Neuroplasticity and Learning Flashcards
What is neuroplasticity?
The ability of the brain to reorganise itself, both in structure and function.
How does the brain change through neuroplasticity
Neurogenesis
New synapses
Strengthened synapses
Weakened synapses
Neuroplasticity can take place when changes occur in…
Characteristics in dendritic spikes
Properties of membrane and ion channels
Hormonal activity
Microglia activity
DNA regulation and transcription
Neurotransmitters
How many neurons do our brains hold?
86 billion
How is information passes through neurons and synapses?
Information (including educational knowledge and understanding) is stored in the connections (synapses) between these neurons in our brain (a chemical process).
Who is the father of neuropsychology and neural networks?
Donald Hebb
How do networks change their synapses in order to learn?
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)
What does LTP stand for?
Long-Term Potentiation
What does EPSP stand for?
Excitatory Post-Synaptic Potential
What is EPSP?
Positive change in charge after the
synapse
What is glutamate?
A neurotransmitter
Name two glutamate receptors.
AMPA & NMDA
Name the ions that flow through the gates and change the charge of the postsynaptic membrane.
Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K)
What happens when sufficient incoming glutamate binds to the AMPA receptors?
They open and generate enough EPSP (by allowing Na+ through) to depolarise the postsynaptic membrane –> repelling Mg++ ions from NMDA receptors.
Which ions let through NMDA receptors?
Na+ and Ca++
What can Ca++ do in order to increase the efficiency of synapses?
Trigger temporary insertion of new AMPA receptors.
How does learning happen at the cellular level?
LTP and LTD.
What does LTD stand for?
Long-Term Depression
What does LTD mean?
A reduction in firing rates.
What is neurogenesis?
The birth of new neurons throughout development
What does synaptic plasticity refer to?
Changes in the strengths of connections between neurons.
What happens if we are engaged in the task?
We are likely to consciously attend to the goal.
What does conscious attention to a concept usually involve?
Working memory circuits that include the frontal lobes.
Where is working memory particularly associated?
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)
Name two FOR arguments where it is deemed that animal experimentation is acceptable.
Suffering is minimised in all experiments
Human benefits are gained which could not be obtained using other methods.
Name three AGAINST arguments where it is deemed that animal experimentation is always unacceptable.
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.
What does unsupervised learning do?
Helps you pick out patterns from the vast and noisy world.
What is supervised learning?
When you get immediate error messages about your movements.
What structures are related to reward learning?
Basal ganglia
Striatum
What neurotransmitter is involved in reward learning?
Dopamine
What is the main mechanism of declarative memory formation?
The reactivation of newly acquired memory representations in hippocampal networks.
What is the standard systems consolidation model (SSC)?
Retention of new stimuli.
What is the multiple trace theory model (MTT)?
Reconsolidation - It holds that memories are susceptible to change each time they are retrieved.
What is the hippocampus’ role in memory?
Organising memories
within the context in which they are experienced,
What is the mPFC’s role in memory?
Retrieval of context-appropriate memories.
Why do the hippocampus and mPFC interact in the process of memory?
To serve memory via multiple pathways
What is emotional learning?
Remembering when you found danger, what happened last time, etc
How does emotional learning work?
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.
What structures play a part in emotional learning?
Hippocampus and amygdala
What is the amygdala responsible for?
A primary structure for experiencing and processing emotions
Which learning systems are interconnected?
Unsupervised learning
Reinforcement learning
Supervised learning
