W7_07 Neuroplasticity

Question 1

what role does AMPA have in long-term potentiation?

Answer 1

it’s a glutamate-gated Na channel. upregulated in LTP. phosphorylated to open longer in LTP.

Question 2

what role does NMDA have in long-term potentiation?

Answer 2

needs glutamate AND postsynaptic depolarization to dislodge Mg2+. calcium rushes in to activate calmodulin, and eventually cause new AMPAR released onto the membrane surface.

Question 3

what are 3 ways that long term potentiation increase efficacy of the synapse?

Answer 3

new AMPAR.
phosphorylation of AMPAR.
sprouting of new dendrites.

Question 4

how does long-term depression work?

Answer 4

reverses the LTP process

Question 5

recall functional cortical changes - monkey and fingers example.

Answer 5

recall that training specific fingers caused hypertrophy of corresponding cortical areas, or amputation of a finger corresponded to a cortical take-over by areas that governed the other fingers.

Question 6

what is constraint-induced therapy (neurorehab)?

Answer 6

constrain use of the good limb and force the individual to use the affected limb. hope to strengthen the damaged pathway.

Question 7

fact: ventral tegmental area transmits dopamine to the nucleus accumbens (reward centre)

Answer 7

prefrontal cortex can inhibit this nucleus accumbens

Question 8

fact: disruption of the prefrontal cortex regulation of the reward circuitry leads to addiction

Answer 8

good

Question 9

what is trancranial magnetic stimulation used for?

Answer 9

approved for depression and migraines.

Question 10

what are two ways that TMS is thought to help in stroke rehab?

Answer 10

increase activity in lesioned hemisphere (high freq);

decrease activity in unaffected hemisphere (low freq);