18.a. How would you apply this quote, from Sherrington, to contemporary cognitiv
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18.a. How would you apply this quote, from Sherrington, to contemporary cognitive/behavioral neuroscience and, in particular, to understanding the neurobiological bases of learning and memory: 9 Facts rebut the over-simplified conceptions such as ascribe to separate small pieces of the roof-brain, wedged together like a jig-saw puzzle separate items of highly integrated behaviour.... Such savor of old phrenology. To suppose the roof-brain consists of point to point 'centres' identified each with a particular item of intelligent concrete behaviour is a scheme 'over-simplified, and to be abandoned'. Rather, the contributions which the roof-brain [and the rest of the nervous system] makes toward integrated behaviour wil;. . . resolve into components for which at present we have no names. 18.b. What would Sherington think of this current approach to finding the locus of learning and memory for classical conditioning (tone, airpuff-> eyeblink)Explanation / Answer
NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASES OF LEARNING AND MEMORY: The neurobiological bases of learning and memory determine what you memorize and the information you retain. Different parts of the brain are responsible for different cognitive functions such as movement, sensation, coordination, memory, judgement, pain, reward and vision.
Sir Charles Sherrington was a neurophysiologist who made contributions in the treatment of nervous disorders. He also coined the terms 'neuron' and synapse' which helped to improve our understanding of the Central Nervous System. He stated that all parts of the nervous system are connected together. The Cerbellum has a lot to do with Classical Conditioing, which, according to Sherrington is a center for continuos meovements.
The changes in synaptic conditions among neural cells are responsible for the formation of memories. The Hippocampus is a site where long term memories are stored. The Cerebellum on the other hand, stores the procedural memories like how to swim, how to play an instrument etc.
When learning occurs, there are changes that happen in the brain. Therefore, brain functions happen when learning occurs. Learning involves interactions among the motor, sensory, and memory systems.
The quote mentioned above, talks about Sherrington's understanding of the neurobiological bases of learning and memory. In the present day and age, with the advent of medical techniques such as the MRIs and the FMRIs the structure of human brain can be studied in a living human. Techniques like these give a more detailed picture of the brain, which helps in relating the abnormalities of the brain to cognitive function. The FMRI confirms the cognitive functions of different regions of the brain as they happened.
18. (b). When it came to the locus of learning and memory, Sherrington attributed synaptic plasticity to give the neurophysical basis of learning and memory. According to Dr. Wilder Penfiled, a neurosurgeon, memories were stored in one spot, which is the temporal lobe. The eyeblink reflex is a form of motor learning that is dependent on the cerebellum. We already know that the cerebellum is the part of the brain that is associated with classical conditioning, and the best way to establish a connection between the locus of learning and memory and Sherrigton's approach to it, would be to say that he in his studies speculated that the entire forebrain exists for the purpose of incentive of motivated behavior.
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