Cognitive Neuroscience Flashcards

1
Q

Cognitive neuroscience

A

Study of the neural mechanisms underlying cognition
• Overlaps with: Cognitive psych, neuroscience, psychiatry, neurobiology, neurology, etc.
• Studied via: Functional neuroimaging, electrophysiological studies, psychophysical experiments, cognitive genetics, and traditional clinical studies

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2
Q

Building the brain ideas

A

Nature vs. Nurture

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3
Q

Nature

A

Genetics
• Laying neural ground work
• “Neural Darwinism” and apoptosis
• Individual variability in genomic plan

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4
Q

Nurture

A

Experience
• Refinement of neural system
• Experience/stimuli → alteration of synapses
• “Wiring by firing”/ D. Hebb’s plasticity theory

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5
Q

Neuronal network

A

group of many neurons that tend to fire together

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6
Q

Why are synapses between neurons crucial?

A

They continuously and reversibly altering connectivity of the network
- Networks believed to underpin all cognitive processes

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7
Q

Theory of Neuronal Darwinism

A

Proposed by G. Edelman

- Explaining neurobiology of consciousness → brain is a somatic selection system that works similarly to evolution

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8
Q

Stages of Darwinism

A

Developmental selection
Experiential selection
Mapping

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9
Q

Developmental selection

A

Under genetic control

  • Cell division and death occur
  • Axon and cell migration taking place
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10
Q

What are the main players during developmental selection?

A

Growth factors
cytokines
Glutamate (GLU)

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11
Q

Experiential selection

A

Under experiential control

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12
Q

How are functioning circuits created? (experiential selection)

A

When somatosensory and other input is received

-These circuits are part of the anatomical network created during developmental selection that have been strengthened

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13
Q

Mapping

A

Numerous neural maps are formed by the brain

-These maps correspond to the processing of signals and stimuli from the body and environment

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14
Q

True/False: Brain maps can’t interact with each other?

A

False; maps can interact with each other resulting in further refinement

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15
Q

LTP and LTD?

A

long-term potentiation and long-term depression

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16
Q

What does LTP’s require?

A

Nearly simultaneous presynaptic and postsynaptic neuronal firing (GLU and NMDA r/c)
-Relies on protein kinase activity

17
Q

What does LTP produce?

A

Increased synaptic transmission efficiency and strength

18
Q

What does LTD’s require?

A

“asynchronous” firing of the pre and postsynaptic neurons(GLU and NMDA r/c)
-Relies on protein phosphatase activity

19
Q

What does LTD produce?

A

Weakened or decreased synaptic strength and efficiency

20
Q

What does both LTP’s and LTD’s require?

A

activation of NMDA r/cs and entry of Ca into the postsynaptic cell

21
Q

What determines whether it’s LTD or LTP?

A

The amount of Ca that enters the postsynaptic neuron

22
Q

It has been proposed that LTP and LTD phosphorylate and dephosphorylate what?

A

the same set of regulatory proteins