12. Learning & memory

Question 1

What does hippocampal theta activity appear to play a part in? (Learning B&B)

Answer 1

Synchronising activity at different brain regions (beta waves)

Question 2

What do the waves of neuronal activity show? (Learning B&B)

Answer 2

• Hippocampal theta rhythms

- Involved in arousal and alertness during exploration

Question 3

What do the peaks and troughs of the waves show? (Learning B&B)

Answer 3

• Peaks = LTP

- Troughs = LDP

Question 4

How can LTP be enhanced genetically? (Learning B&B)

Answer 4

Increased amounts of NR2B (type of NMDA receptor)

Question 5

How characteristic can diminish memory and LTP? (Learning B&B)

Answer 5

Age

Question 6

What characteristic can enhance memory and LTP? (Learning B&B)

Answer 6

Enrichment

Question 7

What were the findings from the spacial maze task? (Learning B&B)

Answer 7

• Mistakes = old mice>young mice
• Aged mice in poor conditions make more mistakes than those in enriched conditions
• Moving the same mouse from impoverished to enriched condition improved performance

Question 8

What is the effect of a weak synapse? (Learning B&B)

Answer 8

Activation does not lead to action potential in the cell

Question 9

What is the effect of a strong synapse? (Learning B&B)

Answer 9

Activation leads to an activation potential in the cell

Question 10

What is associative LTP? (Learning B&B)

Answer 10

Weak and strong stimulation occurs together allowing synapses to pair and fire together

Question 11

What is an example of associative LTP? (Learning B&B)

Answer 11

• Loud nose leads to activation of somatosensory system firing a neuron
• Tone of the nose leads to activation of the auditory system firing a neuron
• Firing at the same time to create the fear response
• As they fired together they are both strong now, even if they weren’t before

Question 12

What is optogenetics? (Learning B&B)

Answer 12

Artificial manipulation in mice, so we can switch on and off cells

Question 13

What has optogenetics shown is necessary for fear association? (Learning B&B)

Answer 13

Synaptic activation in Lateral amygdala

Question 14

What does an increase in NMDA in the forebrain lead to? (Learning B&B)

Answer 14

Increased spacial memory