12. Learning & memory Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 12. Learning & memory Deck (14)
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1
Q

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

A

Synchronising activity at different brain regions (beta waves)

2
Q

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

A
  • Hippocampal theta rhythms

- Involved in arousal and alertness during exploration

3
Q

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

A
  • Peaks = LTP

- Troughs = LDP

4
Q

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

A

Increased amounts of NR2B (type of NMDA receptor)

5
Q

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

A

Age

6
Q

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

A

Enrichment

7
Q

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

A
  • 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
8
Q

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

A

Activation does not lead to action potential in the cell

9
Q

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

A

Activation leads to an activation potential in the cell

10
Q

What is associative LTP? (Learning B&B)

A

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

11
Q

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

A
  • 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
12
Q

What is optogenetics? (Learning B&B)

A

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

13
Q

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

A

Synaptic activation in Lateral amygdala

14
Q

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

A

Increased spacial memory