamine
Confabulation, spurious answers to questions, damage to mamillary bodies all support thiamine deficiency
Thiamine deficiency is common in people with alcohol use disorder
Recall:
Wernicke portion (acute)
Ataxia
Eye movement abnormalities
Korsakoff portion
Anterograde and retrograde amnesia
Poor judgement, initiative, impulse controle
Confabulation, spurious answers to questions
Technically, you give thiamine to prevent the Korsakoff portion, but it makes sense that even if that is there you should probably still supplement with thiamine?
Key Terms
A patient with a history of alcohol use disorder is explaining to you that they are late for their appointment because there was a bank robbery that they were stuck in on their way to the doctor. You know that this is unlikely, so you order a brain MRI.
Imaging shows increased signal intensity in the area of the mamillary bodies
How would you treat this patient?
Give thiamine
Confabulation, spurious answers to questions, damage to mamillary bodies all support thiamine deficiency
What are the 4 main functions of the limbic system?
HOME
Homeostasis (Hypothalamus)
Olfaction (Olfactory cortex)
Memory (Hippocampal formation)
Stimulation of the amygdala will result in which behaviors/moods?
Fear
Anxiety
Rage
Aggression
Describe the structure of the hippocampus
Which sectors are most susceptible to ischemia?
Divided into sectors CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4
CA1 and CA2 are the Sommer Sector: most susceptible to ischemia
...
List the sructures in the hippocampal formation
Dentate gyrusInput structure for the hippocampal formation
Hippocampus
Subic...
Which receptors are targeted by limbic encephalitis?
What is the result?
NMDA receptors
Cognitive impairment
Disordered perception
Mood changes
Sleep distrubance...
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
A patient with a history of alcohol use disorder is explaining to you that they are late for their appointment because there was a bank robbery that they were stuck in on their way to the doctor. You know that this is unlikely, so you order a brain MRI. Imaging shows increased signal intensity in the area of the mamillary bodies How would you treat this patient? | Give thiamine
Recall:
Technically, you give thiamine to prevent the Korsakoff portion, but it makes sense that even if that is there you should probably still supplement with thiamine? |
What are the 4 main functions of the limbic system? | HOME
|
Stimulation of the amygdala will result in which behaviors/moods? | Fear Anxiety Rage Aggression |
Describe the structure of the hippocampus Which sectors are most susceptible to ischemia? |
|
List the sructures in the hippocampal formation |
|
Which receptors are targeted by limbic encephalitis? What is the result? | NMDA receptors
|
Which vitamin deficiency causes Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome? Which brain structures are damaged? What are the symptoms? | Thiamine deficiency Mamillary bodies (bilateral necrosis)
|
What is the result of a bilateral hippocampal legion? | Anterograde amnesia (No new memories can be formed) This is what happened to patient HM |
Which part of the brain is damaged in Alzheimer’s disease? What is the result? | Parts of the Papez circuit
|
What is the function of the Papez Circuit? | Connects the cortex to the hypothalamus It is the “anatomic substrate” for the convergence of cognitive activities, emotional experiences, and expression |
List the steps in the pathway thorugh the paralymbic cortex |
|
| Converts short term (up to 60 min) into long-term memory Bilateral hippocampal lesion -> anterograde amnesia |
Which area of the brain is most likely to be affected by HSV1 encephalitis? | Limbic cortex
|
If the limbic system is damaged, what functions might be lost? | HOME
|
List the steps in the Papez circuit |
Function: connect cortex to hypothalamus; the cortex sends inputs at each step |
List the 5 components of the limbic system |
|
Lesions in which areas can result in anterograde amnesia? |
|
A lesion in the medial amygdala will result in which behaviors? | Anorexia Hypersexuality |
What is the most common symptom of damage to the limbic system? | Anterograde amnesia
|
What is the function of the paralimbic cortex? | Connects the assoication cortex and the limbic system
|
A lesion in the lateral amygdala will result in what behavior? | Bulimia (unrestrained eating) |
What is the function of the hippocampal formation | Short term and long term memory |
| Dentate gyrus |