Refinement of Synapses and Plasticity Over the Lifespan

Question 1

True or False:

The synaptic connections are essential for brain function

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Does plasticity occur throughout the lifespan

Answer 2

Yes, it weakens as we age

Question 3

What happens once an axon tip reaches its destination

Answer 3

Rudimentary synapses start to form

Question 4

Does migration lead to wiring that is perfect

Answer 4

No it is only approximate

Question 5

How is detailed tuning of neural connections occur (2)

Answer 5

1. Eliminating the extra links

2. Strengthening functional synapses based on neural activity

Question 6

True or False:

During development there is constant rearrangement of synaptic connections

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What is the purpose of refining/pruning our synaptic connections

Answer 7

It gives us specificity

Question 8

What is the somatotopy of our brain due to (hamonculus)

Answer 8

Refinement of synapses due to relative sensory and motor experiences

Question 9

True or False:

Any loss of motor or sensory input will result in changes to the somatotopy over time

Answer 9

True

Question 10

What are the 2 important steps of brain wiring

Answer 10

1. Establishing correct pathways and targets

2. Fine tuning based on experience

Question 11

What is synaptic plasticity

Answer 11

The variability in strength of a signal transmitted through a synapse

Question 12

True or False:

Once a neuron is placed is overproduces synapses in an orderly manner

Answer 12

False

Question 13

When does the majority of the cortex develop

Answer 13

The first 2 years of life

Question 14

What is older the brainstem or cortex

Answer 14

Brainstem

Question 15

Where are neurons initially produced

Answer 15

Along the central canal in the neural tube

Question 16

After the neurons are produced around the central canal where do they migrate to

Answer 16

Their final destination in the brain

Question 17

Once the neurons reach their destination in the brain what do they do

Answer 17

Collect together to form each of the various brain structures

Question 18

How many synapses are there per cortical neuron

Answer 18

15000

Question 19

How many synapses are formed per second in the first 2 years

Answer 19

1.8 million per second

Question 20

How much does the cerebral cortex thicken in the first year

Answer 20

It triples

Question 21

True or False:

The quantity of information cannot be genetically micromanaged by chemical environments alone

Answer 21

True, experience plays a huge role

Question 22

What is experience expectant

Answer 22

Common early experiences that provide essential catalysts for normal brain development

Question 23

What is an example of experience expectant

Answer 23

Early visual stimulation, hearing, language, and coordinating vision and movement

Question 24

True or False:
The developing brain does not require these typical experiences, that are unique to each species, and relies on them as a component of its growth

Answer 24

False, It is required

Question 25

What is experience dependent

Answer 25

Idiosyncratic/individual experience that fosters new brain growth and refines existing brain structuress

Question 26

What is an example of experience dependent

Answer 26

Reading, golf, singing, music, vocab

Question 27

Who determined how plasticity occurred

Answer 27

Hebb

Question 28

What did Hebb say about plasticity

Answer 28

Neurons that fire together wire together, but neurons that fire out of sync lose their link

Question 29

Example of Hebb's plasticity

Answer 29

If you show a kid a ball and say the word ball both synapses will be strengthened eventually leading to increased strength of synapse that allows us to make a mental image of the ball. After awhile you can say ball and the kid will get a mental image of a ball

Question 30

True or False: | Synapses are vacated when they are not strengthened

Answer 30

True

Question 31

What is a sensitive period

Answer 31

Anatomy and physiology are especially sensitive to modulation of the experience

Question 32

Does a sensitive period occur rapidly of gradually

Answer 32

Gradually

Question 33

What is a critical period

Answer 33

Period of maximal sensitivity in which appropriate stimulation is essential for the normal development of a pathway or set of connections

Question 34

Does a critical period occur rapidly or gradually

Answer 34

Rapidly

Question 35

Can development beyond the critical period happen

Answer 35

Nope

Question 36

What is a critical period associated with

Answer 36

A lot of synapse formation or proliferation of cells

Question 37

Where is the right visual field represented on in the retina

Answer 37

The left hemiretina

Question 38

Where do the two primary visual cortices share information with each other

Answer 38

The splenium of the posterior corpus callosum

Question 39

True or False: | Ocular dominance is time dependent

Answer 39

True

Question 40

What are ocular dominance columns

Answer 40

Stripes of neurons in the primary visual cortex of some mammals

Question 41

Do the ocular dominance columns respond to both eyes or only one eye

Answer 41

One eye only

Question 42

True or False: | The ocular dominance columns span multiple cortical layers

Answer 42

True

Question 43

What is monocular deprivation

Answer 43

Depriving one eye from recieveing sensory input

Question 44

What does monocular deprivation causes (2)

Answer 44

1. Columns to degrade 2. Non-deprived eye forms synapses with the cortical cells that would have been occupied by those representing input from the deficient eye

Question 45

Prenatally what provides the feedback to establish which neural circuits are the right ones to strengthen

Answer 45

Spontaneous activity and input

Question 46

Prenatally what controls the motor control of the fetus

Answer 46

The midbrain

Question 47

Why is the midbrain in charge of motor control of the fetus

Answer 47

The cortex is not developed

Question 48

How are the motor neural circuits strengthened prenatally

Answer 48

The fetus moves their limbs

Question 49

True or False: | Research indicates that newborns preferentially recognize the sounds of their native language over others

Answer 49

True

Question 50

How are the auditory neural circuits strengthened

Answer 50

Speech signals reaching the womb

Question 51

How are visual neural circuits strengthened

Answer 51

Systematic moving patterns of activity of neighboring retinal ganglion cells are spontaneously generated

Question 52

What do the retinal ganglion cells firing do

Answer 52

Tells the thalamus to send input to the visual cortex producing bursts of color

Question 53

What are some circumstances that may alter the normal somatotopy (4)

Answer 53

Stroke, hypoxia, toxins, loss of limb

Question 54

True or False: | Any loss of input or output can affect the plasticity of synapses and representation of the affected area in the brain

Answer 54

True

Question 55

What are 4 principles that can effect plasticity

Answer 55

1. Intensive motor skills repetition 2. Enriched physical and social environments 3. Aerobic exercise 4. Constraint induced movement therapy