Neural Plasticity and Changes to Connections Between Neurons
Neural Plasticity and Changes to Connections Between Neurons To start - Imagine that you had no memory and were unable to learn. Write a short paragraph explaining your day. Learning Questions: What role do learning and memory play in our lives? What is neural plasticity? What is long-term potentiation? What is long-term
Learning and Memory What is learning? What is memory? Why are these concepts important?
Learning and Memory Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour due to experience Memory is the storage and retrieval of information acquired through learning
Neural Plasticity https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=E Lpf. YCZa 87 g What is neural plasticity? How might it relate to learning and memory?
Neural Plasticity Neural plasticity is the ability of the brain's neural structure or function to be changed by experience throughout the lifespan. The brain of a developing individual (a child) is more plastic than that of an adult. It is unclear whether all parts of the brain have plasticity?
Neural Plasticity It is thought that the more complex the experience is in terms of the variety of sensory input, the more distinctive the structural change that will occur in neural tissue involved in that experience. For example…
Changes to connections between neutrons If we know what neural plasticity is, what do you think synaptic plasticity means?
Role of the synapse Hebb (1949) Learning involves the establishment and strengthening of neural connections at the synapse. For example, learning the piano will establish new neural connections and regular piano practice will strengthen the connection. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 Vo-rc. VMgb. I https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=BEwg 8 Teipf. Q Hebbian Learning: “Neurons that fire together, wire together”.
Hebbian Learning When a neurotransmitter is repeatedly sent across the synaptic gap, the presynaptic neuron (axon terminals) and the post synaptic neuron (dendrites) are repeatedly activated at the same time. This then changes the chemistry of the synapse, strengthening the connection between the neuron at the synapse. This then makes them more likely to fire together again and transmit their signals. On the other hand, not firing together, through disuse weakens the connection between the neurons and makes them less likely to fire together at the same time https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=J 8 w. W 1 t 1 Jq. Uc Now it is believed that Long Term Potentiation (LTP) makes learning possible in humans. But what is LTP?
Long-Term Potentiation Long-term potentiation is the long lasting strengthening of synapses between neurons. Psychologists use LTP to explain Long Term memories and learning. Without LTP learning some skills might be difficult or impossible. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Juw RRwls. Fqc
Long-term depression is the opposite of LTP. Therefore, it is… Complete your comparison table of LTP and LTD
Reflection and Homework Where would we be without Donald Hebb? Explain your ideas in 1 -2 paragraphs. Homework - complete learning activity 4. 3
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