Neural Plasticity (Learning, Memory, & Amnesia

Question 1

True/False, memory is stored in a specific location in the brain

Answer 1

False,

memory is distributed

Question 2

What is the effect of a bilateral medial temporal lobectomy

Answer 2

No capacity to turn short term memories into NEW memories (memory consolidation)

• hippocampus damaged
• story of H.M.
• short and long term memory are separate

Question 3

What type of amnesia prevents one from forming new memories

Answer 3

Antegrade

Question 4

What type of amnesia prevents one from remembering the past

Answer 4

Retrograde

Question 5

Memory is divided into two parts

Answer 5

short term

long term

Question 6

Give an example of short term memory

Answer 6

ability to dial a # on the phone after hearing it

• information held in neuronal firing

Question 7

What are the two forms of long term memory

Answer 7

explicit

implicit

Question 8

What is explicit memory

Answer 8

declarative, knowlege-based

*memory of facts and events

Question 9

Where in the brain does explicit memory come from

Answer 9

medial temporal lobe

Question 10

What is implicit memory

Answer 10

nondeclarative, skill-based

*memory of habits

Question 11

What is the word used to describe the solidification of short-term memory into long-term memory

Answer 11

consolidation

*memories undergo consolidation though time

Question 12

What is a concussion

Answer 12

temporary disturbance of consciouness from a non-penetrating blow to the head

Question 13

What effect can a concussion have on memory

Answer 13

may cause retrograde amnesia for a period before the blow and a period of antegrade amnesia after the blow

*distrupts consolidation of recent memories

Question 14

What effect can coma have on memory

Answer 14

the duration of the coma is proportional to the severity of the amnesia

Question 15

What structure is responsible for cementing short term memory into the long term memory

Answer 15

Hippocampus

Question 16

How does the hippocampus consolidate short term memory into the long term memory pathway

Answer 16

by running the cortex through practice routines until memory is cemented into long term

Question 17

What term describes how memory works

Answer 17

Associate Neural Network

Question 18

What is associative neural network

Answer 18

a complex net of experience of what goes with what

a single node triggered witll prompt an entire network to connect

• ” cells that fire together, wire together”

Question 19

What neurotransmitter is a major contributor in brain plasticity

Answer 19

AcH

Question 20

Alzhimer’s disease is a dx related to depletion of —— and excess of ——

Answer 20

AcH, glutamate

• begins with slight loss of memory»dementia
• involves major antegrade & retrograde amnesia
• involves loss of short term memory

Question 21

What is a name of a drug involved in memory depletion and used as a dat-rape drug

Answer 21

scopalamine

Question 22

Patient’s with brain detrioration upon autopsy but no symptoms, why?

Answer 22

Cognitive reserve

*education and intelligence may permit cognitive tasks to be accomplished in new ways

Question 23

What does Ribot’s law say about memory

Answer 23

older memories are more stable, recent memories are more likely to be lost

*Memories get stronger with time

Question 24

What is the effect of memory re-consolidation and post-traumatic amnesia

Answer 24

When memory is retrieved from long term memory, it is temporarily held in short term, if when recalling a memory, trauma to the head insues, that memory can be erased

Question 25

Certain brain structures are involved in certain memory types, what are they

Answer 25

``` Hippocampus Inferotemoral cortex Amygdala Prefrontal cortex Cerebellum ```

Question 26

The hippocampus is involved in

Answer 26

spatial location

Question 27

Inferotemporal cortex is involved in

Answer 27

object recognition

Question 28

Amygdala is involved in

Answer 28

emotional memories

Question 29

Prefrontal cortex is involved in

Answer 29

ordering of events, tasks involved in a series of steps

Question 30

Cerebellum in involved in

Answer 30

sensorimotor tasks *how to ride a bike

Question 31

Besides synapses, what two other ways are available in memory storage

Answer 31

Neurogenesis- growth of new neurons Epigenetics- changing gene expression

Question 32

Epigenetics says that

Answer 32

experience can change gene expression permanently

Question 33

Why are neurons like drug dealers

Answer 33

neurons have to find an open niche and chronically defend it *reduced effort>>reduced real estate

Question 34

What are neurons competing for

Answer 34

Neurotrophins *life-preserving chemicals that promote growth and survival, guide axons, and stimulate synaptogenesis

Question 35

How does the brain get wired up with so few genes

Answer 35

God builds a sloppy brain and then pushes it out into the world for experience to wire up the rest * it's a gamble d/t risk of impoverished environment * environment matters

Question 36

What is the relationship b/t the "critical period" and language

Answer 36

the ability to learn language is limited to the years before puberty-after which the ability is lost

Question 37

What three things contribute to the growth of the brain after birth and plasticity of the young brain

Answer 37

new synapses myelination increased dendritic branching overproduction of synapses: prune back synapses based on use cell death: 50% of more neurons than are needed

Question 38

What concept underlies the age-related changes in cognitive function

Answer 38

brain areas develop at different rates until about age 20 *eg. prefrontal development and the youth

Question 39

The cortex fate depends on

Answer 39

the input it receives *visual fibers can be rerouted to auditory cortex, and then, auditory cortex can see!

Question 40

How are cortical takeovers so rapid

Answer 40

short term: unmasking of already-existing connections long-term growth of new axons

Question 41

Name the four neuroplastic responses to nervous system damage

Answer 41

degeneration (deterioration)>>regeneration (regrowth)>>reorganization>>recovery

Question 42

What are the two types of degeneration

Answer 42

antegrade retrograde

Question 43

What is antegrade degeneration

Answer 43

damage to the distal segment between the damage and the synaptic terminal

Question 44

What is retrograde degeneration

Answer 44

damage to the proximal segment between the damage and the cell body

Question 45

Is regeneration possible in the CNS

Answer 45

No

Question 46

Can CNS neurons regenerate if transplanted into the PNS

Answer 46

Yes

Question 47

Can PNS neurons regenerate if transplanted into the CNS

Answer 47

NO * All about the presence of schwann cells * oligodendroglia actively block regeneration

Question 48

Name the four principles for treating nervous system damage

Answer 48

reduce brain damage by blocking neurodegeneration promote recovery by promoting regeneration promte recovery by transplantation promote recovery by rehabilitation