Neuro: 4.6 - Learning And Memory

Front 1

Which brain structures are involved in emotional memory processing?

Back 1

- Hypothalamus
- Frontal Cortex
- Prefrontal Cortex
- Amygdala
- Hippocampus

Front 2

What is the role of the hypothalamus in emotional memory processing?

Back 2

- Regulates primitive emotional responses (Fighting, Feeding, Fleeing, Mating)
- Reciprocal feedback loop with frontal lobe

Front 3

What is the role of the frontal cortex in emotional memory processing?

Back 3

- Highest cognitive functions - control over emotions
- Judgment, decision-making, morality, compassion, responsibility
- Reciprocal feedback loop with Hypothalamus and Amygdala

Front 4

How long does it take for full development of the frontal cortex?

Back 4

>20 years

Front 5

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in emotional memory processing?

Back 5

Production and appreciation of art (beauty) as an emotion

Front 6

What is the role of the amygdala in emotional memory processing?

Back 6

- Storage of emotional memories
- Feedback loop with frontal cortex

Front 7

What is the role of the Hippocampus in emotional memory processing?

Back 7

Storgage of Emotional Memories (EPISODIC MEMORY) - activated and inhibited by emotionality

Front 8

What is hippocampal functioning necessary for? How can it be disrupted?

Back 8

- Explicit, episodic or declarative memory
- Highly susceptible to disruption by stress

Front 9

What is synaptic plasticity?

Back 9

Ability of synapses to change their strength in response to experience and a cellular model of learning and memory

Front 10

What are the types of Glutamatergic receptors?

Back 10

- AMPA Receptors - basal synaptic transmission
- NMDA Receptors - blocked by Mg2+; activated when cells are depolarized; important for synaptic plasticity

Front 11

How does Calcium affect AMPA receptors?

Back 11

- Ca2+ enters post-synaptic terminal via NMDA receptors
- Activates CamKII (CaM kinase II)
- Moves AMPA R to postsynaptic density
- Calcineurin (phosphatase) action acts to remove AMPA R from postsynaptic density

Front 12

How does the action of NMDA and AMPA receptors mediate synaptic plasticity?

Back 12

- Synaptic Plasticity = ability of synapses to change their strength in response to experience and a cellular model of learning and memory
- NMDA R activated --> leads to AMPA R joining post-synaptic density (both are glutamatergic receptors)

Front 13

What kind of receptors are blocked by Mg2+?

Back 13

NMDA Glutamatergic Receptors (activated by depolarization)

Front 14

How is CaM-Kinase II related to synaptic plasticity?

Back 14

- When Ca2+ enters through an NMDA-R it activates CaM-Kinase II
- CaMKII phosphorylates AMPA-R and brings it to the postsynaptic density (PSD)
- Increases conductance of post-synaptic neuron
* Long-Term Potentiation *

Front 15

How is Calcineurin related to synaptic plasticity?

Back 15

- Calcineurin is a phosphatase that removes the phosphate from AMPA-R
- This leads to the AMPA-R being removed from the post-synaptic density (PSD), decreasing conductance
*Long-Term Depression*

Front 16

What are the two phases of Long Term Potentiation (LTP)?

Back 16

- LTP induction
- LTP maintenance

Front 17

How does Long Term Potentiation (LTP) represent a cellular model for learning and memory?

Back 17

- Generated through changes in synaptic function
- Operates in a network of neurons
- Pathway specific
- Different forms with varying durations

Front 18

What types of evidence is there that Long Term Potentiation (LTP) represents a cellular model for learning and memory?

Back 18

- Electrophysiological
- Pharmacological
- Genetic
- Structural
- Disease States
- LTP and Place cells

Front 19

What tests can be used to study learning and memory on the behavioral level?

Back 19

- Morris Water Maze
- Fear Conditioning

Front 20

What happens in the Morris Water Maze? What are you testing?

Back 20

- Put mouse in pool, there is one quadrant that has a raised platform; if they're capable of learning they will return to the platform quickly when returned; if you remove the platform, they will keep checking that same location
- Behavioral learning and memory
- Tests spatial memory (hippocampal-dependent task)

Front 21

What happens in Fear Conditioning? What are you testing?

Back 21

- Expose mouse to tone and shock in light environment (30 min. - 1 day)
- Later expose mouse to same context w/o cue, or new context w/ cue
- Should get fear response
- Behavioral learning and memory
- Context --> hippocampus and amygdala
- Cue --> Amygdala

Front 22

A cued-dependent (e.g., tone) fear conditioning response relies on what part of the brain to get the fear response?

Back 22

Amygdala-dependent task

Front 23

A context-dependent (e.g., same cage) fear conditioning response relies on what part of the brain to get the fear response?

Back 23

Hippocampus and Amygdala

Front 24

How does Long Term Potentiation (LTP) affect synapses?

Back 24

Strengthens / enhances synaptic strength

Front 25

How does Long Term Depression (LTD) affect synapses?

Back 25

Depresses synaptic strength

Front 26

Which enzymes are important for LTP and LTD?

Back 26

- LTP - CaMKII
- LTD - Calcineurin

Front 27

What molecule controls the synaptic plasticity balance? How?

Back 27

- Neurogranin
- Regulates CaM availability (CaM necessary for LTP)

Front 28

What deficits occur to learning and memory with age?

Back 28

- Synaptic plasticity imbalance
- Changes in levels of important molecules (e.g., CaMKII and Calcineurin)

Front 29

How do older mice perform on the Water Maze Test?

Back 29

- May not remember to go directly back to same platform (bottom right)
- This is a hippocampal dependent task