Neural changes during Learning

[spikey]

Could someone please summarise for me the changes that take place in the neurons during learning? Asides from plasticity, I understand plasticity but everything else is a big blur to me!
For example if there was a short answer that said: 'Describe the changes that take place in the neuron during learning." what would you write?

[Camo]

Understanding how neural pathways change.

Synapse formation: development of a connection enabling neurons to pass signals.
Synapse plasticity: the change in strength of a synapse between two neurons affecting the likelihood of the other to fire.

Neurons change in either one of both of those ways.

[vanillatwilight]

thanks camo was helpful to me too

[Camo]

PARTY ROCKERS IN THE HOUUSEEEEE TONIGGHTTT!
EVERYBODY JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME!!

Please refrain from posting catchy song lyrics in the psychology threads before exams, plenty of time on schoolies yeah bro?

[vanillatwilight]

chyeahh boy 

[vanillatwilight]

PARTY ROCKERS IN THE HOUUSEEEEE TONIGGHTTT!
EVERYBODY JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME!!

Please refrain from posting catchy song lyrics in the psychology threads before exams, plenty of time on schoolies yeah bro?

sorry

[playsimme]

Lol

What I understand about the changes

NEURAL PATHWAYS: - as new information is learnt, neurons connect with each other via synaptogenesis which allows cell assemblies to be formed, representing learnt information which can continuously expand as we continuously adopt more knowledge

STRENGTHENING OF NEURAL PATHWAYS - also known as Long-term-potentiation; it involves dopamine activating genes as glutamate is sent via the synaptic gap, hence allowing bushier dendrites to grow and more likely to fire in the future, representing stronger learnt info. thus neurotransmission is speedier as physical changes in the synapse allow for quicker firing in the pre and post synaptic neuron!! THUS

Cell assemblies FORM learnt material - Long term potentiation STRENGTHENS learnt material.

[spikey]

Understanding how neural pathways change.

Synapse formation: development of a connection enabling neurons to pass signals.
Synapse plasticity: the change in strength of a synapse between two neurons affecting the likelihood of the other to fire.

Neurons change in either one of both of those ways.

So are neural pathways, synapse formation and synapse plasticity 3 different points? or is neural pathways the 'heading' of those other two points?

[spikey]

Is synaptogenesis only in developmental plasticity? Or can it be a general term to describe the formation of synapses?

[REBORN]

General term

[mjwalka]

As learning takes place, the neurotransmitter glutamate is released. This causes changes in the dendrite of the next neuron, and causes the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which in turn results in the production of new spines, or branches, in the dendrite, as a result the post-synaptic neuron is more sensitive to future signals from the pre-synaptic neuron.
Obviously long term potentiation occurs in as this process is constantly repeated, which is pretty self explanatory from there..

[mjwalka]

also question, does mylienation only occur as following sprouting in developmental plasticity, or does it occur as well after migration and synpatic pruning? thanks

[nathhan.]

in Psych Notes it says that when two neurons are active at the same time, they strengthen, which led to the discovery of long term potentiation that strengthens synapses. 'Neurons that fire together, wire together'
could somebody please how this works?

[amandak]

I'm stuck on this too! There's so much info on it in my textbook, I just don't know how to simplify it.. Help would be much appreciated! :-)