lecture 7 Flashcards
gene environment interaction
environment can change the way genes are expressed
genetic code contains
instructions on how to respond to the environment
how do nervous systems change
neural activity changes synaptic connections
fire together wire together- strengthen
out of sync lose your link - weaken
synaptic activity - baseline activity
neural activity without stimulation
action potentials are generated randomly
neural signalling
change in activity relative to baseline level
action potential can either become
more forewent than baseline (excitation) or less frequent (inhibition)
persisent signalling
causes the synapse to change
increased activity causes short term molecular changes
frequent APS cause an increase in
neurotransmitter release and number of receptor molecules
increased neural activity can also cause
long term structural changes
long term structural changes
sustained activity - frequent AP’S can cause
growth of new synapses
synaptic takeover
how do changes affect behaviour
optimising existing behaviour
increased transmission rate
react more quickly , reliably to important changes in the environment
decrease transmission rate
makes you more likely to ignore unimportant changes in the environment
acquiring new behaviour growth of new synapses
combine info from previously unrelated sources
respond to old stimuli in a new way
synaptic takeover
reroute info to new pathways
respond to old stimuli in a new way
damage to CNS can lead to
memory failures
