Transcript Biological Psychology CH 9

Chapter 9: The Biology of
Learning and Memory
Basic History of Learning &
Memory
There are 3 people I want you to know:

1.
2.
3.
Pavolv
Skinner
Lashley
Pavlov & the Mutts
1.
He was originally interested in the physiology
of digestion

2.
Started noticing that animals experienced
‘psychic salivation’
From this observation came his most famous
contribution to science: classical conditioning
Conditioning Simplified

The unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is the thing that
evokes the unconditioned response (UCR)
 UCS = food
 UCR = is the natural response the animal has to the
food = drooling

Pairing the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the drooling
(UCR)
 CS = tone
 Tone + drooling

The change of the UCR to the conditioned
response(CR) = animal drools in response to the tone
Skinner: Reinforcement & Punishment
1.
Have you run across his name before?
2.
He believed learning occurred as a result of
an organism receiving reinforcing or
punishing stimuli



Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
Lashley: Brilliant Failure
1.
Search for the ENGRAM.
2.
Focused on the cortex
How many types of memory are there?

It depends on how you are thinking about
memory.
1.
Short vs. Long term memory
2.
Declarative vs. Procedural memory
3.
Implicit vs. Explicit memory
Short and Long Term Memory
1.
Short-term is used for information that has
just occurred
2.
Long-term is used to retain information over
longer periods of time
3.
Rehearsal
Modification: Working memory
1.
Short-term memory was once thought as a
holding pen for information
2.
This is really memory that requires attention
or ‘work’
3.
Delayed response
Declarative & Procedural
memory
1.
Declarative memory is the ability to use
words to demonstrate a memory
2.
Procedural memory is ‘physical skill’ memory
Implicit vs. Explicit memory
1.
Explicit memory is memory that you KNOW
you have and can recall whenever you want
2.
Implicit memory is when information
influences your behavior, with out you being
aware of it.
Brain Areas Important for L & M
1.
Remember Lashley’s failed search for the
engram?


2.
Cerebellum
But cortex IS important
The other big ‘name’ in L & M is the
hippocampus.
Hippocampus and Memory
What types of memory is the hippocampus
involved in?
We’re not entirely sure, but research shows:


1.
Declarative memory
2.
Spatial memory
Configural learning
3.
Learning & Slugs
1.
Cellular mechanisms of learning are studied
using animals with simple nervous systems
2.
Aplysia Slugs


Their nervous systems are all the same
Easy to observe learning in reflexive action
Habituation and Sensitization
1.
What do you think these are?


2.
Habituation
Sensitization is the opposite…
In Aplysia, you can see habituation to a touch
stimulus
What about us?
1.
In humans we call lasting changes in the
synapse long-term potentiation (LTP)

Activity burst & senstitization
Properties of LTP
1.
Specificity
2.
Cooperativity
3.
Associativty
Neurotransmitters & LTP
1.
LTP is dependent upon activity at glutamate
receptors
2.
There are two kinds of receptors that are
important:


AMPA
NMDA
How does LTP relate to
YOUR Experience?
1.
We know that drugs that block LTP
prevent learning and delay or prevent the
consolidation process
Learning Disabilities


There are 4 general types of learning
disabilities
What are some learning disabilities that you
guys know about?
Amnesia
1.
Amnesia – means memory loss. There are
two kinds:


2.
Retrograde amnesia
Anterograde amnesia
Damage to the hippocampus can result in
both kinds of amnesia
The case of H.M.
1.
H.M. was a patient suffering from severe
epilepsy
2.
His hippocampus was removed as treatment
3.
His memory was severely impaired,
especially bad anterograde amnesia
4.
His short-term/working memory &
procedural/implicit memory abilities are
somewhat intact
What H.M.’s Brain Looked
Like
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
1.
This syndrome results from prolonged and
severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency


2.
3.
Usually the result of severe alcoholism
Causes brain damage in the hypothalamus and
thalamus  can’t get into and out of the
prefrontal cortex
Results in both kinds of amnesia, apathy,
confusion
Confabulation is a hallmark symptom
Brain Damage from Alcoholism
Alzheimer’s Disease
1.
Progressive memory loss with eventual depression,
hallucinations/delusions, sleeplessness and loss of
appetite
2.
Caused by generation of plaques and tangles in the
brain


Plaques are build up between cells caused by cell death
Tangles are caused by degradation of structures within a
cell
Alzheimer’s
Brains
Brain Damage or Toxicity
1.
Head trauma can cause mild or severe,
temporary or permanent memory loss
2.
Cell death can be caused by exposure to
chemicals as well

Carbon monoxide poisoning