learning n memory Flashcards
LTP vs LTD
LTP - Long-term potentiation
strengthening of synapses that leads to long-lasting increase in signal transmission btwn neurons
LTD - Long-term depression
weakening of synapses that leads to long-lasting decrease in signal transmission btwn neurons
what are the 2 stages in early LTP?
- generation
- expel mg2+ molecules that are blocking NMDA receptors
- entrance of ca2+ leads to insertion of AMPA receptors - stabilisation
- ca2+ continues to increase in postsynaptic neuron
- larger, stiffer dendritic spines, enhancing synaptic connectivity
what happens in late LTP?
maintenance - steady presence of protein kinase M zeta prevents AMPA receptor removal
in late LTP, what is the protein kinase involved, and what does it do?
protein kinase M zeta prevents AMPA receptor removal
what are 3 LTP properties?
- cooperativity
- associativity
- specificity
LTP can be artificially induced by which 2 methods?
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
3 kinds of responses to the environment are?
- reflexes - involuntary
- fixed action patterns (instincts)
- involuntary but more complex than reflexes - learning
- change in behavior due to experience
there are 2 different kinds of learning, ___________, split into ______________ and ______________, and ______________, which are ___________ and ________________.
associative; operant and classical conditioning
non-associative; habitual; sensitization
what is classical conditioning?
the learning that stimuli act as signals to predict the occurrence of other events
match to UCR, CR, UCS, CS.
- neutral envt event
- innate factors
- appears without prior exp with stimulus
- must be learned
UCR - appears without prior exp with stimulus
CR - must be learned
UCS - innate factors
CS - neutral envt event
CS and UCS interact by forming what kind of synapses? what does this kind of synapses do?
axo-axonic synapses increases the amount of neurotransmistter released by conditioned stimulus (CS)
where does classical conditioning occur?
cerebellum
__________ Cells: These are specialized neurons located in the ___________, a part of the brain that plays a key role in motor control and coordination.
purkinje; cerebellum
climbing fibers are considered ___________, and they are from the _________ of the __________ synapse on the ______________ cells.ndi
mossy and parallel fibers are considered the __________ in classical conditioning.
unconditioned stimulus (UCS); inferior olive; medulla; purkinje
conditioned stimulus (CS)
learning occurs if climbing fiber (UCS/CS/UCR/CR) and parallel fiber (UCS/CS/UCR/CR) synapses onto a purkinje cell are activated at the ______ time.
purkinje cells will __________ both inputs and ___________ the output of the ____________.
UCS; CS; same; integrate; modulate; conditioned response (CR)
can classical conditioning be reversed?
yes - extinction of classically conditioned response
exposure to _____ without subsequent _______ reduces _________.
CS; UCS; CR
do classically conditioned responses generalise outside the training situation? what about its extinction?
yes, classically conditioned responses will generalise outside training situation due to similar stimulus
no, extinction does not generalise, due to context and environments.
when does generalised extinction of CR occur?
when there is hippocampal lesions and the ability to recognise context is hindered
extinction does not generalise due to importance of context. which area of the brain manages context?
hippocampus
extinction doesnt mean forgetting.
extinction training strengthens the association between ____ and ________ instead of the _________.
CS; new context; UCS
eg.
Original Conditioning:
Initially, the CS (like a bell) is paired with the UCS (like food or a negative experience), creating a conditioned response (like salivation or fear).
During Extinction Training:
The CS is presented multiple times without the UCS. For example, the bell rings without food being given to the dog or the loud noise occurs without any negative consequences.
Formation of New Associations:
As this occurs, the organism starts to associate the CS with the new context (the environment where the extinction happens) instead of the UCS.
Contextual Learning:
This process allows the organism to learn that in this specific context, the CS no longer predicts the UCS. So, the anxiety or fear linked to the CS diminishes because the CS is now linked to a safe context.
habituation vs sensitisation
habituation is the decrease in response to unchanging and harmless stimuli in your envt (eg. live near train station, habitualised to sound of trains)
sensitisation is the increase in response to a stimulus after a strong/noxious event in your envt. aka heightened response to stimuli that usually does not warrant such a strong response.
2 key features of working memory
- limited capacity (small amt of info at any one time ~7+-2 items)
- manipulating info (while holding onto info, manipulate it by adding/applying concepts/mixing with other info etc)
what is working memory?
storing + manipulating info in the mind at the same time (eg. solving a math problem)
