skill acquisiton

Question 1

what is skill aquisition

Answer 1

ability to reliably deliver accurate execution

Question 2

What occurs during skill aquisition

Answer 2

there is a speed-accuracy trade-off and slow learning
there are cellular changes ie neuroplasticity
and can be system level changes

Question 3

what are system levels for skill acquisition

Answer 3

move from cortical to sub-cortical
automatisation
decreased cognitive effect

Question 4

what are the four mechanisms of motor learning

Answer 4

Instructive
reinforcement
use-dependent
sensorimotor adaptation

Question 5

what is instructive motor learning?

Answer 5

strategy based, explicit
primary driver = performance-based external feedback
primary neural substrate involved is prefrontal cortex
cognitive load = high

Question 6

what is reinforcement motor learning

Answer 6

Reward-based
Primary driver: outcome-based external feedback
primary neural substrate involved: basal ganglia
Medium cognitive load

Question 7

What is use-dependent cognitive learning

Answer 7

Repetition based
Primary driver: task-specific massed practice
Primary neural substrate involved: motor cortex, spinal cortex
Medium cognitive load

Question 8

What is sensorimotor adaptation

Answer 8

recalibration, implicit
Primary driver: sensorimotor prediction errors
Primary neural substrate: cerebellum
Low cognitive load

Question 9

what is the process of long-term potentiation

Answer 9

Voltage-gated NMDA receptors in membrane at a new synapse site
Ca2+ influxes only when there is coactivation of pre and post-synaptic membranes
Ca”+ influx stimulates insertion of non-voltage gated AMPA receptors into membrane

AMPA receptors can’t figure out useful connection till both fire at same time so initially connection is weak

There is a resultant increase in post-synaptic neuron receptors
Originally nerve 1 cant make nerve 2 work but after time body realises possible useful connection and AMPA receptors easier for nerve to carry signal

Question 10

what is long-term potentiation

Answer 10

a cellular mechanism of memory formationin the brain
persistent strengthening of synpases based on recent patterns of acivity

Question 11

what is the process of long term depression?

Answer 11

if connection isn’t being used or is unhelpful the connection can be removed
this stops nerve 1 directly impacting on nerve 2
opposite process to potentiation
decrease post-synaptic Ca2+ results in reduction of AMPA receptor initially
followed by deletion of synapses if continued failure to coactivate
may completely lose synapse

Question 12

what are the 10 principles of experience-dependent plasticity

Answer 12

use it or lose it
use it and improve it
specificity
repetition matters
intensity matters
time matters
salience matters
age matters
transference
interference

Question 13

what is the use it or lost it principle

Answer 13

failure to drive specific brain functions can lead to functional degradation

Question 14

what is the use it and improve it principle

Answer 14

training that drives a specific brain function can lead to an enhancement of that function

Question 15

what is the specificity principle

Answer 15

nature of the training experience dictates the nature of the plasticity

Question 16

what is the repetition matters principle?

Answer 16

induction of plasticity requires sufficient repetition

Question 17

what is the intensity matters principle

Answer 17

induction of plasticity requires sufficient training intensity

Question 18

what is the time matters principle

Answer 18

different forms of plasticity occur at different times during training

Question 19

what is the salience prinicple

Answer 19

the training experience must be suffiently salient to induce plasticity

Question 20

what is the age matters principle

Answer 20

training-induced plasticity occurs more readily in younger brains

Question 21

what is the transference principle

Answer 21

plasticity in response to one training experience can enhance the acquisition of similar behaviours

Question 22

what is the interference principle

Answer 22

plasticity in response to one experience can interfere with the acquisition of other behaviours

Question 23

what are possible post-lesional physiological changes

Answer 23

oedema
diaschisis
excitotoxicity
apoptosis

Question 24

what is excitotoxicity

Answer 24

cells die releasing neurotransmitters increasing area of issue

Question 25

what is apoptosis

Answer 25

oedema resolves spontaneous recovery occurs
larger area affected by stroke
loss of ability to communicate
as oedema reduces should regain these cells

Question 26

what are the mechanisms for injury induced plasticity

Answer 26

denervation hypersensitivity
synaptic hypereffectiveness
unmasking silent synapses
regenerative synaptogenesis
reactive synaptogenesis

Question 27

what is denervation hypersensitivity

Answer 27

where nerves lost connections are easier to generate reaction potential due to reduced polarity

Question 28

what is synaptic hypereffectiveness

Answer 28

at synpase point takes smaller amount of neurotransmitter and fewer connections

Question 29

what is unmasking silent synapses

Answer 29

no longer live connections in these areas but are able to make better use of these

Question 30

what is regenerative synaptogenesis

Answer 30

reestablishing synapse so where one synapse connected try and maximise connections and find pathways to regain function

Question 31

when may motor learning through plasticity have constraints

Answer 31

process of automatisation can be harder with parkinson’s disease
cognitive impairment may prevent use explicit learning mechanisms
cerebellar impairment may prevent use of sensorimotor adaptation