BIOL 1F25 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Excitatory Synapse, Memory Consolidation, Sleep Medicine
18 May 2015
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Increased strength of existing synapses: formation of new synapses (increased number of synapses, new dendritic spines formed. Imp in hippocampal learning associations at cellular level. Weaker pathways won"t show ltp if they are not activated at the same time. The reactivation of memories is not purely reactivating the same neurons and synapses that were involved in the initial acquisition of the memory. Dna: suggests it unlikely that stable memories can be explained by the unstable phenomenon of synaptic changes. Evaluation of something as exciting or important can enhance its consolidation. Exciting experience activates sympathetic system get release of adrenaline. Evidence that adrenaline can enhance memory consolidation. Probably not by acting directly on synapses in brain but, raises level of glucose in the blood and thus available to brain. Injection of glucose shortly after an experience, enhances memory of it: animals that eat after a learning trial learn faster too, tested human memory using list of words.
