Download UNIT 4 – AOS 1 LEARNINGdotpoint 2-brain

UNIT 4 – AOS 1 LEARNING
DOT POINT #2
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Mechanisms of learning:
- areas of the brain and neural pathways involved in learning, synapse formation, role
of neurotransmitters
- developmental plasticity and adaptive plasticity of the brain: changes to the brain in
response to learning and experience; timing of experiences
- use of imaging technologies in identification of localised changes in the brain due to
learning specific tasks
Brain Structures involved in learning
Most human learning is not located in any single area of the brain, although some brain
areas process different types of information and some areas seem to be more actively
involved in specific types of learning.
Brain Structure
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Cerebral Cortex
Cerebellum
Ventral tegmental area
Role of Learning
Effect of damage on
ability to learn
Neural pathways, Synapse Formation and the role of
Neurotransmitters
Neural Pathway: an interconnected group of neurons organised as a network that is active
during the learning process
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When learning occurs, changes take place at the synapse (the point of communication
between two neurons)
Learning involves establishment and strengthening of neural connections at the
synapse – (remember the work of Eric Kandel from memory?)
Interconnected groups of neurons form pathways (networks) for the learned
information (which become the memory of that information)
Some pathways overlap; therefore more than one pathway may be involved in
different learning
The more a pathway is used, the stronger the neural connections and the more efficient
the transfer of information; through disuse a pathway can weaken and becomes less
efficient in transmitting information
Synapse Formation
The synapse is the point of communication between adjacent neurons, ie axons of presynaptic
neurons and dendrites of postsynaptic neurons
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Physical changes take place at synapse during learning
Learning strengthens connections between neurons at the synapse (eg bushier
dendrites)
Synaptic changes caused by learning are believed to have long-term potentiation
Long-term Potentiation (LTP): the long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections
resulting in enhanced functioning of neurons along a neural pathway whenever activated
LTP is a crucial mechanism of learning; learning may not be possible without it
Glutamate
Dopamine
Dendritic spines