Slide 1:1 Chapter 12 Learning and Memory: Basic Mechanisms


Slide 2:2 Chapter 12 Outline The Nature of Learning Synaptic Plasticity: Long-term potentiation and Long-term Depression Perceptual Learning Classical Conditioning Instrumental Conditioning Relational Learning


Slide 3:3 The Nature of Learning Learning The process by which experiences change our nervous system and hence our behavior. Stimulus-response learning Learning to automatically make a particular response in the presence of a particular stimulus; includes classical and instrumental conditioning.


Slide 4:4 The Nature of Learning Classical conditioning A learning procedure; when a stimulus that initially produces no particular response is followed several times by an unconditioned stimulus that produces a defensive or appetitive response. This type of learning involves: Unconditioned stimulus (US) Unconditioned response (UR) Conditioned stimulus (CS) Conditioned response (CR)


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Slide 6:6 The Nature of Learning Hebb rule The hypothesis proposed by Donald Hebb that the cellular basis of learning involves strengthening of a synapse that is repeatedly active when the postsynaptic neuron fires.


Slide 7:7 The Nature of Learning Instrumental conditioning A learning procedure whereby the effects of a particular behavior in a particular situation increase (reinforce) or decrease (punish) the probability of the behavior; also called operant conditioning.


Slide 8:8 The Nature of Learning Reinforcing stimulus An appetitive stimulus that follows a particular behavior and thus makes the behavior become more frequent. Punishing stimulus An aversive stimulus that follows a particular behavior and thus makes the behavior become less frequent.


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Slide 10:10 The Nature of Learning Motor learning Learning to make a new response. Perceptual learning A type of learning that involves learning to recognize things, not what to do when they are present. Perceptual learning can involve learning to recognize entirely new stimuli, or it can involve learning to recognize changes or variations in familiar stimuli


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Slide 12:Relational learning Involves learning the relationships among individual stimuli such as becoming familiar with the contents of a room. 12


Slide 13:13 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity Induction of long-term potentiation Long-term potentiation A long-term increase in the excitability of a neuron to a particular synaptic input caused by repeated high-frequency activity of that input. Hippocampal formation A forebrain structure of the temporal lobe, constituting an important part of the limbic system; includes the hippocampus proper (Ammon’s horn), dentate gyrus, and subiculum.


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Slide 15:15 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity Induction of long-term potentiation Population EPSP An evoked potential that represents the EPSPs of a population of neurons.


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Slide 18:18 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity Induction of long-term potentiation Associative long-term potentiation A long-term potentiation in which concurrent stimulation of weak and strong synapses to a given neuron strengthens the weak ones.


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Slide 20:20 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity Role of NMDA receptors NMDA receptor A specialized ionotropic glutamate receptor that controls a calcium channel that is normally blocked by Mg2+ ions; involved in long-term potentiation.


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Slide 22:22 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity Role of NMDA receptors AP5 2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoate; a drug that blocks NMDA receptors. Dendritic spike An action potential that occurs on the dendrite of some types of pyramidal cells.


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Slide 24:24 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity AMPA receptor An ionotropic glutamate receptor that controls a sodium channel; when its open, it produces EPSPs.


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Slide 26:26 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity CaM-KII Type II calcium-calmodulin kinase, an enzyme that must be activated by calcium; may play a role in the establishment of long-term potentiation. Nitric oxide synthase The enzyme that produces NO in the presence of calcium Nitric Oxide A soluble gas that is produced in a calcium-dependent manner following the induction of LTP.


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Slide 28:28 Learning and Synaptic Plasticity Long-term depression Long-term depression (LTD) A long-term decrease in the excitability of a neuron to a particular synaptic input caused by stimulation of the terminal button while the postsynaptic membrane is hyperpolarized.