Placidity

Question 1

Draw out the basic anatomy of the neuron

Answer 1

where is the:
cell membrane
dendrites
cell body
axons
nodes of ranvier
myelin sheath
oligodendrocytes
synapse

Question 2

where is the axon hitting on the cells

Answer 2

axo-dedritic
axo-somatic
axo-axonic
dendron-denritic

Question 3

what are the glia and what are the different types of glia

Answer 3

ependymal cells
-lining of the ventricles (CSF)
oligodendrocytes
-creates meylin sheath
microglia
-policeman
-clean up the debris
Astrocytes
- scaffolding for the brain
-most abundant

Question 4

what are the different types of neurons

Answer 4

pyramidal
purkinje
granule
spindle
interneuron

Question 5

what is a pyramidal neuronal cell

Answer 5

Found in the cortex – usually associated with initiation of movement and thought

Question 6

what is a purkinje neuronal cell

Answer 6

Found in the cerebellum – multiple feedbacks for precise movements

Question 7

what is a granule neuronal cell

Answer 7

found throughout the brain, cerebellum, olfactory, and hippocampus

Question 8

what is a spindle neuronal cell?

Answer 8

Connections to different parts of the brain
*May be involved in some psych disorders

Question 9

what is an interneuron neuronal cell?

Answer 9

connections between to help regulation normally inhibitory

Question 10

What does plasticity mean?

Answer 10

the ability for neurons to adapt and perfect the flow of information with the inflow or outflow

Question 11

what are the two main points of plasticity?

Answer 11

arborization
de-arborization

Question 12

what is arborization when it comes to plasticity

Answer 12

The process in which connections are made including dentrites, axons, and/or telodendrites. (synaptogenesis)

Can enhance a skill/memory

Over-arborization can lead to problems including increased reflexes, pain, or the inability to process information

Question 13

how is arborization performed?

Answer 13

Increase in the amount of neurotransmitters
Increased connections from the pre-synaptic neuron
Increased connections from the post-synaptic neuron
BOTH

Question 14

what is the ultimate goal of arborization

Answer 14

allow better ease of depolarization

Question 15

what is dearborization when it comes to plasticity

Answer 15

the loss of connections
also known as pruning
occurs for a few reasons:
- natural development
-loss of represented structures
-loss of a skill
- brain insult or infraction

Question 16

what is the time line of plasticity

Answer 16

from 36 week gestation to 2 years there is synapse formation

from 4 to 6 years there is synapse pruning occurring

Question 17

what are the four types of learning?

Answer 17

hebbian learning
retrograde signaling
mirror neuron signaling
anti-hebbian learning

Question 18

what is hebbian learning

Answer 18

neurons will fire together, wire together
presynaptic neuron strengthens connections

Question 19

what is retrograde signaling

Answer 19

neurons surrounding the pre-synaptic neuron get stronger with the post synaptic neurons
increased neurotransmitters or nitrous oxide

Question 20

what is mirror neuron signaling

Answer 20

neurons that fire during active and observation of activity
increase connectivity and lateralization

Question 21

what is the anti hebbian style of learning

Answer 21

-the post synaptic neuron mediates the connection
-mediates the response when two types of inputs may enter the cell
- thought to occur in the cerebellum

Question 22

what are the principles of neuroplasty

Answer 22

-use it or lose it
-specificity of practice
-intensity matters
-time matters
-transference
-use it and improve it
-repitions or dosage matters
-salience matters
-age matters
-interference

Question 23

explain the concept of use it or lose it to me?

Answer 23

Plasticity is always occurring
The brain will take over different regions if lost or unused.
Is the old phrase “Pick it back up like riding a bike true”?
Time is key
In primate experiments:
A digit was amputated
The brain lost representation
The brain grew the surrounding representation

Question 24

explain the concept of use it and improve it to me

Answer 24

the use of a skill improves the acquisition of the task
certain types of settings or specific circumstances can increase the acquisition of skills

Question 25

explain the concept of specificity of practice/transference

Answer 25

Training is usually task specific
It’s very hard to improve one thing and it carry over to another skill UNLESS the skills are linked
Complex may improve simple
Like training strengthens like
Strengthen one limb may help the other
Performing task and watching may help (mirror neurons)

Question 26

explain the concept of repetitions or dosage matters

Answer 26

Dr. Lang (Wash U. St. Louis)
Dosage is extremely important
~1,000-10,000 repetitions to relearn and master a skill
Under-dosing patient’s is a systemic problem
How do we get around this?

Question 27

explain the concept of intensity matters

Answer 27

Can be identified as:
Power
Time to completion
Obstacle avoidance
Increased speed of movement
Target distance
Variability of support

Question 28

explain the concept of time matters

Answer 28

Usually the easiest time to affect change after a neurological insult, <6 months

Too early can cause problems because the person needs to start to heal

However, people can still regain tasks years after insult

Question 29

explain the concept of salience matters

Answer 29

One of the most important parts

Person must be engaged in the activity

If you find something the person likes, they are more likely to attend to the task and continue with it

Increases belief in the themselves AND you

Question 30

explain the concept of why age matters

Answer 30

Younger tends to be easier

Healthy older adults can learn to

Declining in cognition or extreme advanced age may play a role (but not always)

Question 31

explain the concept of interference

Answer 31

Some plasticity may interact and impede other plasticity

Learning a secondary task may initial impede performance on primary task

Question 32

what are other factors effecting plasticity

Answer 32

Experience with tasks
Mood and willingness to engage
Sleep or lack of
Fitness
Pharmaceuticals
Underlying disease or comorbidities