learning, synaptic plasticity and memory

Question 1

what is neural plasticity?

and what can it be observed as?

Answer 1

changes that are caused by previous experience

1. behaviour
2. neurons
3. synapses

Question 2

what is learning?

Answer 2

process of acquiring new info

Question 3

what is memory?

Answer 3

ability to store and retrieve new info

Question 4

what are the 3 types of learning and examples?

Answer 4

non-associative (sensitisation and habituation)

associative (classical conditioning and structural changes in hippocampus with spatial learning)

imprinting

Question 5

what is nondecelarative memory?

Answer 5

LTM
procedural
- skill learning
- conditioning
doesn't require conscious recall

Question 6

what is declarative learning?

Answer 6

LTM
semantic - knowledge of facts
episodic - what happened
requires conscious recall

Question 7

what are intermediate-term memory?

Answer 7

outlast short term memory but not permanent

e.g yesterday lunch

Question 8

what is meant by encoding and consolidation?

Answer 8

sensory buffers are encoded to stay in STM

STMs are consolidated to stay in LTM

Question 9

who determined that memory isn’t localised and how?

Answer 9

Lashley

rats studied with lesions

Question 10

how to change the efficiency of a neuron?

Answer 10

temporal filtering (change in frequency range of spikes)

gain control (change amount of neurotransmitters)

presynaptic facilitation or depression

Question 11

what are some synaptic changes that can occur after training that lead to a stronger signal?

Answer 11

more neurotransmitter
membrane size/sensitivity
pre and post synaptic size

lead to stronger signal

Question 12

what is habituation?

Answer 12

response weakens with repeated stimulus presentation due to repitition

not due to adaptation or fatigue

Question 13

what is dishabituation?

Answer 13

normal response reinstated when stimulated by a different stimulus

Question 14

what is LTM formation characterised by?

Answer 14

structural changes in neurons

Question 15

what is sensitisation?

Answer 15

response much stronger when pain inflicted beforehand

Question 16

what do hippocampal lesions impair?

Answer 16

spatial task

not working or reference memory

Question 17

what are the 3 main pathways of teh hippocampus?

Answer 17

1. perforant pathway
2. mossy fibre pathway
3. schaffer collateral pathway

Question 18

what is long term potentiation (LTP)?

Answer 18

a stable and enduring increase in the effectiveness of synapses following repeated stimulations

can occur at several sites in the hippocampal formation

Question 19

what are AMPA receptors?

Answer 19

ionotropic receptors

open if glutamate binds to them and Na+ flows into postsynaptic neuron (depolarises membrane)

Question 20

what are NMDA receptors?

Answer 20

critical in formation of LTP:

both ligand and voltage gated

open when bind with glutamate and membrane depolarises above threshold expelling Mg2+ plug

leads to influx of Ca2+ in postsynaptic cell which contributes to excitatory potential

Question 21

why is the NMDA receptor a substrate for associative learning?

Answer 21

critical in formation of LTP:

found in neuronal pathways required for associative learning

activated when 2 events happen together

Question 22

what does CREB target?

Answer 22

many genes that are required for growing new dendritic spines and synapses