learning/memory Flashcards
1
Q
Describe learning
A
- adaptive change in behavior produced by some event or experience
- involves acquisition and storage (consolidation)
2
Q
describe memory
A
- Stored record of the interpreted experience or some aspect thereof
- involves a wide array of neuronal circuits and a process for activation (recall)
- cataloguing (codification = the process whereby information is stored in some context
- cross referencing = same info is stored in various “catalogues” enabling access to the info via different routes (contexts)
- Memory trace or engram = the pathway or pattern of activity of a neuronal circuit unique to the record (memory)
- memories can exist at all levels of the neuraxis (reflexes, names, faces, skilled behaviors)
3
Q
Declarative (explicity)
A
- FACTS AND EVENTS
- Medial temporal lobe (hippocampus and surrounding structures) and Diencephalon (basal forebrain, thalamus)
- Can be brought to conscious level and described or examined
4
Q
Non-declarative (implicit, procedural)
A
- Skilled movements and habits (motor behavior)–> striatum, motor cortex, cerebellum, spinal reflex circuits
- Priming (process of completing a word/picture when only presented iwth a portion of the info (based upon prior experience) –> neocortex
- Basic associative learning (emotional responses = amygdala; Skeletal musculature = cerebellum, spinal reflex circuity)
- Non-assocaitive learning = complex reflexive pathways
5
Q
describe associative learning
A
- relationship between two or more stimuli
- Passive = simple conditioning, temporal relation between stimuli (pavlov’s dog)
- Operant
- -> stimulus is associated with a diferent reinforcement stimulus
- -> reinforcement stimulus may be positive or negative
- -> Positive reinforcement will enhance the ocurrence of behavior
- -> negative reinforcement will enhance a behavior to avoid an undersirable condition
6
Q
Non-associative (simple) learning
A
- habituation (tolerance) = diminished response following a repeated stimuli
- Sensitization = enhancement of a response by the addition of a second strong of noxious stimuli
7
Q
Non-associated (complex) learning
A
- Imprinting = bonding or behavioral attraction of a young animal to a parent (developmental process which much occur during a critical period)
- Vicarious or latent
- -> simple experience of familiarity
- -> no motivation or reinforcement (reward)
- -> imitation or observation
8
Q
describe reverberating circuits for learning
A
- SHORT TIME PERIOD
- requires continuous neuronal activity
- rapid extinction, new info replaces old
9
Q
long term potentiation
A
- defined stimulus to the afferent pathway of the hippocampus will produce a characteristic and reproducible response
- NO thought to play an important role (is long-lived, but only lasts a defined period; maintenance requires further metabolic changes)
- LPT mediates a process of encoding memories in the hippocampus and other areas
- in similar process long-term depression also seems to be a process for encoding memories (could be process for undoing LTP
10
Q
Anterograde amnesia
A
- inability to form NEW memories
- -> defect in consolidation
- -> hippocampal damage (left-verbal; right - nonverbal)
- -> affects declarative and not procedural memory
- -> may be induced by anesthetics and sedative hypnotics
11
Q
retrograde amnesia
A
- inability to RECALL previously stored memories
- -> temporal quality = older memories more resistant, newer memoreis more vulnerable
- -> defect in RECALL
12
Q
agnosia
A
= inability to recognize various stimuli/forget what they mean
–> visual, auditory or tactile
13
Q
alzheimers disease
A
- Most common form of cortical dementia in humans
- symptoms include aphasia, apraxia, agnosia and anterograde amnesia
- Characterized by neurofibrilary triangles and senile (beta-amyloid) plaques throughout the cortex and forebrain structures
