Childhood DisordersChildhood Disorders

Psychology 2617Psychology 2617

IntroductionIntroduction

To understand developmental disorders To understand developmental disorders we first have to look at development of the we first have to look at development of the nervous systemnervous system

Basically it goes from head to tail and from Basically it goes from head to tail and from near to farnear to far

Gross developmentGross development

When a Mommy and a Daddy really like When a Mommy and a Daddy really like each other...each other...

Primitive body at 15 daysPrimitive body at 15 daysNeural plate at about 3 weeksNeural plate at about 3 weeksPlate curls up, forms the neural groove, this Plate curls up, forms the neural groove, this

becomes the neural tubebecomes the neural tubeBy 49 days pretty person likeBy 49 days pretty person like

Stem CellsStem Cells

Neural stem cells line the neural tubeNeural stem cells line the neural tubeThese divide quicklyThese divide quicklyUnlike adult stem cells, these guys divide Unlike adult stem cells, these guys divide

and divide again, like well, like 'normal' (non and divide again, like well, like 'normal' (non neural) cellsneural) cells

Adult stem cells divide, but then one Adult stem cells divide, but then one daughter cell dies!daughter cell dies!

Stem cells become neuroblasts or Stem cells become neuroblasts or glioblastsglioblasts

Stages in brain developmentStages in brain development

Cell birthCell birthMigrationMigrationDifferentiationDifferentiationMaturationMaturationSynaptogenesisSynaptogenesisCell deathCell deathmylenogenesismylenogenesis

Generation, migration and Generation, migration and differentiationdifferentiation

Much easier to fix trauma if early onMuch easier to fix trauma if early onMigration takes about oh 6 to 7 weeksMigration takes about oh 6 to 7 weeksThen differentiation kicks inThen differentiation kicks inCells formed in a particular region Cells formed in a particular region

differentiate into different types of neuronsdifferentiate into different types of neuronsFollow the radial glial road (very cool)Follow the radial glial road (very cool)Layers of cortex develop from the inside Layers of cortex develop from the inside

out, as you would expectout, as you would expect

Vulnerability and PlasticityVulnerability and Plasticity

Teratogens (like booze for example)Teratogens (like booze for example)Can cause agenisis or dysgenisisCan cause agenisis or dysgenisisPossibility for injury during birth tooPossibility for injury during birth tooDepending on the insult an immature brain Depending on the insult an immature brain

may deal better than a mature one, though may deal better than a mature one, though this varies more than originally thoughtthis varies more than originally thought

Some specific disordersSome specific disorders

HydrocephalusHydrocephalusToo much CSFToo much CSF27 per 100 00027 per 100 000Pressure damages brain, usually pervasivelyPressure damages brain, usually pervasivelySunting can helpSunting can help

Turner’s syndromeTurner’s syndromeMissing XMissing XLow cognitive functioingLow cognitive functioingLess parietal metabolic activityLess parietal metabolic activity

Acquired disordersAcquired disorders

FASFASGrowth retardation, facial anomaliesGrowth retardation, facial anomaliesHard to know how much alcohol is safeHard to know how much alcohol is safeFSS maybe tooFSS maybe tooPervasive cognitive and behavioural deficitsPervasive cognitive and behavioural deficits

Learning disabilitiesLearning disabilities

DyslexiaDyslexiaSeems to be a genetic causeSeems to be a genetic causeSlower flicker fusionSlower flicker fusionMagnocellular deficit perhapsMagnocellular deficit perhapsCould be due to planum temporale deficitsCould be due to planum temporale deficits

(symetric in dyslexic people)(symetric in dyslexic people)

Nonverbal Learning disabilityNonverbal Learning disability

Sort of the opposite of dyslexiaSort of the opposite of dyslexiaSeems it could be a question of integrationSeems it could be a question of integrationRight hemisphere, particularly parietal Right hemisphere, particularly parietal

regionsregionsTalk a lot, but don’t get the sort of social Talk a lot, but don’t get the sort of social

aspects of languageaspects of language

Pervasive developmental disordersPervasive developmental disorders

AutismAutism Poor (if any) linguistic Poor (if any) linguistic

developmentdevelopment Joint attentionJoint attention Autistic aloneness?Autistic aloneness? EcholaliaEcholalia NeologismsNeologisms Pretend play is Pretend play is

abnormalabnormal Book says 20 per 100 Book says 20 per 100

000, more like 300000, more like 300

autismautism

Hard to know what the cause is, though Hard to know what the cause is, though genetics do play a rolegenetics do play a role

Hard to say what the problem is, is it Hard to say what the problem is, is it cortex? HP? Amygdila? Other limbic cortex? HP? Amygdila? Other limbic areas?areas?

Emotional perception and theory of mindEmotional perception and theory of mind

Putting it all togetherPutting it all together

CanalesthesiaCanalesthesia Impaired affective assignmentImpaired affective assignmentAsocialityAsocialityExtended selective attentionExtended selective attention

OutlookOutlook

Well, it depends on the severityWell, it depends on the severitySome autistic people never even develop Some autistic people never even develop

linguistic skillslinguistic skillsSome autistic people end up in special ed Some autistic people end up in special ed

programsprogramsSome autistic people finish high schoolSome autistic people finish high schoolSome get PhDs!Some get PhDs!

ADHDADHD

More males than femalesMore males than femalesCan continue to adulthoodCan continue to adulthoodMaybe half of all psychiatric referrals!Maybe half of all psychiatric referrals!Often occurs with other disorders such as Often occurs with other disorders such as

ODD and CDODD and CDOften with anxiety or depression tooOften with anxiety or depression too

What is the cause?What is the cause?

Genetics Genetics Abnormal corpus collossum?Abnormal corpus collossum?

Less communicationLess communicationFrontal lobe issue?Frontal lobe issue?

Lack of asymmetryLack of asymmetryFrontal basal ganglia?Frontal basal ganglia?

Decreased blood flowDecreased blood flow

modelsmodels

So what is the deal on this disorder?So what is the deal on this disorder?Seems that attention cannot be focusedSeems that attention cannot be focusedMost models suggest that some Most models suggest that some

component of attention, or all the component of attention, or all the components, are messed upcomponents, are messed up

Why do stimulants work?Why do stimulants work?Well, stimulants focus attention!Well, stimulants focus attention!

ConclusionConclusion

Some of this stuff is pretty sadSome of this stuff is pretty sadHowever, new techniques and diagnostic However, new techniques and diagnostic

tools have allowed people with say tools have allowed people with say Hydrocephalus and Autism to lead really Hydrocephalus and Autism to lead really fairly normal livesfairly normal lives

Drug treatments have been effective for Drug treatments have been effective for ADHDADHD

There is lots of hopeThere is lots of hope