Neuroplasticity

Question 1

Habituation

Answer 1

Decrease in response to a repeated, benign stimulus

Question 2

Long term potentiation

Answer 2

– Connection between neurons gets strengthened as neural pathways are activated constantly
– occur in a synapse:
1. Synapse is initiated
2. Glutamate released from presynaptic neuron and floats across synaptic cleft binding with NMDA receptors
3. AMPA receptors move from cytoplasm to membrane
4. Dendritic spine created
5. Presynaptic neuron changes its structure and new synapse is created

Question 3

Long term depression

Answer 3

Neural pathways that are rarely/never activated become weaker:
– AMPA receptors in cell membrane move back into cell body and synapses lost.

Question 4

Cortical remapping

Answer 4

Neurons are assigned to each of our body parts

Question 5

Performance

Answer 5

– Observable behaviour
– Execution of a skill at a specific time and specific location e.g. exam

Question 6

Learning

Answer 6

– Permanent
– Due to practice