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CNS > Brain maturing and aging > Flashcards

Brain maturing and aging Flashcards

1
Q

Neonatal brains are relatively underdeveloped, especially in what type of neonates?

A

Altricial

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2
Q

What is development learning?

A

Learning based on environment and experiences

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3
Q

What is neuronal plasticity?

A

The brain’s ability to change throughout life

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4
Q

What happens during brain development?

A

Mitosis and apoptosis of neurones
Development and pruning of synapses
Increased myelination
Strengthening of connectivity

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5
Q

What are sensitive periods?

A

Times where the brain is more susceptible to developmental learning

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6
Q

Some animals can only during specific time periods. What are these periods called?

A

Critical periods

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7
Q

What happens during adolesence? Multiple things

A

Significant brain development (non-linear, region specific)
Significant synapse pruning
Higher degree of plasticity
Increased myelination

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8
Q

When are the sensor and motor cortex fully developed?

A

After sexual maturity

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9
Q

How long do long term and short term memory last?

A

Short - second to hours

Long - days to years

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10
Q

What type of memory trace is present in long and short term memory?

A 
Long = physical memory trace
Short = electrical memory trace
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11
Q

What is the difference in capacity of long and short term memory?

A

Long term = infinite capacity

Short term = limited capacity (7-10)

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12
Q

How is short term memory converted into long term memory?

A

Rehearsal and consolidation

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13
Q

Why is long term memory constantly refined?

A

Due to new short term memories

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14
Q

If not rehearsed, what happens to short term memory?

A

Easily forgetton

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15
Q

Is long term memory forgotten permanently?

A

No - impermanent forgetting

Can take longer to retrieve information

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16
Q

What physical change happens when a short term memory becomes long term? Where does this take place?

A

Growth of dendrites
Forming of new synapses

Hippocampus and other limbic structures

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17
Q

Why does more learning enable more learning?

A

More branched dendrites

More potential for synaptic connections

18
Q

What are the two types of learning?

A

Non-associative

Associative

19
Q

What happens during non-associative learning?

A

Forming short term memory

20
Q

What happens during associative learning?

A

Short term memorys processed to become long term

21
Q

What are two types of non-associative learning?

A

Habituation

Sensitisation

22
Q

What is habituation?

A

Natural response to stimulus reduces over time

23
Q

What is sensitisation?

A

Natural response to stimulus increases over time

24
Q

What decides whether sensitisation or habituation occurs?

A

Physiological and emotional state of animal when encountering stimulus

25
Q

What are two examples of associative learning?

A

Operant conditioning

Classical conditioning

26
Q

What is classical conditioning?

A

Animal learns to associate 2 stimuli (one conditioned, one not) that produce a desirable behaviour

27
Q

What is operant conditioning?

A

Animal learns to associate behaviour with an outcome

28
Q

What is an example of operant conditioning?

A

Cat meows and gets fed

Vocalises more

29
Q

What is an example of classical conditioning?

A

Dog associates verbal command (conditioned stimulus) with treat (unconditioned stimulus - would normally react to )

30
Q

What is incentive learning?

A

Motivation to learn on the basis that we get rewards

31
Q

What are the 3 causes of ‘apparent’ loss of learning (most never truly forgotten)

A

Constant presenting of the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned
Conditions not the same as when they were learnt
Conflicting information during testing

32
Q

As the brain ages, what % of neurones are lost between youth and old age?

33
Q

Age is not a disease, but does increase the likelihood of some disease. Give an example of a degenerative disease

A

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS)

34
Q

What is canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome?

A

Degenerative disease in brain tissue

35
Q

What is dysfunction?

A

Loss of the ability to think and process information using learning, memory and planning

36
Q

What is the most obvious sign of CCDS? Which animals is it more obvious in?

A

Change of behaviour

Highly trained/working animals

37
Q

What are the clinical signs of CCDS?

A

Loss of learning
DISHA
Aggression

38
Q

What is DISHA?

A 
Disorientation 
Interaction and social behaviour changes 
sleep - wake cycle change
House soiling 
Activity level change
39
Q

What neuropathology (4 things) is associated with CCDS?

A

Brain atrophy
Senile plaques
Oxidative damage
Neurofibrillary tangles

40
Q

What happens with brain atrophy?

A

Reduced neuronal density

Widening of sulci, thickening of the gyri

41
Q

What are senile plaques?

A

Protein plaques around the neurones

CNS (15 decks)

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