EOF Summer Biology - Memory and Learning

Vocabulary and key concepts from the EOF Summer Biology introductory lecture on memory, learning, and course organization.

Peerapol Chiaranunt (Mr. C)

The instructor for the EOF Summer Biology course.

Neurons

Cells that send and receive signals within the nervous system.

Neuronal Plasticity

The ability of the nervous system to be modified after birth, making the brain dynamic and capable of being remodeled.

Synapses

Junctions between neurons where most remodeling occurs; these changes are activity-dependent.

Short-term memory (STM)

Also known as working memory, it stores information for a short time and releases it if the information is deemed irrelevant or not used.

Long-term memory (LTM)

A storage system for information that needs to be retained, which can later be retrieved into short-term memory.

Learning

The use of knowledge or experiences (memory) to decrease the likelihood of a negative outcome and improve performance.

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

A lasting increase in the strength of synaptic transmission involving physiological changes; it facilitates memory encoding and retrieval and is activity-dependent.

Chunking

A memory strategy that involves learning sets of related information rather than single pieces of data at once to aid in retrieval.

$$Mg^{2+}$$

Magnesium ion that blocks the NMDA receptor in a synapse prior to the establishment of long-term potentiation.

$$Ca^{2+}$$

Calcium ion that enters the postsynaptic neuron through the NMDA receptor to help establish long-term potentiation.

$$Na^+$$

Sodium ion that enters the postsynaptic neuron via AMPA receptors during depolarization and synaptic transmission.

Glutamate

A neurotransmitter released by the presynaptic neuron that binds to NMDA and AMPA receptors to facilitate long-term potentiation.

Organizers

Structured visual tools like outlines, flow charts, and tables used to transform handwritten or typed notes into diagrams to facilitate memory intake and retrieval.

CC

A learning outcome operative verb meaning to compare and contrast two or more concepts.

SEQ

A learning outcome operative verb meaning to sequence a specific process.

Practice Questions

Assessments used as reality checks to evaluate understanding and develop familiarity with lower-level recall and upper-level synthesis questions.

Exam Guides

Tools that help structure learning content by incorporating lecture outlines, learning outcomes, and organizers to prepare for exams.