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PSYC211 > Cellular learning and memory > Flashcards

Cellular learning and memory Flashcards

1
Q

What is learning?

A

the process by which experiences change our nervous system and hence our behavior

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2
Q

What are memories?

A

the changes in the nervous system that derive from the learning

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3
Q

What is memory retrieval?

A

the process of accessing to memories

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4
Q

What is the cellular basis of long-term memory?

A

neuronal plasticity

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5
Q

What does the term neuronal plasticity refer to?

A

the ability of the nervous system to change and adapt

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6
Q

What are the two elements used to measure neuronal plasticity?

A
  • intrinsic excitability
  • synaptic strength
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7
Q

What is the intrinsic excitability of a neuron?

A
  • number of action potentials a neuron exhibits in response to an influx of positive current
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8
Q

What determines the intrinsic excitability of a neuron?

A

the number and type of action channels it expresses

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9
Q

What makes a neuron more excitable?

A
  • neuron starts making and expressing less potassium leak channels, which makes its base membrane potential more depolarized, thus facilitates action potentials
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10
Q

What is synaptic plasticity?

A

Changes in the strength of the synaptic connection between two neurons

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11
Q

What does the strength of a synaptic connection refer to?

A

the size of the reaciton in a post-synaptic neuron after a pre-synaptic neuron releases neuro transmitters

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12
Q

What influences synaptic strength on a presynaptic neuron?

A

amount of voltage gated calcium channels (influences intensity of neurotransmitter release)

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13
Q

What influences synaptic strength on a post synaptic neuron?

A

amount of neurotransmitter receptors

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14
Q

What is habituation?

A

Reduced intensity of an innate physiological or behavioural responding to a repeated stimulus

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15
Q

What is sensitization?

A

increased sensitivity to a stimulus

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16
Q

What are the two factors that make a a cell less excitable?

A
  • more depolarized state at rest
  • fewer ion gated voltage channels, so releases the glutamate when excited
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17
Q

What are the two effects that can be had on synapti strength/the two iterations of synaptic plasticity?

A
  • long term potentiation
  • long term depression
18
Q

What type of stimulation causes long term depression?

A
  • persistent low frequency stimulation
19
Q

What structural changes are generally associated with long term depression?

A
  • changes on the post synaptic side
  • mostly: decrease in neurotransmitter receptors
20
Q

What is the condition for the apparition of long term potentiation?

A

the release of a neurotransmitter must coincide with a substantial depolarization of the postsynaptic cell

21
Q

What type of stimulation causes long term potentiation?

A
  • persistent high frequency stimulation
22
Q

What structural changes are generally associated with long term potentiation?

A
  • changes on the post synaptic side
  • mostly: increase in neurotransmitter receptors
23
Q

How can there be a pre-synaptic long term potentiation?

A
  • retrograde signaling of nitric oxide can cause the release and formation of more vesicles of neurotransmitters
24
Q

Why are action potentials and cell activity both necessary for potentiation to occur IN THE ABSOLUTE (logical reason, not biological facts)

A
  • if the post synaptic neuron is not active at the same time as there is information sent from the pre-synaptic neuron, then this synapse is useless and there is no advantage for the animal in strengthening it.
25
Q

When do NMDA receptors let in ions?

A

When the cell is deplarized AND they are bound to glutamate

26
Q

What type of receptors are NMDA receptors?

A

ionotropic glutamate receptors

27
Q

What is the coincidence mechanism of the NMDA receptor?

A
  • If there is glutamate, but the cell is hyperpolarized: Mg2+ blocks the pore
  • If there is a depolarization, but no glutamate: the channel does not open
  • need a combination of both to open the channel wide enough so that Ca2+ enters
28
Q

What neurotransmitter are NMDA receptors sensitive to?

A

glutamate

29
Q

What are AMPA receptors?

A
  • classic glutamate receptors
  • mediate most excitatory fast synaptic currents in the brain (lets in sodium ions)
  • ## ionotropic
30
Q

What is the enzyme that allows for the strengthening of the synapse?

A

CaMKII

31
Q

What activates the signaling sent by the CaMKII enzyme?

A

the entry of calcium in the neuron

32
Q

What is the role of the CaMKII neuron?

A

Stimulate the formation of new AMPA receptors

33
Q

What does the strength of glutamate synapses correlate with?

A
  • size of the postsynaptic dendritic spine
  • number of AMPA glutamate receptors
34
Q

What is the definition of perceptual learning?

A

Learning to recognize stimuli as disctinct entities

35
Q

What is the definition of motor learning?

A

learning to make skilled and choreographes movements

36
Q

What is the definition of relational learning?

A

Learning relationships amon individual stimuli

37
Q

What is the definition of stimulus-response learning?

A

learning to perform a particular behavior when a particular stimulus is present (classical AND instrumental conditioning)

38
Q

What is Hebb’s rule?

A
  • the cellular basis of learning involves the strengthening of synaptic connections that are active when the postsynapitc neuron fires an action potential
  • the synaptic connection has to exist
39
Q

What is associative long-term potentiation?

A
  • increase in synaptic strength
  • occurs in weak synapses
40
Q

When does associative long-term potentiation occur?

A
  • stronger inputs caused the post-synaptic neuron to spike

PSYC211 (21 decks)

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