short-term memory Flashcards

1
Q

what is a memory

A

change in behavior of the organism = memory of the experience that caused the change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what kind of change must happen so an experience has an impact on future behavior

A

physical change; molecular or biochemical change in function of the neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

how can computers make memories (3)

A
  1. charging a capacitor
  2. making a very small magnetic field (hard drive)
  3. quantum electrical tunneling (USB keys)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

biological ways of storing memories (6)

A
  1. changes in phosphorylation state
  2. insertion or removal of membrane proteins
  3. persistent activation of protein kinases
  4. production of new proteins
  5. morphological changes at pre-existing synapses
  6. new synapses
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

reductionist approach to discover how biological organisms replicate (4)

A
  1. define question: how do biological organisms replicate?
  2. find simple system that still gives insight into question: 1 bacteriophage infects a bacteria; 20 minutes later, 100 bacteriophages come out
  3. use system to reduce question as much as possible: what molecules do bacteriophages replicate in the bacteria?
  4. answer question: DNA
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

reductionist approach to discover how DNA replicates (4)

A
  1. question: what about DNA allows it to replicate?
  2. simple system: x-ray crystallography of DNA
  3. reduce question: can’t reduce it further
  4. answer: double helix
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

reductionist approach to how memories are made (4)

A
  1. question: how are memories made?
  2. simple system: aplysia have large invariant neurons and they make memories
  3. reduce question: which neurons store the memory and how do those neurons change after memories are made?
  4. answer: sensory neurons; change in protein phosphorylation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

habituation vs sensitization in aplysia

A

habituation: decrease in defensive reflex due to repetitive non-noxious stimulation
sensitization: increase in defensive reflex due to noxious stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what kind of stimulus creates habituation and sensitization

A

conditioned stimulus triggers habituation; unconditioned (shock) stimulus triggers sensitization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what are non-associative memories

A

learning that doesn’t require association bw conditioned and unconditioned stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

change in aplysia behavior when sensitized and habituated

A

sensitizes: noxious stimulus to head/tail causes increase in time and extent of gill withdrawal to touch to siphon
habituated: repetitive touches to siphon causes decreased gill withdrawal (without shock)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

how do you measure synaptic strength

A
  1. place electrode in post-synaptic cell
  2. fire AP in pre-synaptic cell
  3. measure voltage change (post-synaptic potential) -> measures synaptic strength
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

EPSP while stimulating siphon of aplysia every 10 min

A

with every touch (10 min interval), the EPSP decreases -> habituation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

EPSP after habituation and coupled with shock

A

increased EPSP -> sensitization (novel stimulus)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

effect of habituation on sensory and motor neuron of aplysia

A

didn’t decrease the ability of the sensory neuron to fire APs; decreased size of EPSP in motor neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

effect of sensitization on sensory and motor neuron of aplysia

A

increased EPSP in motor neuron after single AP in sensory neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what mimics shocking the tail/stimulating the nerve of aplysia

A

application of 5HT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

action of 5HT on synaptic strength

A

sufficient to increase synaptic strength bw sensory and motor neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

effect of removing 5HT-containing neurons on synaptic strength

A

reduced sensitization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

action of 5HT during sensitization (2)

A
  1. 5HT-containing neurons fire during sensitization
  2. 5HT released during sensitization
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

circuit underlying sensitization in aplysia (5)

A
  1. shock to tail -> activates sensory neuron
  2. sensory neuron activates 5HT neuron
  3. release of 5HT on sensory neuron in siphon + motor neuron
  4. siphon sensory neuron synapses motor neuron
  5. motor neuron causes gill withdrawal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

behavioral habituation and cellular depression

A

behavioral habituation -> repeated touches leads to decreased withdrawal;
repeated touches = repeated firing of sensory neuron -> leads to less release and decrease of EPSP to motor neuron -> decreased withdrawal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

behavioral sensitization and cellular facilitation

A

behavioral sensitization -> shocking tail/head leads to increase of withdrawal; shocking nerve/adding 5HT -> more release and increase of EPSP to motor neuron -> increased withdrawal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

how can synaptic strength be increased (3)

A
  1. releasing more transmitter/AP
  2. increase effect of releasing same amount of transmitter by having bigger post-synaptic response (increase chance of NT release)
  3. more synapses
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

M=NPQ: meaning of each letter

A

M = strength of synaptic connection
N = number of synapses or release sites
P = probability of release of synaptic vesicle after an AP (0 to 1)
Q = amplitude of EPSP from release of 1 vesicle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

how can N, P and Q be controlled by proteins (2)

A
  1. change which proteins are present (transcription, translation, proteolysis)
  2. modify proteins that are already there (PTMs)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

how do proteins get phosphorylated

A

protein kinase takes P from ATP and places it on protein (ATP -> ADP)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

aa which are phosphorylated (3)

A

serine (S), threonine (T) and tyrosine (Y)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

types of kinases (2)

A
  1. kinase that phosphorylates serines and threonines
  2. kinase that phosphorylates tyrosines
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

effect protein kinases inhibitors in sensory and motor neurons

A

sensory neurons -> blocks facilitation
motor neurons -> no effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

what causes changes in P & Q

A

changes in P -> changes in presynapse
changes in Q -> changes in postsynapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

changes in P & Q in 1st few minutes of facilitation

A

P changes; Q (EPSP) doesn’t change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

how can we control P (3)

A
  1. modulating amount of calcium entering with AP
  2. number of vesicles ready to release
  3. coupling calcium entry to fusion of vesicle (calcium-secretion coupling)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

short-term facilitation by phosphorylation of potassium channels by PKA (6 steps)

A
  1. 5HT activates GPCR to activate Gs
  2. Gs activates adenylate cyclase to make cAMP from ATP
  3. cAMP activates PKA
  4. PKA phosphorylates potassium channels (that regulate length of AP)
  5. longer AP -> longer activation of v-g calcium channels
  6. more calcium entry -> more transmitter release
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

STF is caused by

A

phosphorylation of potassium channels by PKA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

what is the specific physical change underlying memory that naturally decays

A

PKA phosphorylation of potassium channels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

how long does a memory that naturally decays last

A

as long as the potassium channel is phosphorylated

38
Q

dephosphorylation of potassium channel (4)

A
  1. STF lasts 20-30 min
  2. cAMP is degraded
  3. PKA no longer active
  4. phosphatase removes phosphate
39
Q

summary of how experience changes the brain: STF (4)

A
  1. experience does something -> release of 5HT
  2. 5HT activates PKA
  3. PKA phosphorylates protein that regulates synaptic strength (potassium channel)
  4. experience changes the brain
40
Q

aspects of associative memories (3)

A
  1. CS doesn’t lead to response
  2. US leads to response
  3. pairing of CS and US leads to response to CS alone
41
Q

neuronal aspects of associative memories (3)

A
  1. weak connection bw neurons encoding CS and response neurons
  2. US leads to depolarization of response neurons
  3. pairing of CS and US leads to strengthening of connection bw neurons encoding CS and response neurons
42
Q

hebbs rule

A

when presynaptic neuron participates in firing of postsynaptic neuron, strength of connection should increase

43
Q

what does an associative protein sense

A

pairing of CS and US

44
Q

examples of associative proteins and what do they do (3)

A
  1. calcium-sensitive adenylate cyclase -> GPCR activation by 5HT (shock; US) + calcium entry (touch; CS)
  2. NMDAR -> depolarization of post-synaptic cell (US) + glutamate release of presynaptic cell (CS)
  3. PKC -> depolarization of post-synaptic cell (calcium entry; US) + glutamate release of presynaptic cell (DAG; CS)
45
Q

characteristics of LTP (3)

A
  1. requires firing of presynaptic cell (glutamate release) and depolarization of post-synaptic cell
  2. requires calcium entry through NMDAR
  3. synapse specific (glutamate release from presyn cell)
46
Q

cellular model of synaptic plasticity in vertebrate brain

A

LTP

47
Q

mechanism of NMDARs (6 elements)

A
  1. AMPARs are ionotropic and let glutamate into the cell
  2. glutamate makes cell more positive (depolarizes)
  3. NMDAR blocked by magnesium ion
  4. magnesium released by depolarization of cell by glutamate
  5. allows calcium influx into cell when glutamate binds
  6. NMDAR externalize AMPAR = increased synaptic strength
48
Q

potentiation vs faciliation

A

same thing -> increase in synaptic strength

49
Q

ways to regulate Q (3)

A
  1. number and efficacy of post-synaptic receptors
  2. amount of transmitter in vesicle
  3. changing driving force for ion carried by channel (amount of sodium or chloride influx/efflux)
50
Q

how does calcium entry through NMDAR increase Q (4)

A
  1. requires calcium-activated kinases (CAMKII) and PKC
  2. phosphorylation of AMPARs only account for short period of LTP
  3. increase in AMPAR number involved in later phase of LTP
  4. Q increases because of increase of AMPARs
51
Q

exocytosis and endocytosis of AMPARs regulated by

A

exocytosis -> multiple kinases (PKA, PKC, CAMKII)
endocytosis -> phosphorylation

52
Q

endocytosis of AMPARs important for

A

LTD and reversal of LTP

53
Q

blocking endocytosis of AMPARs inserted during memory formation is a model for

A

how persistence of memory is encoded

54
Q

organization of AMPARs and regulation

A
  1. tetramer of different subunits
  2. different subunits regulated in different ways in different parts of the brain
55
Q

what controls number of AMPARs at synapses (4)

A
  1. anchoring proteins retain receptor at synapses: TARPs
  2. exocytosis of receptors from storage vesicles
  3. phosphorylation of both AMPARs and anchoring proteins
  4. regulation of endocytosis
56
Q

what are TARPs

A

transmembrane AMPA regulatory proteins that couple AMPARs to post-synaptic density protein through PSD-95

57
Q

what is PSD-95

A

protein that anchors synaptic proteins and keeps PSD

58
Q

effect of PSD-95 KO on NMDARs

A

no effect

59
Q

what are the phosphorylation events that cause LTP

A

don’t know -> leading candidate is CAMKII phosphorylation of TARP proteins

60
Q

what causes LTD

A

phosphorylation of AMPARs causes them to be removed from membrane

61
Q

neuronal pathway of CS in cerebellum (3)

A

mossy fibers from pontine nucleus -> granule cells -> (via parallel fibers) purkinje neurons

62
Q

neuronal representation of US in LTD

A

climbing fibers (one input) coming from inferior olive

63
Q

how does combination of CS and US affect CS in LTD

A

depression of CS

64
Q

effect purkinje cells have on neurons

A

prevent output neurons from firing (because are GABAergic)

65
Q

how does depression of CS lead to increase in eyeblink response (4)

A
  1. depression of CS -> depression of inputs from granule cells
  2. less firing onto purkinje cells
  3. increased firing of output neurons (less inhibitory tone from purkinje cells)
  4. increased eyeblink response
66
Q

what causes LTD in purkinje cells

A

pairing firing of climbing fibers (US) with parallel fibers (CS) leads to decrease in synaptic strength in parallel fiber input

67
Q

effect on eyeblink response when purkinje cells are silenced with picrotoxin

A

eyes still close, but at the wrong time

68
Q

how can we mimic LTD in cultured purkinje cells

A

with glutamate (CS) -> activation of GPCRs; and depolarization (US) -> calcium entry

69
Q

associative molecule in LTD

A

PKC

70
Q

phosphorylation mechanism of LTD (4)

A
  1. calcium entry (depolarization) + DAG from mGPCRs activate PKCa
  2. PKC phosphorylation AMPARs at identified site
  3. phosphorylation reduces binding to GRIP and allows internalization of PICK
  4. decreased receptor = LTD
71
Q

PKCa KO phenotype

A

no LTD

72
Q

PKCa associates with which protein/receptor

A

AMPARs

73
Q

what is GRIP and PICK

A

PDZ proteins that bind to GLUA2

74
Q

regulation of AMPAR endocytosis (GRIP and PICK) (4)

A
  1. GRIP bound to GLUA2
  2. when serine of GLUA2 phosphorylated, GRIP leaves because doesn’t like P (GRIP requires unphosphorylated serine)
  3. PICK doesn’t care so replaces GRIP on GLUA2
  4. stimulates endocytosis
75
Q

roles of GRIP and PICK

A

GRIP -> PDZ-stabilizer (like PSD-95)
PICK -> stim endocytosis

76
Q

binding site on GLUA2 for PDZ proteins

A

SLKI-COOH (end of GLUA2)

77
Q

actions of phosphorylation and effects (3)

A
  1. adds negative charge -> causes conformational shift in protein (change in function)
  2. adds site for protein:protein interaction
  3. removes a site for protein:protein interaction
78
Q

which mutation will mimic the addition of negative charge by phosphorylation

A

serine/threonine mutated to negatively charged aa (glutamic acid/aspartic acid)

79
Q

which mutation blocks effect of adding negative charge by phosphorylation

A

serine/threonine mutated to uncharged aa (like alanine)

80
Q

which mutation blocks effect of adding a site for protein:protein interaction by phosphorylation

A

serine/threonine mutated to glutamic acid, aspartic acid or alanine (E doesn’t look like phosphoserine other than charge)

81
Q

which mutation will mimic the effect of removing a site for protein:protein interaction by phosphorylation

A

serine/threonine mutation to glutamic acid, aspartic acid or alanine

82
Q

ex of roles of phosphorylation (3)

A
  1. conformational change due to charge -> CAMKII activation
  2. creates binding site with phospho-amino acid -> CREB phosphorylation
  3. destroys binding site by phospho-amino acid -> GRIP binding to GLUA2
83
Q

role of phosphorylation in GRIP binding and effect of mutating serine

A
  1. serine important for GRIP binding -> phosphorylation causes destruction of binding site (GRIP can’t bind anymore)
  2. S -> A mimics phosphorylation role (serine isn’t present anymore so binding site is destroyed)
84
Q

how does K -> A mutation in SLKI affect phosphorylation and LTD

A

prevents PKC from phosphorylating because SxK fits into substrate binding pocket of PKC, but SxA doesn’t -> no GLUA2 phosphorylation, no LTD (blocks LTD)

85
Q

what event is required for LTD

A

phosphorylation of GLUA2

86
Q

summary of how experience changes the brain: LTD (4)

A
  1. experience does something -> causes coincident firing of granule cells and climbing fibers
  2. activation of PKC
  3. PKC phosphorylates protein that regulates synaptic strength (AMPAR)
  4. experience changes brain
87
Q

what would lead to the belief that phosphorylation of GLUA2 is required for eye-blink conditioning

A
  1. eye-blink conditioning causes LTD
  2. LTD is caused by phosphorylation of GLUA2
  3. could infer that GLUA2 is involved in eye-blink conditioning
88
Q

is phosphorylation of GLUA2 required for eye-blink conditioning and why

A

GLUA2 with mutation preventing its phosphorylation = no LTD when climbing fibers and parallel fibers fire together; but mice have normal eye-blink conditioning -> cellular plasticity of LTS is not necessary for timing of eye-blink conditioning

89
Q

conservation of phosphorylation sites/mechanisms across species

A

phosphorylation sites/mechanisms for STM (change in synaptic strength) are not conserved across species; other phosphorylation mechanisms (not STM) are conserved across species

90
Q

what is a molecular memory trace

A

physical manifestation of a memory

91
Q

what does the length of time a memory lasts depend on

A

stability of the molecular memory trace (phosphorylation)

92
Q

what is short-term synaptic plasticity due to

A

transient activation of protein kinases