What is learning at the neuronal level?
A stimulus from a neuron produces a
typical response from the neuron to
which it connects to.
If the “Stimulus” reliably produces a
“Response”, the strength of the
physiological response increases
The response of a neuron depends on the frequency that one neuron excites another.
What is Hebb’s law/Hebbian synapse?
Simultaneous activation of cells lead to increases in synaptic strength. Synapses grow stronger when presynaptic cells effectively activate the postsynaptic cell;
“cells that fire together, wire together.”
What is neuroplasticity?
Changes in the structure and function of synapses in the brain
Who speculated that synaptic alterations could be the basis of learning?
Charles Sherrington in 1897.
What types of synaptic changes may store information?
Presynaptic
What structural changes may occur with long-term memory formation?
Formation of new synapses
How can synaptic reorganization occur due to training?
A more active neural pathway can take over synaptic sites from a less active competitor
What are the three housing conditions used in rat enrichment studies?
Impoverished Condition (IC)
- Rats are housed individually in standard cages with no enrichment.
Standard Condition (SC)
- Rats are housed in small groups in standard cages.
Enriched Condition (EC)
- Rats are housed in large social groups in enriched cages with toys and learning opportunities.
Name one anatomical change seen in EC rats.
A thicker cortex
What neural activity increases in EC rats?
Enhanced cholinergic activity across the cortex.
What happens to dendrites in EC rats?
More dendritic branches and spines are observed on cortical neurons.
How does enrichment affect synapse size in EC rats?
EC rats develop larger cortical synapses.
How does enrichment affect hippocampal neurons in EC rats?
More neurons survive in the hippocampus due to longer lifespan of new neurons.
What recovery benefit is seen in EC rats?
Enhanced recovery from brain damage.
Why study invertebrates like Aplysia for learning research?
Their simple nervous systems allow detailed
What is Sensitization?
A form of non-associative learning where increased response to stimuli following the presentation of a prominent stimulus (e.g.
loud sound, strong smell)
What is habituation?
A form of nonassociative learning where repeated exposure to a benign stimulus leads to a decreased response.
How did Kandel relate learned behaviour to changes in neurons with aplysia?
He discovered the Gill Siphon Withdrawal Reflex which demonstrated connections between sensory neurons and motor response.
Shocking a sea slugs siphon every time it stuck out taught it to habituate.
What causes short-term habituation in Aplysia?”
A decrease in neurotransmitter release at the synapse between the sensory and motor neuron.
What causes long-term habituation in Aplysia?
A reduction in the number of synapses between the sensory neuron and motor neuron.
What did Aplysia research reveal about synaptic plasticity?
Learning can weaken existing synapses or reduce their number over time.
What is classical conditioning of the eye-blink reflex in rabbits?
A rabbit learns to blink (CR) in response to a tone (CS) after repeated pairings with a puff of air (US) to the eye.
Which cranial nerve detects the air puff in the eye-blink reflex?
Which brain region mediates the conditioned eye-blink response?
The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V).
Which brain region mediates the conditioned eye-blink response?
The cerebellum.
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Lecture 1 - History of Neuroscience16
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Lecture 2 - The Anatomy of the Nervous System44
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Lecture 3 - Micro Anatomy and Neural Transmission35
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Lecture 4 -- Graded Potentials and Action Potentials28
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Lecture 5 -- The Chemistry of Behaviour31
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Lecture 6 -- Sensory Systems16
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Lecture 7 -- Neurodevelopment46
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Lecture 8 -- Learning33
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Lecture 3 — Methods in Neuroscience14
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Lecture 9 -- Memory5
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Giant exam deck3
