Neurobiology of cognition Flashcards
Synaptic changes in learning
↑ NT release, ↑ receptor number, larger dendritic spines
Dendritic spines
Site of most excitatory synaptic communication
Neurons that fire together, wire together
Hebbian principle—basis of LTP
Weak + strong stimulus pairing
Leads to LTP and stronger future response to the weak input
Glutamatergic neurons
Key in LTP via AMPA & NMDA receptors
AMPA receptor
Activated by glutamate → Na⁺ influx → depolarisation
NMDA receptor
Normally blocked by Mg²⁺; depolarisation removes the block
Ca²⁺ influx via NMDA
Triggers cascade: ↑ receptors, ↑ spine size, stronger synapse
Stroop Test
Assesses cognitive control specifically inhibitory control over automatic processes
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)
Active during preparation & attention control
Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)
Active during incongruent trials; involved in error detection & conflict monitoring
Visual perception
Reading the stimulus
Language processing
Understanding word meaning
Executive functioning
Planning, task switching
Attention control
Focusing on task-relevant feature (ink colour)
Inhibitory control
Suppressing the automatic reading of the word
Monozygotic twins perform more similarly than dizygotic twins
Strong genetic influence on cognitive control
Prefrontal cortex develops late
Younger children show lower Stroop performance; improves with age
Terminal Stroop performance
Shaped by both genes and environment
