Biology & learning

First day of class, 01.22.26

Brain

Organ involved in processing information, memory, and learning

Embryonic development

Early development of the brain before birth

Neuron

Nerve cell that transmits information

Neuronal plasticity

Ability of neural networks in the brain to change and reorganize due to experience

Synapse

Junction between neurons where communication occurs

Activity

dependent plasticity

Use it or lose it

Principle that unused neural connections weaken over time

Memory

Physiological event occurring at synapses involving neuronal activity and plasticity

Sensory memory

Very brief storage of sensory stimuli

Short

term memory (STM)

Long

term memory (LTM)

Long

term potentiation (LTP)

Neurotransmitter (NT)

Chemical messenger that transmits signals across synapses

Learning

Ability to recall information and use it

Learning (experience

based)

Encoding

Converting information into a form that can be stored in memory

Chunking

Organizing information into meaningful groups to improve memory

Active learning

Learning approach that requires engagement and participation

Emergence

Concept that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts

Emergent properties

New properties that arise from the interaction and arrangement of parts

Hierarchy

Organization of biological systems into interconnected levels

Levels of biological organization

Molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, biosphere

Reductionism

Studying complex systems by breaking them into simpler components

Evolution

Process of change over time that explains unity and diversity of life

Three domains of life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

what is the change?

Many connections at N1, Lose connections at N2

How is LTM formed?

Encoding, Converting info into a format that can be stored

Fill in all blanks

Stimulus, pay attention, sensory memory, encoding, STM, LTM

Fill in the blank. 1.

Presynaptic cell

Fill in the blank.2.

NT

Fill in the blank.3

Synapse

Fill in the blank.4.

Receptor

Fill in the blank. 5.

Postsynaptic Cell

Fill in the blank. 6.

Neuronal activity

Fill in the blank. 7.

Memory