12. Behavioural Neuroscience: Brain Plasticity Flashcards
What is LTP
Long term potentiation
LTP & LTD are the ____ of one another
opposite
What is neurogenesis
Process that generates new neurons
LTP & LTD together enable the brain to ____ to ____ needs
Adapt to current needs
What is neurogenesis largely restricted to?
- Hippocampus (involved in consolidation of long term memories)
- olfactory bulb (involved in detection of smell/odour)
LTP ____ connections
Strengthens
LTD ____ connections
Weakens
Why is recovery of function (brain rehabilitation) possible?
- Due to LTD & LTP
- increased capacity for surviving neurons to ADAPT
- increased connections b/w healthy brain regions
- weakening/removal of connections w/ damaged areas
What are the 3 components of emotional responses?
Behavioural, autonomic, hormonal
Emotions consist of patterns of _____ _____ and _____-_____ behaviour
Physiological response & species-typical
Role of amygdala in emotional responses
- coordinates emotional response
- sends appropriate signals to autonomic & hormonal responses
how are synaptic connections strengthened?
if activation @ 1 synapse is REPEATEDLY ACCOMPANIED by an action potential @ the POST synaptic neuron
what does increasing the likelihood of a post-synaptic neuron allow
allows neural signal to be transmitted MORE quickly (rate law)
what is speed of flow of info (neurotransmitters) important for?
practised movements (e.x playing piano) - becomes more automated w/ practice
what happens when the post synaptic neuron is more “sensitive” to neurotransmitter release?
more likely to reach threshold for activation
what synaptic connections are weakened?
synaptic connections that are INFREQ stimulated
how does LTD occur?
- post-synaptic neuron becomes LESS SENSITIVE to neurotransmitter release by presynaptic neuron
- LESS likely to fire in response
what happens if neural networks aren’t stimulated sufficiently?
memories & skills attached to it will be lost
Neurogenesis ____ occur in all brain regions
DOESN’T
the brain adapts & changes based on “___”
experiences (past activation of neurons impacts future activation of neurons)
2 meanings of emotions are:
- +ve/-ve feelings we experience
- can refer to the physiological/behavioural changes (^ heart rate, rapid breathing etc)
what are physiological responses accompanied by in humans?
feelings
ex of emotional response - behavioural
- muscular changes appropriate to situation that elicits them
- e.x fearful dog: ears back, back and tail down
ex of emotional response - autonomic
- physiological changes induced by ANS which facilitate behavioural response
- dog defending territory: activity of sympathetic branch (fight/flight) increases
ex of emotional responses - hormonal
- adrenal glad secretes adrenaline
- ^ blood flow to muscles & causes nutrients stored in muscles to be converted to glucose
what brain struc is IMP in COORDINATING the emotional responses & sending the appropriate signals to the autonomic & hormonal responses?
Amygdala
