Carlson: Physiology of Behavior
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I.
The Nature of Learning
A.
Perceptual Learning — identify objects and situations perceived before
1.
Changes in sensory association cortex
B.
Stimulus Response Learning — perform a particular behavior when a particular
stimulus is present
Classical Conditioning
a)
Unconditional stimulus
b)
Unconditional response
c)
Conditional stimulus
d)
Conditional response
e)
Hebb rule — If a synapse becomes repeatedly active at about the
same time a postsynaptic neuron fires, changes will take place in the
structure or chemistry of a synapse that will strengthen it.
2.
Instrumental Conditioning
a)
Association between a stimulus and a response
b)
Permits adjustment of behavior according to the consequences of
the behavior
(1)
Reinforcing stimuli
(2)
Punishing stimuli
C.
Motor Learning — form new circuits in motor system with sensory guidance from
environment
1.
Novel behaviors involve more neural circuits
D.
Relational Learning — identify connections between stimuli
1.
Connections between different areas of sensory association cortex
2.
Spatial Learning
3.
Episodic Learning — Sequence of events
II.
Synaptic Plasticity: Long Term Potentiation and Long Term Depression
A.
Hippocampal Formation
Folded in one dimension and curved in another
1. Orderly structure — slice perpendicular to curve on long axis contains same set
of circuits
2. Contains:
a)
Hippocampus
b)
Subicular complex
c)
Dentate gyrus
3.
Input through entorhinal cortex (perforant path)
a)
To Granule cells of dentate gyrus
b)
To dendritic spines of pyramidal cells in field CA3 of hippocampus
4. To:
a)
Field CA 1 on both sides of brain
b)
Through fornix to basal forebrain — septum, mammillary bodies
B.
Induction of Long Term Potentiation
1.
Stimulating electrode in perforant path
2.
Recording electrode in dentate gyrus
3.
Single pulse of stimulation and record EPSP
4.
Burst of 100 pulses of stimulation
5.
Response to single pulse now higher — LTP
C.
Role of NMDA Receptors