Cellular Basis of Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

Review the Learning Resources focusing on learning and memory paying special attention to how brain cells change when learning takes place.

Choose ONE of these article options on the topic cellular basis of memory:

“The Role of Hippocampal Structural Synaptic Plasticity in Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Cognitive Function in Male SAMP8 Mice”

OR

“Long-Term DL-3-n-Butylphthalide Treatment Alleviates Cognitive Impairment Correlate With Improving Synaptic Plasticity in SAMP8 Mice”

OR

Changes in synaptic plasticity are associated with electroconvulsive shock-induced learning and memory impairment in rats with depression-like behavior”

OR

You may choose your own article; however, it must be approved by your instructor by Thursday before the assignment is due.

The Assignment (2–4 pages):

First, consider the cellular basis of long-term potentiation (LTP). Where in the brain does this occur and what happens? In your answer, include details of the neurotransmitters and receptors involved as well as what happens at the level of the receptor to enable LTP. Also, describe the changes that occur in both the presynaptic and post-synaptic cells as a result of LTP.

Summarize your article about the cellular basis of memory in enough detail that your reader will understand what was done in the study and what the results of the study were (similar to the articles you found in BioPsychology.com in the first week).

Evaluate how the findings might apply to a clinical setting, such as Alzheimer’s disease, anterograde or retrograde amnesia, or a condition such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You should include in-text citations in the body of your Assignment as well as complete references in APA format at the end of your Assignment.

Learning Reources:

Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2022). Brain and behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (6th ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.

Chapter 4, “The Methods and Ethics of Research”

Research Ethics section (pp. 115-121)

Chapter 9, “Hearing and Language”

Language in Nonhumans (pp. 302-305)

Chapter 12, “Learning and Memory”

Chapter 13, “Intelligence and Cognitive Functioning”

Animals think, therefore.Links to an external site. (2015). Economist, 417(8969), 69–74.

Joffe, A. R., Bara, M., Anton, N., & Nobis, N. (2016). The ethics of animal research: a survey of the public and scientists in North AmericaLinks to an external site.. BMC Medical Ethics, 17, 17.

Document: “How to Search PubMed” (Word document)Download “How to Search PubMed” (Word document)

Required Media

Pepperberg, I. (2009, October 27). Alex & meLinks to an external site. [Audio podcast]. 

Click here for transcript. Pepperberg, I. (2009, October 27). Alex & me Download Alex & me[Audio podcast]

Vedantam, S. (Host). (2019, October 21). What monkeys can teach us about being humanLinks to an external site. [Audio podcast]. 
Optional Resources

Andics, A., Gábor, A., Gácsi, M., Faragó, T., Szabó, D., & Miklósi, Á. (2016). Neural mechanisms for lexical processing in dogsLinks to an external site.. Science, 353(6303), 1030–1032. 

Collins, F. S. (2015). NIH will no longer support biomedical research on chimpanzeesLinks to an external site.. 

American Psychological Association, Ethics Office. (2016).Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE): 2015 annual report. Washington, DC: Author. 
Gorman, J. (2016, August 30). For dogs, it’s what you say and also how you say it. The New York Times. 

Gross, D., & Tolba, R. (2015). Ethics in animal-based research. European Surgical Research, 55(1–2), 43–57. 

Henderson, K. (2015). Living in a cyber petri dish: Human subject research regulations and why Facebook should follow them. University of Toledo Law Review, 47(1), 185–210. 

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). (n.d.). OLAW fast factsLinks to an external site..

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare. (n.d.). Public health service policy on humane care and use of laboratory animalsLinks to an external site.. 

Reardon, S. (2015, November 18). NIH to retire all research chimpanzeesLinks to an external site.. Nature. 

Schiller, D., Monfils, M. H., Raio, C. M., Johnson, D. C., LeDoux, J. E., & Phelps, E. A. (2010). Preventing the return of fear in humans using reconsolidation update mechanisms. Nature, 463(7277), 49–53. 

Sheehan, M., Marti, V., & Roberts, T. (2014). Ethical review of research on human subjects at Unilever: Reflections on governance. Bioethics, 28(6), 284–292. 

Smithsonian.com (2017). Getting to the Bottom of How Animals ThinkLinks to an external site.. 

Vermij, P. (2003). Europe’s last research chimps to retireLinks to an external site.. Nature Medicine, 9(8), 981. 

Optional Media

Many appropriate media pieces to further your understanding are available through the textbook publisher website:

SAGE edge. Brain & behavior: An introduction to biological psychology by Bob GarrettLinks to an external site.. 

Kandel, E. R. (2000). Noble Lecture: The molecular biology of memory storage: A dialogue between genes and synapsesLinks to an external site. [Video file].