4- Non-Declarative/Procedural Learning Flashcards
What are the 2 types of non-associative learning?
Habituation and sensitisation
What is a basic definition of habituation?
Becoming less sensitive to a particular stimulus
What is the proper definition of habituation?
A decrease in strength/occurrence of a behaviour due to repeated exposure of a stimulus
What is a basic definition of sensitisation?
Repetitive exposure makes us increasingly sensitive to a stimulus
What is the proper definition of sensitisation?
Increase in strength/occurrence of a behaviour due to exposure to an arousing/unpleasant situation
What are the 2 mechanisms in habituation?
Adaptation- change in sensitivity of sensory receptor
Change of motor response
Why is do we need an objective understanding of habituation?
It is difficult to distinguish based on JUST behaviour, as this is subjective
What level do we need to observe habituation at?
Neuronal
Why is there a moral dilemma about animal research in learning?
Animals most similar to humans in terms of biology also have the most ethical implications associated
What is studied to understand habituation?
The Aplysia Californica
What was used to study the Aplysia Californica?
Few but giant neurons that could be isolated
What is the gill withdrawal reflex?
Stimulation of siphon leads to protective reflex to withdraw the gill
How many neurons are involved in the gill withdrawal reflex?
2
How was the gill withdrawal reflex studied?
Measured neuronal activity while repeatedly eliciting the reflex
Where was habituation occurring from studying the gill withdrawal reflex?
At the synapse between sensory and motor neurons
What happened to neurotransmitter release when studying the gill withdrawal reflex? (habituation)
Decreased
How did studying the gill withdrawal reflex demonstrate habituation?
Reflex response wasn’t different no matter how many times stimulation was repeated
How was sensitisation demonstrated experimentally?
Shocking the head to elicit the reflex
What 3 neurons are involved in sensitisation?
LE- sensory neuron from siphon
L7- motor neuron from gill
L29- sensory neuron from head
What was found from shocking the head to elicit the reflex?
Increased sensitisation
How do different neurons interact in sensitisation?
Sensory neuron dictates what happens at the motor neuron
How is the gill withdrawal reflex different from the sensory experience of being shocked? (sensitisation)
Lasts longer
What elicits the sensitisation mechanism?
An action potential arrives at terminal buttons of L29
What does L29 do when an action potential arrives at the terminal buttons? (sensitisation)
Releases serotonin
Where does the serotonin releases by L29 go? (sensitisation)
Binds to receptors at terminal buttons of LE
Why is the sensitisation reflex elongated?
It takes longer to process in order to activate G proteins
What does serotonin binding allow cAMP molecular cascade to transform to? (sensitisation)
Protein kinase A
Why does the reflex continue due to exposure to sodium increase? (sensitisation)
We will be feeling the effects for longer
What does protein kinase A do? (sensitisation)
Blocks K+ channels at terminal buttons of LE
Why are we experiencing this stimulus for longer? (sensitisation)
Potassium is being blocked
What is caused by blocking of K+ channels? (sensitisation)
Prolonged action potentials at terminal buttons of LE
What is caused by a longer action potential? (sensitisation)
Stronger influx of Ca2+
What is caused by more calcium? (sensitisation)
More neurotransmitter release into synaptic cleft between sensory and motor neurons
How is a stronger motor response caused? (sensitisation)
More postsynaptic action potentials caused by more neurotransmitter
How is classical conditioning defined?
Association of an event causing measurable response to another stimulus
How is classical conditioning contrasting to sensitisation?
States that any stimulus can become a conditioned stimulus
How should the CS and US be paired in classical conditioning?
CS must co-occur or shortly precede US during pairing
What are the 3 stages of classical conditioning?
Unconditional reflex: US –> UR, CS –> X
Pairing: CS + US –> UR
Conditional reflex: CS –> CR
What is an example of classical conditioning in sensitisation?
(US) tail shock –> (UR) gill withdrawal
Why does subthreshold siphon stimulation allow for sensitisation but not habituation?
It is not allowing another action potential to be generated
When is there a higher amount of withdrawal time? (classical conditioning- sensitisation)
When CS and US are paired
When is the UR stronger?
In sensitisation
How does the biological mechanism of classical conditioning begin?
With an action potential from LE and serotonin from L29 in short succession
Why does calcium increase? (classical conditioning)
Due to the action potential causing increased cAMP synthesis
What is caused by cAMP synthesis? (classical conditioning)
Much more protein kinase A
What does more protein kinase A cause? (classical conditioning)
Much more K+ channels blocked
Why is a much stronger motor response produced? (classical conditioning)
Due to much more postsynaptic action potentials
When does habituation occur?
After repetition of a stimulus
How is habituation characterised?
Specific to the stimulus and the response
What does habituation result in?
A decreased motor neuron response
What duration can habituation occur for?
Can be long-lasting
When does sensitisation occur?
Only after an unpleasant stimulus and after a single stimulus
What characterises sensitisation?
General to a variety of stimuli and responses
What does sensitisation result in?
Increased motor neuron response
What is the duration typically of sensitisation?
Short-lived
When does classical conditioning occur?
After repeated pairing of stimuli
Is classical conditioning general or specific to stimuli and response?
Specific
What does classical conditioning result in?
A stronger increased response of the motor neuron
What duration can classical conditioning be?
Long-lasting
