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Changes In Synaptic Connections Underlie Memory And Learning

Changes in Synaptic
Connections Underlie Memory
and Learning
Topic: Memory

Learning occurs when stimuli in the environment produce changes in

the nervous system. Three ways in which this occurs include long-term
potentiation, habituation, and sensitization.

One way that the nervous system changes is through potentiation, or

the strengthening of the nerve synapses (the gaps between neurons).
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is the persistent strengthening of
synapses based on recent patterns of activity: it occurs when a neuron
shows increased excitability over time due to a repeated pattern,
behavior, or response. The opposite of LTP is long-term depression
(LTD), which produces a long-lasting decrease in synaptic strength.

The structure of a neuron: Communication

between neurons occurs when the
neurotransmitter is released from the axon on
one neuron, travels across the synapse, and is
taken in by the dendrite on an adjacent
neuron.

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Because memories are thought1-hour

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consultation
synaptic
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Habituation is the “behavioral version” of sensory adaptation, with

decreased behavioral responses over time to a repeated stimulus. In
other words, habituation is when we learn not to respond to a stimulus
that is presented repeatedly without change. Sensitization is the
strengthening of a neurological response to a stimulus due to the response
to a secondary stimulus.

Habituation and sensitization work in different ways neurologically. In

neural communication, a neurotransmitter is released from the axon of
one neuron, crosses a synapse, and is then picked up by the dendrites
of an adjacent neuron. During habituation, fewer neurotransmitters are
released at the synapse. In sensitization, however, there are more pre-
synaptic neurotransmitters, and the neuron itself is more excitable.

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Neural communication: This image shows the

way two neurons communicate by the release
of the neurotransmitter from the axon, across
the synapse, and into the dendrite of another
neuron.
Neural plasticity refers to the brains’ ability to change over time to adapt
to environments, behavior and emotions through the process of
potentiation. The brain adapts to new and old stimulus offer time and
changes over time, but it is not known how new neurons grow in
particular areas during the process of a memory forming, or if it is to do
with changes in the chemical behaviour of the brain.

Memory also plays an important part in the role of learning, and from an
early age, memories can be formed. As we develop and get older, the
interconnectivity of neurons and connections of synapses leads to the
formation of neural nets. These are collections of neurons which are
activated in response to specific associations. The activation patterns of
these synapses represent areas of the brain that encode and receive
stimuli and form memories based on this activation.

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MCAT Changes in Synaptic Connections Underlie Memory and

Learning
Practice Questions

Khan Academy

MCAT Official Prep (AAMC)

Online Flashcards Psychology Question 14

Key Points

• “Potentiation” refers to a strengthening of a nerve synapse. Long-term

potentiation is based on the principle that “cells that fire together, wire
together,” and is widely considered one of the major cellular
mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.

• Habituation occurs when we learn not to respond to a stimulus that is

presented repeatedly without change, punishment, or reward.

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• Sensitization occurs when a reaction

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response and is often seen in trauma survivors.

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• During habituation, fewer neurotransmitters are released at the

synapse. In sensitization, however, there are more pre-synaptic
neurotransmitters, and the neuron itself is more excitable.

• Neural plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change over time to

adapt to environments, behaviour and emotions through the process of
potentiation.

Key Terms

axon: a nerve fiber that is a long slender projection of a nerve cell, and
which conducts nerve impulses away from the body of the cell to a
synapse

synapse: the junction between the terminal of a neuron and either

another neuron or a muscle or gland cell, over which nerve impulses
pass

neurotransmitter: any substance, such as acetylcholine or dopamine,

responsible for sending nerve signals across a synapse between two
neurons

dendrite: a slender projection of a nerve cell that conducts nerve

impulses from a synapse to the body of the cell

stimuli: in psychology, any energy patterns (e.g., light or sound) that are
registered by the senses

long-term potentiation: the persistent strengthening of synapses

based on recent patterns of activity: it occurs when a neuron shows
increased excitability over time due to a repeated pattern

potentiation: the strengthening of nerve synapses

habituation: learning not to respond to a stimulus that is presented

repeatedly without change.

sensitization: is the strengthening of a neurological response to a stimulus

due to the response to a secondary stimulus.
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