Laboratory Of Neural Systems, Decision Science, Learning And Memory ( Nsdslm )

Memory refers to the persistence of learning in a state that can be revealed at a later time (Squire, 1987). A memory is a network of neocortical neurons and the connections that link them. That network is formed by experience as a result of the concurrent activation of neuronal ensembles that

The brain’s plasticity forms new connections – neurons- by learning new information and memorizing the information. A study conducted by Draganski in 2006, showed that the extensive learning of abstract information can also trigger some plastic changes within the brain. In the study, brain images of German medical students three months prior to their exam and after their exam were compared to brain images of students who were not studying at all before the exam. The students showed learning-induced changes in regions of the parietal cortex, and the posterior hippocampus. These regions of the brain are responsible for memeory retrieval and learning ( P. Michelon, “ Brain Plasticity…”).

Whether aging impair learning related long-term plasticity at LESN-L7MN synapses? (Aim 1). Though several studies have brought insights into the aging associated behavioral, cellular and electrophysiological changes, none of these studies have examined learning related long-term synaptic plasticity at LE SN-L7MN synapses connections of GWR during aging. First, using the semi-intact preparation [6,34], we will measure basal electrophysiological

Synaptic consolidation suggests that memory can exists in two ways, short term and long term. Short term memories must either transfer to long term memory or be lost (Bramham & Messaoudi, 2005). Synaptic consolidation occurs quickly, in the first few hours following the encoding of a new stimulus (Bramham & Messaoudi, 2005). Reverberating neural activity in closed circuits allows memories of new experiences to be stored in the short term

Since hippocampus plays an important function in the brain, it has become a great topic for many conducted research not only on human but also animals, specifically primates and rodents. In primate model of amnesia, the experiment is performed through three main tasks – delayed nonmatch to sample, object discrimination paradigm and motor skill learning across multiple trials (Eichenbaum et al, 1992). In delayed non-matching test, both amnesic and intact monkey show nearly same performance rate in remembering objects across delayed in short period of time (Eichenbaum et al, 1992). In contrast, amnesic monkeys show a great impairment for longer delayed conditions, hours, in picking the right non-matched samples (Eichenbaum et al, 1992). Likewise, in object discrimination task, amnesic monkeys are unable to recognize objects, as compared to control monkeys (Eichenbaum et al, 1992).These tests suggest the importance of hippocampus in acquisition of new information and recollection old events from episodic memory. Additionally, hippocampus also contributes largely to relational representation, as a characteristic of declarative memory (Eichenbaum et al, 1992). This can be shown through odor discrimination and place

Millions of people on this Earth struggle daily with diseases that lie out of their control. Some with the involuntary and gradual amnesia of loved ones, others with memories that plague and haunt them on the loneliest of nights, and more. These issues are ironically forgotten those unaffected, and all stem from the same place- the brain’s memory engram cells. Engram cells are encoded neural tissue that provides a trace of memory and therefore is responsible for memory retrieval (1). Working in the lab with the implantation of memories and manipulating said engram cells of rodents can, over time, develop into altering human cells and activating memory retrieval to

Synaptic plasticity refers to a process through which the brain undergoes neural changes due to alterations in synaptic strength. Many studies have demonstrated that these synapses have the ability to strengthen or weaken on account of synaptic activity. In other words, an increase in synaptic activity will further strengthen that connection, making it more sensitive to a particular stimulus. Conversely, a decrease in synaptic activity will weaken the connection such that it loses its sensitivity to a given stimulus. The neuronal events that result in the strengthening or weakening of a synapse are explained through two mechanisms – Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and Long-Term Depression (LTD). In fact, scientists believe that the coupling of these two mechanisms essentially contributes to memory and learning of an individual.

However, rats injected with scopolamine and had direct placement performed more poorly than those without scopolamine, which continues to prove scopolamine’s block in spatial learning and memory (Malin et al., 2015). Other studies also prove that indeed learning navigation tasks are impaired by cholinergic blockades (Sutherland, Whishaw, and Regher, 1982). On the other hand, rats will develop a non-mapping strategy to locate the platform, which is similar to moving the hidden platform in a water maze (Buresova, Bolhuis, and Bures,

Learning is a very important aspect of humans and creatures alike. Not only is it essential to the survival and adaption into this world but it also defines who we are as individuals (Schiller et al, 2010; Tronson & Taylor, 2007). Memories from past experiences shape the people that we are today. A crucial element to learning is memory, without it we would not be able to retain information. The process of memory is very distinct and consists of several different stages: acquisition of memory, consolidation, retrieval and then either reconsolidation or extinction (Debiec & Ledoux, 2004; Diergaarde, Schoffelmeer & De Vries, 2008). As memory is such a critical aspect of learning, it is no wonder that its distinct process has become the topic of much research in the neurobiological universe (Hupbach et al, 2007; Nader & Hardt, 2009).

Memory consolidation is a process of gradual stabilization that new memories must undergo in order to persist (Müller and Pilzecker, 1900). In the case of declarative memories (or explicit learning), consolidation initially takes place within the hippocampus before these memories become permanently stored within the neocortex. Evidence for this time- and region-dependent systems consolidation has been demonstrated by lesion and imaging studies in primates and rodents indicating that recent memories are stored within the hippocampus, whereas remote memories are stored in the neocortex (McClelland et al., 1995; Squire and Alvarez, 1995; Frankland and Bontempi, 2005).

Since that experiment there was an evidence that rats having goal-directed action(Balleine & O'doherty, 2010).

With these results at hand, Nadar proposed the reconsolidation theory. Per the theory, Nadar hypothesized that when a memory is retrieved, the synapses that are responsible for marinating the trace become weekend (or undone), signifying that retrieval alone may disrupt an established memory trace. To make up for this supposed disruption, the second part of Nadar’s theory states that the retrieval initiates a round of protein synthesis in order to allow the memory trace to be reconsolidated. That is, Nadar’s proposition indicates that reconsolidation is a completely separate operation that occurs as a result of memory retrieval. While it may technically mimic the underlying processes of standard consolidation, as a process, reconsolidation is an entirely independent

Researchers sought out to explore the details of dopamine neuron responses to stimuli related to learning complex behaviors within various types of behavioral conditioning (Schultz, Apicella, Ljungberg, 1993). Based on results from previous studies, it was hypothesized that DA neuron responses would be strongest during the initial learning stages versus after the monkeys had been trained for that

The human brain learns and forgets information through neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and other parts of the brain due to different stimuli acting upon those parts. Neuroplasticity takes place in various levels known as the cellular, population, network and behavioral levels (Bartsch and Wulff 2015). Neuroplasticity is defined as the brain’s ability to rearrange its structure or its function due to stimulation from external or internal sources (Bartsch and Wulff 2015). Neuroplasticity can be beneficial, or

The PMN differs from other functional networks, as its activity patterns remain consistent regardless of the type of mental challenge it is processing. This suggests that the PMN plays a broad role in many different learning and recall processes.