| What is synaptic plasticity? | The adaptability/changeability of neural connections.
Existing synapses can be strengthened or weakened.
New synapses can be generates and existing synapses can shrink or be removed. |
| What is long-term potentiation (LTP)? | A process involving persistent strengthening of synapses that leads to a long-lasting increase in signal transmission between neurons.
(If activation at one synapse is repeatedly accompanied by an
action potential at the post synaptic neuron, the synaptic
connection becomes stronger.
The post synaptic neuron will become more “sensitive” to
neurotransmitter release from presynaptic neuron and more
likely to reach the threshold for activation.
Increasing the likelihood of a post-synaptic potential and
allows the neural signal to be transmitted more quickly.) |
| What is long term depression (LTD)? | Opposite of LTP with the weakening of synaptic connections.
Post-synaptic neuron becomes less sensitive to neurotransmitter release by the presynaptic neuron and will be less likely to fire in response.
Memories fade and skills lost if neural networks are not stimulated enough ("use it or lose it"). |
| What do LTP and LTD working together allow for? | Enable the brain to adapt to current needs. |
| What is neurogenesis? | Process by which new neurons are formed in the brain |
| What occurs when someone goes through a severe stroke or traumatic brain damage? | Sustained impairment.
This is because neurogenesis does not occur in all brain regions.
Therefore the neurons that are destroyed are typically not replaced in the brain and function will remain impaired. |
| What is brain rehabilitation? | Occurs through "retraining" their brain to compensate for some lost functioning.
Surviving neurons adapt, increasing connections between healthy brain and weakening or removing connections with damaged areas. |
| What is functioning connectivity? | A measure of how regions of the brain interact with each other. |
| How does motor control work? | Eyes and ears provide important visual and auditory cues.
Brain selects relevant sensory cues dependent on current task or goals, maintained in working memory and supported within frontal cortex.
Appropriate motor actions need to be executed, balance maintained, etc. |
| What are the definitions of emotion? | Positive or negative feelings we experience (happiness, fear, etc).
Refer to the physiological or behavioural changes (increase in heart rate, rapid breathing, etc). |
| What do emotions consist or? | Patterns of physiological response and species-typical behaviours.
In humans, these physiological responses are accompanied by feelings.
Feelings are powerful motivators.
Emotions are likely to have evolutionary significance (Charles Darwin, 1872) - convey intentions. |
| What are the three components of emotional reponses? | Behavioural.
Autonomic.
Hormonal. |
| What are hte behvaioural aspect of emotional responses? | Muscular changes that are appropriate to the situation that elicits them.
e.g. a dog may defend its territory by adopting an aggressive posture. |
| What is the autonomic aspect of emotional respones? | Physiological changes induced by the autonomic nervous system facilitate the behavioural responses.
e.g. in a dog defending territory, activity of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system increases whereas activity of the parasympathetic branch decreases (heart rate increases, blood diverted from digestive system to the muscles). |
| What is the hormonal aspect of emotional responses? | Within the body, hormones reinforce the autonomic changes.
Adrenal gland secretes adrenaline.
Adrenaline acts to further increase blood flow to the muscles and cause nutrients stores in the muscles to be converted into glucose. |
| How are the various aspects of emotional responses integrated together? | The amygdala plays an important role in coordinating the emotional response and sending the appropriate signals to the autonomic and hormonal responses.
Emotional responses help to integrate incoming sensory signals and coordinate appropriate regulation of the brain and body. The purpose of the emotion is to modify a person's experience and behaviour in a way that is appropriate for the context. |
| How do "lie detectors"/polygraphs work? | Measures physiological responses associated with activity of autonomic nervous system.
Emotional reactions to questions are used to determine "truthfulness" of answers. |
| What do researchers know about consciousness? | Understanding how brain activity supports subjective/conscious experience of the mind remains a mystery. |
