07. Learning & Memory - Part 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Nondeclarative (implicit) memory
A
- Info that is remembered unconsciously and effortlessly
- E.g. skills, habits
- Involves cerebellum and amygdala
2
Q
Declarative (explicit) memory
A
- Info you consciously work to remember
- E.g. episodic and semantic memory
- Involves hippocampus and entorhinal cortex
3
Q
How do we form memories?
A
- through the strengthening or weakening of synapses
- associations are made between cells - “Cells that fire together wire together” (Hebb)
4
Q
How do associative memories work?
A
For example: a smell and a person
- two sensory cells, one for sight (A) and one for smell (B), are activated simultaneously
- initially, EPSPs from A or B cannot individually fire an AP onto the hippocampal neuron
- however, repeated activation strengthens A and B’s synapses onto the hippocampal neuron
- then, activation of only Cell A or B is sufficient to recall a memory
5
Q
What is the hippocampus?
A
- brain region (temporal lobe)
- part of the limbic system
- most researched area for learning and memory
- its shape and anatomy make it easy to distinguish pathways and record from them
6
Q
What does the hippocampus do?
A
- convert short-term memories into long-term memories
7
Q
What types of memories does the Hippocampus deal with?
A
- spatial (e.g. rats in Morris’ water maze)
- verbal (remembering what words to say)
- emotions
8
Q
Hippocampus lesions & the Morris water maze
A
Rats with a lesioned hippocampus couldn’t learn where the hidden platform was
9
Q
What is an LTP?
A
- long-term potentiation is the long-term strengthening of synapses based on activity patterns
- mechanism behind learning
10
Q
Do LTPs occur in the hippocampus?
A
Yes (Bliss and Lomo, 1973)
11
Q
LTPs are…
A
- …Temporal: summation of inputs (enough at the same time) reaches a stimulus threshold that leads to the induction of LTP
- …Input Specific: LTP at one synapse is not propagated to adjacent synapses
- …Associative: simultaneous stimulation of a strong and weak pathway will induce LTP at both pathways (spatial summation)
12
Q
How can we cause an LTP?
A
High Frequency Stimulation (HFS)
