PSYC 333 MIDTERM 1 – University of British Columbia – Psychology course exam
material
Pavlov's explanation of learning new reflexes - ANS ✔✔Sherrington discovered that spinal
reflexes are innate (when u hit your hamstring, you legs move). Pavlov discovered that some
reflexes can be learned. When a controller stimulus (CS) like a tone is paired with an
uncontrolled stimulus (US) like food, the uncontrolled response (UR) of a dog would be
salivation.
What did Cajal propose about learning? - ANS ✔✔he proposed that learning creates memories
via the precise, coordinated strengthening - or weakening - of synapses between neurons
(change in strength). Changes in synaptic strength underlies memory
What did Hebb propose about learning? - ANS ✔✔neurons that fire together, wire together
Lomo and Anderson (Long Term Potentiation in the hippocampus) - ANS ✔✔If Neurons A and B
had weak connections, then they had weak responses. However, you can stimulate it using
intense external simulation using electrical currents. This produces a lot fo action potential
flowing from A to B. There can be a permanent change in strength after the stimulation,
resulting in neurons of A and B having a strong response now
Connection Between LTP and Pavlovian Conditioning - ANS ✔✔You can train the CS (bell) and
US (food) to react together using LTP because it forces them to associate something new
How does LTP work? - ANS ✔✔There is higher releases of neurotransmitters by presynaptic
neuron. There is also going to be more responsiveness in the post synaptic side and growth of
new synapses
How do chemical synapses work? - ANS ✔✔Chemical signals between synapses are similar to
the release of hormones. Chemical transmissions are inherently slow which takes time and
, electrical transmissions are fast but not plastic. Synapses are a mix of the two, electrical signals
go very quickly, but we use chemical transmissions to fine tune our responses
Aphasias - ANS ✔✔Specific damages in an area of the brain causes specific problems
Broca's aphasia: reduced speech
Wenicke's aphasia: incorrect speech
K. Lashley - ANS ✔✔Spent his entire life studying lesions and memory deficits by training rats to
run in mazes. Doesn't matter about where the lesion was but the amount of tissue removed
determines the amount of deficit. Therefore memory did not have a specific location
Who was H.M. and what was established about the hippocampus? - ANS ✔✔Proved that
Lashley was wrong. H.M. was not able to form new memories (profound amnesia), but facts and
events of his previous life were intact. Hippocampus is part of the paleocortex. Damage in the
hippocampus resumed in him not being able to remember facts and events but other thinks like
skills, personalities, and attitudes were kept intact
Anterograde amnesia - ANS ✔✔Not having any memories going before, but memories before
amnesia are intact
Episodic Memory - ANS ✔✔Episodic memories are autobiographical. Tagged with spatial and
temporal context. Learned in a single exposure; repetition may weaken it. It answers the
questions about what you remember (ex. What did you have for breakfast)
Semantic Memory - ANS ✔✔Semantic memories are factual and may require additional
exposure for strengthening. Answers the question about what you know (Student ID number or
your birthday, you might not know how you know it but it doesn't matter)
material
Pavlov's explanation of learning new reflexes - ANS ✔✔Sherrington discovered that spinal
reflexes are innate (when u hit your hamstring, you legs move). Pavlov discovered that some
reflexes can be learned. When a controller stimulus (CS) like a tone is paired with an
uncontrolled stimulus (US) like food, the uncontrolled response (UR) of a dog would be
salivation.
What did Cajal propose about learning? - ANS ✔✔he proposed that learning creates memories
via the precise, coordinated strengthening - or weakening - of synapses between neurons
(change in strength). Changes in synaptic strength underlies memory
What did Hebb propose about learning? - ANS ✔✔neurons that fire together, wire together
Lomo and Anderson (Long Term Potentiation in the hippocampus) - ANS ✔✔If Neurons A and B
had weak connections, then they had weak responses. However, you can stimulate it using
intense external simulation using electrical currents. This produces a lot fo action potential
flowing from A to B. There can be a permanent change in strength after the stimulation,
resulting in neurons of A and B having a strong response now
Connection Between LTP and Pavlovian Conditioning - ANS ✔✔You can train the CS (bell) and
US (food) to react together using LTP because it forces them to associate something new
How does LTP work? - ANS ✔✔There is higher releases of neurotransmitters by presynaptic
neuron. There is also going to be more responsiveness in the post synaptic side and growth of
new synapses
How do chemical synapses work? - ANS ✔✔Chemical signals between synapses are similar to
the release of hormones. Chemical transmissions are inherently slow which takes time and
, electrical transmissions are fast but not plastic. Synapses are a mix of the two, electrical signals
go very quickly, but we use chemical transmissions to fine tune our responses
Aphasias - ANS ✔✔Specific damages in an area of the brain causes specific problems
Broca's aphasia: reduced speech
Wenicke's aphasia: incorrect speech
K. Lashley - ANS ✔✔Spent his entire life studying lesions and memory deficits by training rats to
run in mazes. Doesn't matter about where the lesion was but the amount of tissue removed
determines the amount of deficit. Therefore memory did not have a specific location
Who was H.M. and what was established about the hippocampus? - ANS ✔✔Proved that
Lashley was wrong. H.M. was not able to form new memories (profound amnesia), but facts and
events of his previous life were intact. Hippocampus is part of the paleocortex. Damage in the
hippocampus resumed in him not being able to remember facts and events but other thinks like
skills, personalities, and attitudes were kept intact
Anterograde amnesia - ANS ✔✔Not having any memories going before, but memories before
amnesia are intact
Episodic Memory - ANS ✔✔Episodic memories are autobiographical. Tagged with spatial and
temporal context. Learned in a single exposure; repetition may weaken it. It answers the
questions about what you remember (ex. What did you have for breakfast)
Semantic Memory - ANS ✔✔Semantic memories are factual and may require additional
exposure for strengthening. Answers the question about what you know (Student ID number or
your birthday, you might not know how you know it but it doesn't matter)
