6.7.4 Post-Mortem Examinations

• What are post-mortem examinations used for in biopsychology?

  Analyzing brain structures
• Post-mortem examinations are detailed dissections of the brain after death
• Steps in the process of post-mortem examinations

  1️⃣ Gross Anatomy

  2️⃣ Microscopy

  3️⃣ Chemical Analysis
• What does gross anatomy in post-mortem examinations involve?

  Visual inspection of brain regions
• Microscopy in post-mortem examinations focuses on the examination of cells
• Chemical analysis in post-mortem examinations studies neurotransmitters and their pathways
• Why are post-mortem examinations crucial for understanding the neuropathology of mental illnesses?

  To identify cellular changes
• Chemical analysis in post-mortem examinations can reveal biochemical imbalances linked to certain conditions
• Post-mortem examinations can observe live brain function

  False
• What is one effect of delaying post-mortem examinations?

  Tissue degradation
• Preservation methods in post-mortem examinations can alter brain structures and chemistry
• The timing of post-mortem examinations can compromise the integrity of the findings
• Post-mortem examinations are detailed dissections of the brain after death
• Post-mortem examinations are used to understand brain pathology.
• Match the technique with its description:

  Gross Anatomy ↔️ Visual inspection of brain regions

  Microscopy ↔️ Examination of cells under a microscope

  Chemical Analysis ↔️ Study of neurotransmitters
• What does Gross Anatomy identify in post-mortem examinations?

  Structural damage
• Chemical Analysis in post-mortem examinations helps understand biochemical imbalances
• Steps involved in post-mortem examinations

  1️⃣ Gross Anatomy

  2️⃣ Microscopy

  3️⃣ Chemical Analysis
• Post-mortem examinations are only used to study structural damage in the brain.

  False
• Microscopy in post-mortem examinations observes cellular changes
• What does Chemical Analysis study in post-mortem examinations?

  Neurotransmitters
• Gross Anatomy is the first step in post-mortem examinations.
• What is the purpose of Microscopy in post-mortem examinations?

  Observe cellular changes
• Match the technique with its use in post-mortem examinations:

  Gross Anatomy ↔️ Identifying structural damage

  Microscopy ↔️ Observing cellular changes

  Chemical Analysis ↔️ Understanding biochemical imbalances
• What is the primary goal of post-mortem examinations in brain research?

  Understand brain pathology
• One limitation of post-mortem examinations is timing, which can lead to tissue degradation
• Post-mortem examinations can study live brain function.

  False
• What did post-mortem studies on Alzheimer's patients reveal?

  Abnormal tau protein
• Research on Alzheimer's brains showed a correlation between neuronal loss in the hippocampus and memory impairments
• Research on the brains of Alzheimer's patients has revealed a correlation between the extent of neuronal loss in the hippocampus
• Post-mortem examinations have shown abnormal tau protein accumulation in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
• What correlation has been found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients regarding neuronal loss?

  Neuronal loss and memory impairment
• In Alzheimer's disease, post-mortem examinations have shown abnormal tau protein accumulation and neuronal loss
• What is the post-mortem finding in Parkinson's disease?

  Loss of dopamine-producing neurons
• Post-mortem examinations in schizophrenia reveal altered brain structure and neurotransmitter systems.
• Match the condition with its post-mortem finding:

  Alzheimer's disease ↔️ Abnormal tau protein accumulation

  Parkinson's disease ↔️ Loss of dopamine-producing neurons

  Schizophrenia ↔️ Altered brain structure
• Post-mortem findings have contributed to understanding the underlying neuropathology of various mental disorders and neurological conditions
• Post-mortem examinations provide detailed structural analysis but lack live data.
• What is a disadvantage of fMRI compared to post-mortem examinations?

  Poor temporal resolution
• Order the following brain study methods from most invasive to least invasive:

  1️⃣ Lesion studies

  2️⃣ Post-mortem examination

  3️⃣ fMRI

  4️⃣ EEG