09. L8-14 Brain and NS Flashcards
Long-term potentiation
long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections due to high frequency stimulation / activation
Long-term depression
long-lasting weakening of synaptic connections due to low frequency stimulation / activation
Glutamate
Main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Involved in learning and memory.
GABA
Gamma-amino butyric acid, main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. involved in calming the stress response/slowing physiological arousal
Excitatory neurotransmitter
makes post-synaptic neuron more likely to fire an action potential
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
makes post-synaptic neuron less likely to fire an action potential
Lock and Key process
process of neural communication in the synapse (between neurons)- “key” is neurotransmitter, “lock” is receptor site
synapse
includes 3 key components- synaptic gap, pre-synaptic terminal button, and post-synaptic dendrite
Classical conditioning
Learning model. Unconscious in nature/ involuntary process of creating an association between two previously unrelated stimuli
Neutral stimulus (NS)
elicits no relevant response before conditioning
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
elicits reflexive/involuntary response before conditioning
Unconditioned response (UCR)
reflexive/unconscious response to UCS before conditioning
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
previously the neutral stimulus, produces learned response AFTER conditioning
Conditioned Response (CR)
learned response to CS after conditioning
Operant conditioning
voluntary/conscious behaviour learned by associating antecedent with behaviour and resulting consequence
Antecedent
discriminative stimulus - precedes or prompts the learner’s behaviour
Behaviour
voluntary action of learner, comes after antecedent
Consequence
applied after behaviour- can be reinforcement or punishment to increase or decrease the likelihood of behaviour being repeated.
reinforcement
increases likelihood of behaviour being repeated in future