Quiz 2 Aplysia, Plasticity during Development and in Adults (Dudai: Ch. 4,7,8,12,13 and Squire: Ch. 3)
I know that this is alot but consider it a quiz/homework/study guide. I will collect it in class next Weds. You can find it on the WEB if you lose this copy.

I. FILL IN THE BLANKS.

1. Short term habituation in Aplysia involves __________ .

A. homosynaptic depression B. heterosynaptic facilitation C. homosynaptic sensitization D. sprouting

2. Which of the following mechanisms is involved in both short- and long-term facilitation in Aplysia?

  1. Increased transmitter release.
  2. Closure of K channels.
  3. Phosphorylation of existing proteins.
  4. New protein synthesis.
A. 1, 2, 3 B. 1, 3 C. 2, 4 D. 4 E. all of the above

3. Which of the following mechanisms are involved in classical conditioning, but not sensitization in Aplysia?

  1. Facilitation at sensory neuron-motor neuron synapses.
  2. Increased transmitter release from the sensory neurons.
  3. Increased cAMP levels in the sensory neurons.
  4. A requirement for spike activity in the sensory neurons during training.
A. 1, 2, 3 B. 1, 3 C. 2, 4 D. 4 E. all of the above

 

4. (T/F) Somatotopic maps in somatic sensory cortex can be modified in adults. ____

 

II. DEFINE THE FOLLOWING: (short answer)

1. spike broadening

 

2. g- proteins

 

3. CREB

 

4. imprinting


III. Which came first in development and evolution? (circle the correct answer)

1.

Ca+2 channels Na channels


2..

cAMP regulation of transcription cAMP regulation of post-transcriptional modifications

 

IV. SYNTHESIS QUESTIONS: (each should be about 1 page long, well planned, clearly written and concise)

SYNTHESIS QUESTIONS A. Choose two .
Try to incorporate information from drosophila, aplysia, imprinting, bird song, developmental plasticity and adult plasticity whenever possible.

  1. Give two examples of how the timing of activity from 2 different inputs to a particular cell or area will have an effect on the strength of connections between the active inputs and their targets. Address cellular and molecular aspects where relevant.
  2. What evidence is there for an involvement of calcium in modifying synaptic strength and/or connections? What is speculated to be calcium's role in this process? Be precise.
  3. Discuss the proposed mechanism for stabilizing learning mediated changes in the nervous system. How is this stabilization removed in order that learning can take place?
  4. What mechanisms have been proposed for accounting for STM?

SYNTHESIS QUESTIONS B. For each structure answer the following 3 questions:
(i) Is this structure involved in learning?
(ii) With what type of learning is this structure associated?
(iii) What experiments were done to demonstrate this structure's involvement or lack of involvement?

  1. RA or NIF (choose one)
  2. Visual Wulst or hyperstriatum accessorium (choose one)
  3. RCB1

 

SYNTHESIS QUESTIONS C. For two of the four molecules listed below, discuss
(i) Paradigms where this molecule has been implicated in learning
(ii) Use one paradigm for a basis to discuss how this molecule could account for learning

  1. Ca2+
  2. cAMP
  3. PKC
  4. c-fos

V. ONE MORE QUESTION (this is not optional). Devise and answer a question of your choosing that allows you to discuss a topic that you found interesting and that was not covered in this exam. . Again it should cover about 1 written page, be well planned, clearly written and concise.