Neural basis of learning

Neural pathways
1. Learning:Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience
  1. Learning is an ongoing process that continues throughout the life span, enabling us to adapt and cope in an ever-changing world. Learning may occur intentionally or unintentionally and can also be active or passive.
  2. When a neuron is stimulated it produces an action potential and when the action potential gets to the end of the axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron it stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter called GLUTAMATE into the synaptic gap between the presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of a neighboring postsynaptic neuron.
    1. neurotransmitter strengthens connections
  3. dopamine:release of dopamine at this time provides a pleasurable experience. This positive consequence rewards the activity motivating the individual to repeat it.
  4. repeated stimulation
    1. Hebbian learning: if two neurone are active at the same tie, the synapse between them are strengthened, thus facilitating the passage of nerve impulses along a particular circuit.
      1. long term potentiation: Hebb's hypothesis lead to the discovery go LTP-refers to long-lasting strengthening of the synaptic connections of neurons, resulting in a more effective functioning of the neurons whenever they are activated. LTP is a crucial neural mechanism that makes learning possible.
  5. as the brain receives specific appropriate input through the senses or processes information, with appropriate frequency, intensity and duration, the brain physically changes its structure
2. Neurons
  1. Proliferation is the first processes, which refers to the production of new cells/ neurons in the brain primarily occurring early in life.
    1. Early in development, the cells lining the ventricles divide where some cells become stem cells where others remain where they are or become neurons.
    2. Migration, which refers to the movement of newly formed neurons and glia to their eventual locations.
      1. Migration occurs in a variety of directions throughout the brain and cells following chemical paths in the brain
    3. Myelination occurs which is the process by which glia produce the fatty sheath that covers the axons of some neurons called the myelin sheath and occurs gradually for decades.
    4. synaptogenesis that refers to the formation of the synapses between neurons.
      1. synaptogenesis occurs throughout the life as neurons are constantly forming new connections. The process slows significantly later in the lifetime.
plasticity : refers to the brains ability to change and reorganise itself by forming new neural connection throughout life
1. developmental plasticity :brains natural ability to form new connections in order to process sensory information from environmental stimulation
  1. synaptic pruning: eliminates weaker synaptic contacts while stronger connections are kept and strengthened
2. adaptive plasticity: is the brains ability to form new connections to recover or compensate for lost function and\or to maximise remaining functioning in the event of brain injury
  1. Axonal sprouting: undamaged axons grow new nerve endings to reconnect neurone whose links were injured or severed
  2. rerouting : undamged neurone that has lost connection with an active neurone may seek a new active neurone and connect with it instead
structure
1. soma
  1. dendrites
  2. axon
    1. myelin sheath
    2. axon terminal
      1. synaptic gap
        neurotransmitter
        post synaptic neuron
Maturation and development
1. maturation: involves the orderly, sequential changes the body is genetically predetermined to undertake
2. critical periods:optimum times for the development of certain pathways in response to appropriate stimulation
3. sensitive periods: when an organism is more responsive to certain environmental stimulus or experiences
  1. experience dependent learning
    1. particular learning
  2. experience expectant learning
    1. experience = unexpected
4. reflex: innate, automatic reaction involving a simple rapid response to a specific stimulus, which does not depend on conscious thought or processing

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Neural basis of learning

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	Created by Emma Gallo almost 8 years ago