LEARNING AND MEMORY

Today, I would like to discuss about something we do virtually everyday, either by intent or unconsciously; learning.

What is Learning?
Learning can be defined as the ability of the brain to add to its stock of information.
While memory is the retention and retrieval of information. Learning depends on memory, this is because one way to measure how much we've learnt is by our ability to recall things, and by how much information we can retrieve per time.

Types of Learning
There are two types of learning;

1. Associative learning
2. Non-Associative learning

ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING: This involves the response of a person to two or more stimuli. It is based on conditioned reflex. The philosophy of associative learning is that of the Russian physiologist whose concept is based on the dictate of Ivan Pavlov.

NON-ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING: This is the respond of a person to only one stimulus. This is based on two factors which are habituation and sensitization. Habituation is the process of getting used to something in which a person is constantly exposed to. While sensitization refers to an increase to innocuous stimulus when that stimulus is applied after another type of stimulus. The learning process has been considered only to involve the cerebral cortex.

Learning is accelerated or inhibited according to incentive. Learning is better if some motivation and reward are present.

There are two types of memory;

1. Short-term memory
2. Long-term memory
   
   SHORT-TERM MEMORY
   This is a kind of memory that stores information for seconds to minutes and perhaps a few hours. Factors that interrupts short-term memory include stress, trauma and drug abuse.
   Cramming for test places a lot of information into short-term memory. Information resides in short-term memory as long as it's the focus of immediate attention.
   
   LONG-TERM MEMORY
   Long-term memory stores information for days, and involves relatively permanent structural changes in the brain. Long-term memory involves physical remodelling of synapses or the formation of new ones through growth of and branching of axons and dendrites.
   Long-term memory may be grounded in molecular changes called Long-term Potentiation. Long-term Potentiation is a rapidly developing persistent enhancement of the post synaptic potential response to presynaptic stimulation after a brief period of rapid of stimulation of presynaptic neurons.

Memory Consolidation is the process of shifting events from short-term memory to long-term memory.
Memory traces or engrams are facilitated pathways that keeps signal strong for a long period thereby causing facilitation, which results in lasting short-term memory.

Facilitation occurs when there's prolongation of action potential in the sensory terminal by the facilitator neuron with resultant increase in intracellular calcium ions that facilitates the release of neurotransmitters by exocytosis from the sensory terminal leading to memory.

MEMORY ABNORMALITIES

1. Amnesia
   This refers to loss of memory due usually to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression or illness.
   There are of two types; anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia. In anterograde amnesia, there's failure to establish new long term memory due to lesion in the hippocampus of the brain. While in retrograde amnesia, there's failure to recall past remote long-term memory. This occurs in temporal lobe syndrome.
   
2. Dementia
   A progressive deterioration of intellect, emotional control, social behavior and motivation associated with loss of memory. In old people, it is called senile dementia of Alzheimer's type.

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Thank you for reading