BIOL371 MODULE 4 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A++
Augmentation (Synaptic)
A term used to describe increases in synaptic strength that persist for a medium period
from 0.5-10s (i.e. longer lasting than facilitation, but not as long lasting as potentiation).
- caused by metabotropic receptor signaling cascades and Ca2+ elevation
Depression (Synaptic)
A term used to describe decreases in synaptic strength, no matter what time scale they
persist across.
- Includes rapid, short-term and long-term depressions
Direction (of plasticity)
Whether a change in synaptic strength leads to a stronger synapse or a weaker
synapse.
Expression (of plasticity)
The changes that occur in the processes of synaptic transmission which directly
contribute to the change in the strength of a synapse. For example, changes in the rate
of synaptic vesicle release, or the amount of neurotransmitter-receptor binding and
activation which will change the size of the PSP observed for a single presynaptic
stimulus.
Facilitation (Synaptic)
,A term used to describe increases in synaptic strength that persist for only very short
periods (<0.5s).
- when studying Aplysia it refers to any synaptic enhancement regardless of duration
Frequency dependence
Frequency dependence of synaptic plasticity refers to the idea that greater or smaller
changes in synaptic strength may be generated from the same stimulus pattern,
depending on the frequency of the stimuli (i.e. how far apart each stimulus pulse is from
the next pulse).
- measured in Hz
Induction (of plasticity)
The biochemical/molecular processes that trigger or initiate changes in synaptic
strength - for example, activation of a receptor that initiates a biochemical signalling
cascade would be a key step in the induction of many forms of plasticity.
Long Term (plasticity)
Any change in synaptic strength that persists for more than ~1h.
Maintenance (of plasticity)
The biochemical/molecular processes that enable the initial expression of synaptic
plasticity to persist for long(er) periods of time. In long-lasting forms of synaptic
plasticity, mechanisms supporting the maintenance of the synaptic change are often
molecularly distinct from those that support the initial expression of the change.
Paired Pulse (Ratio/Depression/Facilitation) (PPR/PPD/PPF)
A paired pulse stimulus protocol is one that uses two stimulus pulses, one after another,
at a very short inter-stimulus interval (usually 5-100ms). This stimulus protocol is
, effective for detecting short term changes in synaptic strength (facilitation and rapid
depression). The results are typically reported as the paired pulse ratio (PPR: the
amplitude of the second pulse/the amplitude of the first pulse, or P2/P1), but can also
be reported as the amount of facilitation: PPR - 1).
- PPF if second pulse is larger than first
- PPD if second pulse is smaller than first
Plasticity
The property of being malleable, or able to be deformed (and reformed) in response to
particular stimuli without breaking.
Potentiation (Synaptic)
A term used to describe any increases in synaptic strength that persist for long periods
>30s.
- Short term potentiation (STP) - 30s to 1 hour
- Long term potentiation (LTP) - more than 1 hour
Quantal amplitude/quantal size (q)
Refers to the mean amplitude (typically measured in mV) of the PSP in response to a
single synaptic quantum (i.e. one synaptic vesicle fusing with the presynaptic
membrane to release its neurotransmitter). A decrease in quantal amplitude would
decrease the size of the overall PSP.
- Changes is q are due to changes in the amount of active post-synaptic receptors (not
the amount of neurotransmitter per vesicle)
Quantal Content Analysis
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A++
Augmentation (Synaptic)
A term used to describe increases in synaptic strength that persist for a medium period
from 0.5-10s (i.e. longer lasting than facilitation, but not as long lasting as potentiation).
- caused by metabotropic receptor signaling cascades and Ca2+ elevation
Depression (Synaptic)
A term used to describe decreases in synaptic strength, no matter what time scale they
persist across.
- Includes rapid, short-term and long-term depressions
Direction (of plasticity)
Whether a change in synaptic strength leads to a stronger synapse or a weaker
synapse.
Expression (of plasticity)
The changes that occur in the processes of synaptic transmission which directly
contribute to the change in the strength of a synapse. For example, changes in the rate
of synaptic vesicle release, or the amount of neurotransmitter-receptor binding and
activation which will change the size of the PSP observed for a single presynaptic
stimulus.
Facilitation (Synaptic)
,A term used to describe increases in synaptic strength that persist for only very short
periods (<0.5s).
- when studying Aplysia it refers to any synaptic enhancement regardless of duration
Frequency dependence
Frequency dependence of synaptic plasticity refers to the idea that greater or smaller
changes in synaptic strength may be generated from the same stimulus pattern,
depending on the frequency of the stimuli (i.e. how far apart each stimulus pulse is from
the next pulse).
- measured in Hz
Induction (of plasticity)
The biochemical/molecular processes that trigger or initiate changes in synaptic
strength - for example, activation of a receptor that initiates a biochemical signalling
cascade would be a key step in the induction of many forms of plasticity.
Long Term (plasticity)
Any change in synaptic strength that persists for more than ~1h.
Maintenance (of plasticity)
The biochemical/molecular processes that enable the initial expression of synaptic
plasticity to persist for long(er) periods of time. In long-lasting forms of synaptic
plasticity, mechanisms supporting the maintenance of the synaptic change are often
molecularly distinct from those that support the initial expression of the change.
Paired Pulse (Ratio/Depression/Facilitation) (PPR/PPD/PPF)
A paired pulse stimulus protocol is one that uses two stimulus pulses, one after another,
at a very short inter-stimulus interval (usually 5-100ms). This stimulus protocol is
, effective for detecting short term changes in synaptic strength (facilitation and rapid
depression). The results are typically reported as the paired pulse ratio (PPR: the
amplitude of the second pulse/the amplitude of the first pulse, or P2/P1), but can also
be reported as the amount of facilitation: PPR - 1).
- PPF if second pulse is larger than first
- PPD if second pulse is smaller than first
Plasticity
The property of being malleable, or able to be deformed (and reformed) in response to
particular stimuli without breaking.
Potentiation (Synaptic)
A term used to describe any increases in synaptic strength that persist for long periods
>30s.
- Short term potentiation (STP) - 30s to 1 hour
- Long term potentiation (LTP) - more than 1 hour
Quantal amplitude/quantal size (q)
Refers to the mean amplitude (typically measured in mV) of the PSP in response to a
single synaptic quantum (i.e. one synaptic vesicle fusing with the presynaptic
membrane to release its neurotransmitter). A decrease in quantal amplitude would
decrease the size of the overall PSP.
- Changes is q are due to changes in the amount of active post-synaptic receptors (not
the amount of neurotransmitter per vesicle)
Quantal Content Analysis
