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Neurotransmitter
Chemical substance released in the synapse that transmit information within the nervous system. It binds to receptors on neurons to exhibit specific functions.
Acetylcholine was the neurotransmitter studied.
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter and natural agonist for hippocampal activity. Binds to receptors in hippocampus to increase visual and spatial memory.
Agonist
A substance that increases a neurotransmitter’s function.
Acetylcholine is a natural agonist.
Antagonist
A substance that decreases a neurotransmitter’s function.
Scopolamine was the antagonist to acetylcholine.
fMRI
Brain imaging technique that shows real-time activity via blood flow.
Showed reduced hippocampal activity when acetylcholine was blocked.
Synapse
Space between neurons where neurotransmitters are released.
Scopolamine prevented acetylcholine from binding to post-synaptic receptors in hippocampus.
Antonova (2011) Aim:
To investigate if scopolamine (an antagonist to acetylcholine) would affect hippocampal activity in the creation of spatial memories.
Antonova Method:
20 healthy males with mean age of 28.
True laboratory experiment, repeated measures, volunteered sampling.
Antonova Procedure:
Participants were injected with either Scopolamine or a placebo 70-90 minutes before starting the study. Participants were then put in a fMRI while they were tasked with playing a rather complex virtual reality game called ‘the Arena’. The goal of the game is to locate the pole by navigating around the arena. Participants would be observed on how well they could create spatial memories. When participants learnt where the pole was located, the screen would go blank for 30 seconds. Participants were asked to actively rehearse how to locate the pole in this time. When the screen came back, participants were in a different part of the arena and had to use their spatial memory to find the pole. Participants’ brain activity was measured for six trials. 3-4 weeks later, they returned to receive the opposite treatment of what they had originally, and redid the test.
Antonova Results:
When participants were injected with Scopolamine, they showed a significant reduction in the activation of the hippocampus compared to when they were given the placebo.
Antonova Conclusion:
Antonova concluded that acetylcholine could play a key role in the encoding of spatial memories in humans.