Long Term Potentiation (cellular biology explains how we learn) Flashcards
Donald Hebb
biopsy hero
Donald Hebb predicted
STM and LTM
Donald Hebb
his student, Brenda Milner, validated many of his idea
His maxim
“Cells that fire together, wire together”
LTD (long-term depression)
is the reversal of LTP (long-term potentiation)
LTP
makes the synapse “stronger”
-through repeated stimulation
LTP
will fire more easily after repeated high stimulation
LTP
the cellular bio FIX
NMDA receptors
-glutamate binds to receptors on dendrite
-opens channel in dendrites (influx of Na+ and Ca2+
-usually blocked by chunky Mg2+
AMPA receptors
-glutamate binding opens Na+ channels
-Mg2+ can’t block
-Na+ depolarizes dendritic area
AMPA receptors
NO also involved in this process
-so it also helps in learning as retrograde NT
NMDA receptors
-responds to glutamate after depolarized by AMPA receptors (boots Mg2+)
-Ca2+ enters, activates CaMKII (sets several processes in motion)
-“phosphorylation” -> transfers molecules around
NMDA receptors
-“phosphorylation”
-AMPA receptors change-> more responsive
-builds more AMPA receptors and dendritic spines
NMDA receptors
-“phosphorylation”
-releases CREB (seals the deal) -> alter gene expression in nucleus
*if CREB stops working, you aren’t able to learn
NO
from the dendrite increases terminal’s release of glutamate
-so both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanism are involved
