Neuroplasticity and Learning

Question 1

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 1

The ability of the brain to reorganise itself, both in structure and function.

Question 2

How does the brain change through neuroplasticity

Answer 2

Neurogenesis
New synapses
Strengthened synapses
Weakened synapses

Question 3

Neuroplasticity can take place when changes occur in…

Answer 3

Characteristics in dendritic spikes
Properties of membrane and ion channels
Hormonal activity
Microglia activity
DNA regulation and transcription
Neurotransmitters

Question 4

How many neurons do our brains hold?

Answer 4

86 billion

Question 5

How is information passes through neurons and synapses?

Answer 5

Information (including educational knowledge and understanding) is stored in the connections (synapses) between these neurons in our brain (a chemical process).

Question 6

Who is the father of neuropsychology and neural networks?

Answer 6

Donald Hebb

Question 7

How do networks change their synapses in order to learn?

Answer 7

Neurons that fire together, wire together.

If another neuron stimulates a synapse connected to the same dendrite, at the same time –> both synapses are more likely to strengthen their efficiency (aka, the neurons get wired together)

Question 8

What does LTP stand for?

Answer 8

Long-Term Potentiation

Question 9

What does EPSP stand for?

Answer 9

Excitatory Post-Synaptic Potential

Question 10

What is EPSP?

Answer 10

Positive change in charge after the
synapse

Question 11

What is glutamate?

Answer 11

A neurotransmitter

Question 12

Name two glutamate receptors.

Answer 12

AMPA & NMDA

Question 13

Name the ions that flow through the gates and change the charge of the postsynaptic membrane.

Answer 13

Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K)

Question 14

What happens when sufficient incoming glutamate binds to the AMPA receptors?

Answer 14

They open and generate enough EPSP (by allowing Na+ through) to depolarise the postsynaptic membrane –> repelling Mg++ ions from NMDA receptors.

Question 15

Which ions let through NMDA receptors?

Answer 15

Na+ and Ca++

Question 16

What can Ca++ do in order to increase the efficiency of synapses?

Answer 16

Trigger temporary insertion of new AMPA receptors.

Question 17

How does learning happen at the cellular level?

Answer 17

LTP and LTD.

Question 18

What does LTD stand for?

Answer 18

Long-Term Depression

Question 19

What does LTD mean?

Answer 19

A reduction in firing rates.

Question 20

What is neurogenesis?

Answer 20

The birth of new neurons throughout development

Question 21

What does synaptic plasticity refer to?

Answer 21

Changes in the strengths of connections between neurons.

Question 22

What happens if we are engaged in the task?

Answer 22

We are likely to consciously attend to the goal.

Question 23

What does conscious attention to a concept usually involve?

Answer 23

Working memory circuits that include the frontal lobes.

Question 24

Where is working memory particularly associated?

Answer 24

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)

Question 25

Name two FOR arguments where it is deemed that animal experimentation is acceptable.

Answer 25

Suffering is minimised in all experiments
Human benefits are gained which could not be obtained using other methods.

Question 26

Name three AGAINST arguments where it is deemed that animal experimentation is always unacceptable.

Answer 26

It causes suffering to animals
The benefits to humans are not proven
Any benefits to human beings that animal testing does provide could be produced in other ways.

Question 27

What does unsupervised learning do?

Answer 27

Helps you pick out patterns from the vast and noisy world.

Question 28

What is supervised learning?

Answer 28

When you get immediate error messages about your movements.

Question 29

What structures are related to reward learning?

Answer 29

Basal ganglia
Striatum

Question 30

What neurotransmitter is involved in reward learning?

Answer 30

Dopamine

Question 31

What is the main mechanism of declarative memory formation?

Answer 31

The reactivation of newly acquired memory representations in hippocampal networks.

Question 32

What is the standard systems consolidation model (SSC)?

Answer 32

Retention of new stimuli.

Question 33

What is the multiple trace theory model (MTT)?

Answer 33

Reconsolidation - It holds that memories are susceptible to change each time they are retrieved.

Question 34

What is the hippocampus’ role in memory?

Answer 34

Organising memories
within the context in which they are experienced,

Question 35

What is the mPFC’s role in memory?

Answer 35

Retrieval of context-appropriate memories.

Question 36

Why do the hippocampus and mPFC interact in the process of memory?

Answer 36

To serve memory via multiple pathways

Question 37

What is emotional learning?

Answer 37

Remembering when you found danger, what happened last time, etc

Question 38

How does emotional learning work?

Answer 38

Emotion activates the amygdala which marks the experience as important, enhancing plasticity in the hippocampus and other brain regions, so making the experience more memorable.

Question 39

What structures play a part in emotional learning?

Answer 39

Hippocampus and amygdala

Question 40

What is the amygdala responsible for?

Answer 40

A primary structure for experiencing and processing emotions

Question 41

Which learning systems are interconnected?

Answer 41

Unsupervised learning
Reinforcement learning
Supervised learning