1. Learning
“...relatively permanent changes in behavior produced by experience”
Learning involves changes in the nervous system produced by experiences

2. A variety of models to study changes that occur via learning
Using slices from a hippocampus and measuring LTP (long-term potentiation)

3. hippocampus

4. A variety of models to study changes that occur via learning
Using slices from a hippocampus
Using a giant sea slug (Aplysia)

5. How might it happen?

6. More postsynaptic receptors

8. Increases in axonal sprouting
Increased postsynaptic
response

10. is there evidence for this?
so – possible changes in neuronal response after repeated activity of circuits-
is there evidence for this?
YES!

12. What has been shown? Consequences: Aplysia – giant sea slug
habituation –
what causes it?
less Ca+2 influx to presynaptic ending with repeated stimulation
Consequences:

13. many models to study neural changes during learning
Aplysia – giant sea slug
see changes during sensitization
more Ca+2 influx to presynaptic ending with repeated pairings
Consequences:

14. 2nd model
hippocampal slice model and LTP (long-term potentiation)

15. LTP – long-term potentiation
increased sensitivity of circuit with repeated activity

16. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

18. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

19. conclusions
learning and memory require not only neural activity but some sort of change in the neural circuitry that persists beyond the event….