5 Questions
Which process involves retaining information over time?
Storage
What is the main type of memory involved in the process of acquiring new information?
Short-term memory
According to Donald Hebb, what leads to stronger connections between brain areas?
Activity in the same time
What kind of changes in gene expression sustain the upregulation of glutamate receptors?
Changes creating new proteins
What does the nervous system consist of in terms of biological tissue?
A big mass of interconnected tissue
Study Notes
Synaptic Plasticity
- Synaptic connectivity constantly changes in response to activity and other factors
- Provides the basic “wiring” of the brain’s circuits during development
- Basis of “learning” throughout life
Short-Term Plasticity
- Lasts from milliseconds to years
- Change in the amount of neurotransmitter (NT) released by the presynaptic neuron in response to an action potential (AP)
- Forms of enhanced NT release:
- Facilitation
- Augmentation
- Potentiation
- All related to altered Ca++ levels in the axon terminal
- Depression: decrease in NT release related to a decrease in available NT vesicles
Long-Term Plasticity
- Lasts from approximately 30 minutes to a lifetime
- Forms:
- Long-term potentiation (LTP)
- Long-term depression (LTD)
- Initially caused by post-translational modifications of existing proteins
Test your knowledge of synaptic plasticity with this quiz! Explore the dynamic nature of synaptic connectivity, its role in brain development, and its contribution to learning and memory. Challenge yourself with questions on short-term and long-term plasticity, and deepen your understanding of the mechanisms underlying information processing in the brain.
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