1. UNIT 4 BRAIN, BEHAVIOUR & EXPERIENCE
AREA OF STUDY 1
LEARNING

2. NEURAL PROCESSES INVOLVED IN LEARNING
Neurons are soft, flexible, living cells
They can change their size, shape, function and connections with other neurons
They are influenced by biological processes and environmental experiences
KK 2 – PAGE 378

3. DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL PATHWAYS
When learning occurs, physical changes take place in the brain at a neuronal level
KK 2A – PAGE
The most prominent change is at the synapse
Learning changes the strength of connections between neurons at the synapse
Learning can cause new synapses to form
Neurotransmitter forms the basis of these connections

4. DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL PATHWAYS ROLE OF SYNAPSES
DONALD HELB (1949)
‘Neurons that fire together, wire together’
Credited with the idea that learning involves the establishment and strengthening of neural connections at the synapse
Learning results in the creation of ‘cell assemblies’ (interconnected groups of neurons that form networks or pathways)
When neurotransmitter is repeatedly sent across the synaptic gap, the pre-synaptic neuron and the post-synaptic neuron are repeatedly activated at the same time
This changes the chemistry of the synapse, strengthening the connections between neurons
This makes them more likely to fire together again
KK 2A – PAGE 379

5. DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL PATHWAYS LONG-TERM POTENTIATION
DONALD HELB (1949)
‘Neurons that fire together, wire together’
These synaptic changes that occur in a neural pathway during learning are believed to have long-term potentiation
Repeated stimulation causes a post-synaptic neuron to be more responsive to the pre-synaptic neuron
LTP makes learning possible in humans and all animals with nervous systems
The exact role of LTP is yet to be extensively investigated
KK 2A – PAGE 379

6. DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL PATHWAYS NEUROTRANSMITTERS INVOLVED IN LEARNING
GLUTAMATE
Has a crucial role in learning
Glutamate initiates activity in post-synaptic neurons
Its repeated release is believed to contribute to synaptic formation and strengthen connections at the synapse during learning
DOPAMINE
Contributes to the strengthening of synaptic connections during learning
Has been researched for its role in reward-based learning
When you do something you like, dopamine is secreted within a specific neural pathway in the brain
The release of dopamine provides a pleasurable experience
This motivates the individual to repeat the behaviour
KK 2A – PAGE 379

7. HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.4 (pg.380)
KK 2A – LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.4 (PAGE 380)

8. PLASTICITY & EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE BRAIN
Plasticity is the ability of the brain’s neural structure or function to be changed by experience throughout the lifespan
Our genes govern the overall architecture of our brain, but experience guides, sustains and maintains the details
The brain of a developing individual is more plastic than an adult
DEVELOPMENTAL PLASTICITY
ADAPTIVE PLASTICITY
KK 2B – PAGE

9. PLASTICITY & EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENTAL PLASTICITY
Developmental plasticity refers to changes in the brain’s neural structure in response to experience during its growth and development
This type of plasticity is pre-determined and influenced by genes, but subject to experience
Forming new synapses = synaptogenesis
Occurs rapidly during the first year of life
Eliminating synaptic connections = synaptic pruning
Number of synapses in an adult is 40% less than the number of synapses in a three year old
KK 2B – PAGE

10. PLASTICITY & EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE BRAIN ADAPTIVE PLASTICITY
Adaptive plasticity refers to changes occurring in the brain’s neural structure to enable adjustment to experience, to compensate for lost function and/or to maximise remaining functions in the event of brain damage
Most evident when the brain has experienced damage through either inflicted or acquired injury through re-organising the structure of the brain
The way that the brain responds depends upon the location, degree and extent of the damage, and the age at which the damage is experienced
Can be done at neuronal level, larger areas of brain tissue or at hemispheric level
Rerouting = an undamaged neuron that has lost a connection with an active neuron may seek a new active neuron and connect with it instead
Sprouting = the growth of new bushier nerve fibres with more branches to make new connections. Sprouting also involves rerouting
KK 2B – PAGE

11. PLASTICITY & EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE BRAIN TIMING OF EXPERIENCES
KK 2B – PAGE

12. PLASTICITY & EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE BRAIN TIMING OF EXPERIENCES
Sensitive Periods of Development
A period of development when an organism is more responsive (or sensitive) to certain environmental stimuli or experiences
‘Windows of opportunity for learning’
They are the optimal, or best possible, times for relevant learning to occur
EXPERIENCE-EXPECTANT LEARNING = the brain encounters the experience that is expected, ideally in a sensitive period. The particular experience then contributes to the brain’s development. Occurs at infancy
EXPERIENCE-DEPENDENT LEARNING = Learning that ‘depends’ on exposure to specific ‘experience’. Occurs at any time during an individual’s development
KK 2B – PAGE

13. PLASTICITY & EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE BRAIN TIMING OF EXPERIENCES
Critical Periods of Development
A specific period of development during which an organism is most vulnerable to the deprivation or absence of certain environmental stimuli or experience
Have identifiable start and end times
For example, if after birth, one eye is kept closed, or does not function properly, the eye will be forever blind
Imprinting is an example of a critical period (a period when an attachment is formed directly after birth)
KK 2B – PAGE

14. HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.6 (pg.393)
KK 2B – LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.6 (PAGE 393)

15. CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 10 – TRUE OR FALSE QUIZ (pg.393) CHAPTER 10 – MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST (pg ) CHAPTER 10 – SHORT ANSWER TEST (pg )
CHAPTER 10 – TRUE OR FALSE QUIZ (PAGE 393)
CHAPTER 10 – MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST (PAGE )
CHAPTER 10 – SHORT ANSWER TEST (PAGE )