Chapter 4

Question 1

What happens to learning when the basal ganglia is removed, and why? p. 111

Answer 1

Cholinergic neurons are located in the basal forebrain, whereby the cholinergic neurons aid in enhancing plasticity in the brain. If the basal ganglia is removed, we are removing the cholinergic neurons, and therefore cannot learn as well.

Question 2

when are cholinergic neurons active?

Answer 2

cholinergic neurons are active when we are learning a task, but not when the task is well established. attention causes widespread cholinergic release, which allows for changes in the tissue

Question 3

neurons that release acetylcholine are called

Answer 3

cholinergic neurons

Question 4

in the majority of people, language skills are localized in the _______

Answer 4

left hemisphere

Question 5

is the sensitive period for phonemes earlier or later than vocabulary?

Answer 5

earlier

Question 6

what happens to plasticity in the adult brain? p 116

Answer 6

In the adult brain, attention causes cholinergic release, which causes the changes in tissue. This is counterbalanced by local inhibition that inhibit things that should NOT change, or to prevent unwanted changes in the tissue. This is why as we get older, our plasticity goes down, but our efficiency improves. This is also why as we get good at certain things, we get less adaptable to others