ELM19: Learning and memory 2

Question 1

Why are aplysia used to study learning and memory?

Answer 1

They only have 20000 neurons so can link behaviours to specific behaviours

Question 2

How long are aplysia?

Answer 2

15-30cm

Question 3

What is the gill and siphon withdrawal reflex?

Answer 3

It changes shape when touched for protection

Question 4

What are the three stages in non-associative learning in aplysia?

Answer 4

Habituation
Dishabituation
Sensitisation

Question 5

What is habituation?

Answer 5

Loss of response because of repeated stimulus

Question 6

What is dishabituation?

Answer 6

Recovery of innate response

Question 7

What is sensitisation?

Answer 7

Response stronger than normal

Question 8

What is associative learning in aplysia?

Answer 8

Classical conditional

Question 9

What is the link between classical conditioning and aplysia?

Answer 9

No learning with backward pairing
Optimal learning happened if CS preceded US by 0.5 seconds

Question 10

What is the STM of aplysia?

Answer 10

Hours

Question 11

What is LTM of aplysia?

Answer 11

Days or weeks

Question 12

What was distributed training in aplysia?

Answer 12

10 trials every day for 4 days

Question 13

What was massed training in aplysia?

Answer 13

40 trials in one day

Question 14

What makes up the nervous system of aplysia?

Answer 14

Ganglia

Question 15

How do ganglia communicate in aplysia?

Answer 15

Through connectives

Question 16

How are ganglia arranged in aplysia?

Answer 16

Arranged bilaterally in symmetrical pairs

Question 17

What is the role of the abdominal ganglia in aplysia?

Answer 17

Controls heart rate blood circulation and respiration

Question 18

What is contained in the abdominal ganglia of aplysia?

Answer 18

Primary sensory neurons

Question 19

What are the three types of mechanistic analysis of learning?

Answer 19

Synaptic Biophysical Molecular

Question 20

What is the process of biophyscial analysis (sensory neruon)

Answer 20

1. Serotonin closes potassium channel
2. Less potassium leaves cell 3. Slower repolarisation of membrane
3. Increased calcium influx
4. Increased transmitter release
5. Enhanced excitability

Question 21

What is molecular analysis?

Answer 21

cAMP is a second messenger and activates PKA
PKA phosphorylates substrate proteins

Question 22

What is needed for long term memory to occur?

Answer 22

Production of new proteins and structural changes in neurons

Question 23

What neurotransmitter is key to learning?

Answer 23

Serotonin

Question 24

What is the process of mechanistic analysis of LTM?

Answer 24

1. Repeated serotonin or cAMP applications
   causes phosphorylation or synthesis of proteins
2. Long term increase in synaptic facilitation
3. Long term increase in synaptic transmission
   4 . Growth of sensory neuron processes
4. LTM for sensitisation