Learning and Memory I

Question 1

What does “fire together, wire together” mean?

Answer 1

When one cell repeatedly assists in firing another, the axon of the first cell develops synpatic knobs (or enlarges them if they already exist) in contact with soma of the second cell.

Question 2

What is synaptic efficacy?

Answer 2

changes in the amount of depolarization on a cell caused by a single input from a cell can b called the efficacy or strength; alterations in depolarization amount

Question 3

What is the synaptic plasticity?

Answer 3

the ability for a single synapse and synaptic efficacy to change

Question 4

What is more preferable–the long skinny spine or the short and fat spine?

Answer 4

short and fat. it is more mature and ions can get through more easily.

Question 5

What is the fragile X mutation?

Answer 5

those who do not have the FMR gene, have more mGLUr receptors, and more immature dendritic spines

Question 6

What is an example of today’s version of flowers for algernon?

Answer 6

-prevent glutamate from binding, could potentially have more mature dendrites develop