13: Learning and Memory
- Page ID
- 151271
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 13.1: Introduction
- This page discusses the neuroscience of learning and memory, focusing on synaptic changes and neural plasticity essential for learning, recalling events, and skill acquisition. It covers various aspects of memory formation, including behavioral and molecular changes, and explores disorders that negatively impact memory function.
- 13.2: Patient HM
- This page discusses Patient HM, a key figure in memory neuroscience whose surgery for epilepsy led to anterograde amnesia, highlighting the separation of declarative and procedural memory. It covers classical conditioning using dogs and explores working memory, acknowledging HM's initial struggles and later improvements. Working memory is defined as a temporary system for information manipulation, demonstrated through various tests. The page culminates with a note on HM's passing in 2008.
- 13.3: Neural Structures Involved in Learning
- This page explores key brain structures related to memory, emphasizing the hippocampus's role in spatial memory and navigation through its trisynaptic circuit. It also highlights the amygdala's involvement in emotional memories, the inferotemporal cortex's function in visual and facial recognition memory, the striatum's role in habitual behavior, and the cerebellum's support for motor skill learning.
- 13.4: Cellular Mechanisms of Learning
- This page explains the brain's memory organization, focusing on synaptic connections rather than neuron growth. It outlines key processes: encoding significant stimuli, consolidating memories for permanence, and retrieval. Special neuron types enhance memory, such as place and grid cells for spatial memory, and concept cells that respond to related stimuli.
- 13.5: Molecular Mechanisms of Learning
- This page covers synaptic plasticity, focusing on long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) as mechanisms of synaptic strength changes, particularly in hippocampal neurons. LTP enhances synapse strength through specific receptor interactions, while LTD leads to weakness. It also discusses Kandel's studies on Aplysia, illustrating habituation and sensitization effects on reflexes, which involve similar synaptic changes mediated by neurotransmitters.
- 13.6: Disorders of memory
- This page covers Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder leading to cognitive decline, with genetic factors influencing its onset and limited treatment options. It also addresses traumatic brain injuries (TBI), detailing coup and contrecoup types and their aftermath, while emphasizing the simplicity of treatment recommendations.


