synaptic plasticity

Question 1

neuroplasticity

Answer 1

the brains ability to change

Question 2

synaptic plasticity

Answer 2

refers to the ability of he synapse to change in response to experience. and enables change involving the strengthening or weakening of connections between the neurons at a synapse.

Question 3

how does strengthening occur

Answer 3

through continual use of the synaptic connections or through growth of new, additional connections.

Question 4

how does weakening occur

Answer 4

through disuse of synaptic connections resulting in the decay or elimination of a synapse.

Question 5

long term potentiation

Answer 5

refers to the long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmissions due to repeated strong simulation.

Question 6

long term depression

Answer 6

the long-lasting decrease in the strength of synaptic transmissions and neuronal response.

Question 7

similarities between LTP and LTD

Answer 7

• Both are activity dependent
• Both involve glutamate
• Both occur at glutamate synapses
• Both involve changes in excitability
• Both have long-lasting effects
• Both are forms of long-lasting neural plasticity

Question 8

sprouting

Answer 8

the creation of new extension on a neuron to allow it to make new connections with other neurons. This occurs through the growth of nerve endings (‘sprouts’) on axons or dendrites, thereby enabling new links to be made, including rerouting of existing connections.

Question 9

rerouting

Answer 9

occurs when new connections are made between neurons to create alternate neural pathways. These alternate ‘routes’ may be entirely new neural pathways or connections to other pathways in the brain. The rerouting may involve the existing synaptic connections and/or new connections from the sprouts.

Question 10

pruning

Answer 10

the elimination of week, ineffective or unused synapses. Experience determines which synapses will be retained and strengthened and which will be pruned. Pruning is a way of fine-tuning the brain’s neural circuits to maintain efficient brain functioning.

Question 11

Steps of synaptic transmission

Answer 11

1. Neurotransmitter synthesis: The neurotransmitter is made in the cell body or in the pre-synaptic terminal.
2. Neurotransmitter storage: The neurotransmitter is stored in vesicles until it’s released.
3. Neurotransmitter release: The neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft.
4. Receptor activation: The neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the postsynaptic cell.
5. Signal termination: The signal is terminated by removing excess neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft.