experience dependent plasticity Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is non-associative learning?
Learning based on repeated exposure to a stimulus, without forming associations.
What are two forms of non-associative learning?
Habituation (decrease in response) and Sensitisation (increase in response).
What is associative learning?
Learning relationships between stimuli, behaviours, or events.
What are the two types of associative learning?
Respondent (Type 1) conditioning and Operant (Type 2) conditioning.
What is declarative (explicit) memory?
Memory of facts (semantic) and personal experiences (episodic).
What is non-declarative (implicit) memory?
Memory for skills, procedures, and conditioned responses.
What are examples of non-declarative memory?
Procedural memory, skill learning, conditioning, and habituation.
What did Karl Lashley conclude about the memory engram?
Discrete lesions didn’t impair memory; he found no localized ‘engram’.
What is the Principle of Equipotentiality?
All cortical areas have equal potential for learning.
What is the Principle of Mass Action?
Learning ability depends on the amount of intact cortex.
Which brain region is critical for declarative and spatial memory?
Hippocampus
Which brain region stores procedural memories?
Cerebellum
Which brain region is involved in emotional memory?
Amygdala
Which brain region supports working memory?
Frontal Cortex
What structural changes support memory storage?
New synapses, dendritic branching, and increased spine density.
What is the significance of environmental enrichment on the brain?
Increases brain weight, dendritic complexity, synapses per neuron, and blood supply.
What is neurogenesis and where does it occur?
Birth of new neurons, seen in the hippocampus, olfactory bulb, and possibly neocortex.
What is Hebb’s rule of synaptic change (1949)?
“Cells that fire together, wire together.”
What are key requirements for Hebbian plasticity?
Simultaneous pre- and post-synaptic activity leading to stronger synaptic efficacy.
What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?
A lasting increase in synaptic strength after high-frequency stimulation.
Where was LTP first observed?
In the hippocampus (Bliss & Lomo, 1973)
How is fear conditioning linked to synaptic plasticity?
Pavlovian conditioning can induce LTP in the amygdala, strengthening fear responses.
What is the synaptic mechanism of habituation in snails?
Decreased neurotransmitter release and reduced EPSPs in motor neurons.
What physically changes in the brain during learning?
Increased dendritic arborization, spine density, synapses, and metabolic activity.
