9.6 Synaptic plasticity, memory and learning

Question 1

What is memory?

Answer 1

The encoding, storage and retrieval of learned information

Question 2

What is declarative memory?

Answer 2

items available to consciousness and can be expressed by language

Question 3

What is non declarative memory?

Answer 3

items not directly available to consciousness - skills, learning, cues

Difficult to express how such procedures are enacted

Question 4

What are the temporal categories of memory?

Answer 4

Immediate:
Working
Long term

Question 5

How do you transfer information from working to long term memory?

Answer 5

Consolidation

Question 6

What is anterogade and retrograde amnesia?

Answer 6

Anterograde: inability to create new memories
Retrograde: Inability to retrieve made memories

Question 7

What causes anterograde amnesia?

Answer 7

Large correlation with hippocampal damage as this is important in formation of memory, processing for consolidation but NOT the site of storage

Question 8

Where are declarative memories stored?

Answer 8

All over - distributed within networks which means that in general damage to one area wont lead you to losing everything

Question 9

What happens in Wernickes aphasia?

Answer 9

inability to link sound with meaning of the word

Question 10

What systems are involved in non declarative memory?

Answer 10

Basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, amygdala and somatosensory cortex

Question 11

what type of sleep is helpful for memory consolidation?

Answer 11

non REM sleep in stage 2 particularly in 4th quarter (towards morning)

Question 12

How is sleep thought to help consolidation?

Answer 12

The same activity that occurs during a task continues on during sleep at very high correlations

During sleep hippocampal information is gradually synchronised with the cortex

Question 13

What is synaptic plasticity?

Answer 13

Changes in synaptic efficacy, including post synaptic excitability and spine/cellular growth

Question 14

How does long term potentiation occur?

Answer 14

1. AP depolarises terminal releasing glutamate
2. Glutamate binds to AMPA
3. Depolarisation which moves Mg
4. NMDA opens
5. Calcium enters the cell
6. Activates protein kinase C and Ca calmodulin kinase II
7. Insertion of additional AMPA receptors

Question 15

How does long term depression occur?

Answer 15

1. Calcium and Na enter the post synaptic cell
2. Small depolarisation
3. Ca activates protein phosphatase 2
4. dephosphorylation of AMPA receptors and internalisation of receptors
5. Leads to a decrease in EPSP