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L2 Neural Circuits > Learning and Memory > Flashcards

Learning and Memory Flashcards

1
Q

What is learning?

A

Acquisition of information

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2
Q

What is memory?

A

Storage of learned information

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3
Q

What is recall?

A

Reacquisition of stored information

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4
Q

What is the engram?

A

Physical embodiment of a memory i.e. the physical and chemical changes from storing a memory

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5
Q

What are the main types of memory? (4)

A
  • Procedural/declarative memory
  • Implicit/explicit memory
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6
Q

What is procedural memory?

A

Skills that are largely unavailable to conscious mind e.g. riding a bike

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7
Q

What is declarative memory? (2)

A
  • Factual information that is available to the conscious mind
  • Can be encoded in symbols/language and transmitted between individuals
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8
Q

What is explicit memory?

A

Memory that can be consciously recalled

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9
Q

What is implicit memory?

A

Memory that can’t be consciously recalled

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10
Q

What are the 3 types of implicit memory?

A
  • Procedural memory
  • Classical conditioning
  • Priming
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11
Q

What is priming?

A

When one stimulus influences the response to subsequent stimuli

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12
Q

What are the advantages of using ‘simple’ systems to study memory? (5)

A
  • Neuronal size (easy to record from)
  • Circuit complexity
  • Temperature dependence mutations
  • Mapping tools (genetic manipulation)
  • Fewer ethical issues
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13
Q

What are the simple forms of memory? (2)

A
  • Habituation
  • Sensitisation
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14
Q

What is habituation?

A

Decrease in the amplitude of the response as the stimulus is repeated

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15
Q

What is sensitisation?

A

Increase in the amplitude of the response as the stimulus is repeated

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16
Q

What are examples of habituation in humans? (4)

A
  • Habituation of eye blink reflex
  • Habituation of repetitive non-harmful stimulus presentation
  • Habituation of visual attention
  • Habituation of emotional response
17
Q

How can habituation be studied?

A

Gill withdrawal reflex in Aplysia

18
Q

What is habituation of the gill withdrawal reflex? (2)

A
  • Touch of water jet causes gill withdrawal
  • Repeating the stimulus reduces the reflex
19
Q

How does habituation happen in the gill withdrawal reflex? (2)

A
  • Sensory neuron in the siphon skin forms a synapse with a motor neuron which connects to the gill muscle
  • When the stimulus is repeated, the presynaptic sensory neuron response stays the same but the postsynaptic motor neuron response decreases = habituation
20
Q

What is the molecular mechanism of habituation?

A

Reduced neurotransmitter release due to depletion of the readily releasable pool (RRP) so the amplitude of each response gets smaller

21
Q

What is the readily releasable pool (RRP)?

A

The vesicles containing neurotransmitter that are in the active zone and are immediately released following depolarisation

22
Q

What is the proximal pool?

A

The vesicles containing neurotransmitter which diffuse to the active zone to become the RRP

23
Q

What is the reserve pool?

A

The vesicles containing neurotransmitter which are furthest away from the active zone

24
Q

What is sensitisation of the gill withdrawal reflex?

A

The gill withdrawal reflex is a lot stronger when preceded by a noxious stimulus

25
Q

How does sensitisation happen in the gill withdrawal reflex? (3)

A
  • L29 sensory neuron senses the noxious stimulus and releases serotonin
  • Activates 5-HT receptor on the first sensory neuron, activates adenylyl cyclase which produces cAMP, activates pkA
  • pkA phosphorylates and inactivates K+ channels = longer presynaptic neuron depolarisation so more vesicles are released onto the motor neuoron
26
Q

What is the molecular mechanism of sensitisation?

A

Serotonin-ergic feedback from an additional sensory neuron

27
Q

What is associative learning? (2)

A
  • Association of a conditioned stimulus with a non-conditioned stimulus e.g. Pavlov’s dogs
  • Timing is critical
28
Q

What is the difference between sensitisation and associative learning?

A

The 2 stimuli need to happen at the same time in associative learning but no in sensitisation

29
Q

What is the mechanism of associative learning? (2)

A
  • Same mechanism as sensitisation but when the L29 neuron releases serotonin onto the sensory neuron the sensory neuron is already depolarised from the other stimulus
  • The Ca2+ influx in the sensory neuron stimulates adenylyl cyclase even more than the serotonin on its own so even more vesicles are released
30
Q

What are the 3 main protein kinases?

A
  • pKA
  • camKII
  • pKC
31
Q

What activates pKA?

32
Q

What activates camKII?

33
Q

What activates pKC?

A

Diacylglycerol (DAG)

34
Q

What happens in the late stages of memory formation? (2)

A
  • Changes in the nucleus
  • MAPK can enter the nucleus and phosphorylate transcription factors changing gene expression, allows for long-term response

L2 Neural Circuits (13 decks)

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