Learning and memory

Question 1

How are memories stored?

Answer 1

Created by pattern of connections and strength of synapses

Question 2

Describe habituation

Answer 2

With repeated stimulation, calcium channels become less responsive so less calcium ions cross the presynaptic membrane
Less neurotransmitter is released
There is less depolarisation of the postsynaptic membrane so no action potential is triggered in the motor neurone

Question 3

What does habituation enable?

Answer 3

animals to ignore unimportant repetive stimuli so that limited sensory, attention and memory resources can be concentrated on more threatening stimuli

Question 4

Describe longer memory

Answer 4

Long term memory involves an increase in the number of synaptic connections, repeated use of a synapse leads to creation of additional synapses between neurones

Question 5

Describe ethics of using animals in medical research

Answer 5

Animal rights - why is it acceptable to keep animals captive in lab cages if humans aren’t anymore, keeping animals enslaves them, important to respect their rights
Consent
Animal welfare - humans should treat animals well so far as possible
Utilitarianism - certain animals used provided the overall expected benefits are greater than the overall expected harms.