Year: 1966
Type: article
Abstract: c t themselves t o h i g h e r m a m m a l s and the corresponding b r a i n mechanisms thought t o be involved in c o n d i t i o n i n g and l e a r n i n g .Thus, t h i s r e p o r t is complementary t o one e n t i t l e d , "Simple Systems f o r t h e Study of Learning Mechanisms," organized by T. H. Bullock (1966).The p r e s e n t Work Session w a s e a s i l y organized.~. B. Neuronal o r g a n i z a t i o n and temporal dynamics o f : Changes o c c u r r i n g along sensory, r e t i c u l a r a c t i v a t i n g , l i m b i c , c o r t i c a l , and other components during cond i t i o n i n g and l e a r n i n g o r i e n t i n g response e a r l y and l a t e r c o n d i t i o n i n g and l e a r n i n g t r i a l s l e a r n e d performances introduced? when experimentally demanded?Changes i n t h e s e c i r c u i t s i n r e l a t i o n to: What happens t o t h e s e dynamic c i r c u i t s when n o v e l t y i s How are l e a r n e d performances reorganized i n t o new p a t t e r n s Discussion leader: C l i f f o r a T. Morgan C. Brain Mechanisms i n Conditioning and Learning are complexly k n i t t e d t o g e t h e r , c o n t a i n i n g p l e u r i s y n a p t i c pathways having e l a b o r a t e m u l t i p l e feedback and interconnecting loops.n a l s e n t e r i n g t h e nervous system along both s p e c i f i c and nons p e c i f i c sensory pathways.These nonspecific pathways are phylogenetically o l d e r and are l o c a t e d i n s i d e , t h a t is, medial t o t h e s p e c i f i c pathways.t h e c l a s s i c a l sensory pathways w e r e a p p l i c a t e d upon a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g s t r u c t u r e s which w e m u s t recognize w e r e a l r e a d y h i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e government of l e a r n i n g and conditioning.F i s h e s , without any neocortex, l e a r n many c u e s q u i t e as readi l y as c a t s , monkeys, and men.Successful c o n d i t i o n i n g a p p a r e n t l y depends on s i g -During r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t e v o l u t i o n Medial, nonspecific pathways include limbic, hypothal a m h a n d g r a n u l a r f r o n t a l c o r t i c a l c i r c u i t s along with t h e brainstem r e t i c u l a r formation, t h e i s o d e n d r i t i c c e n t r a l c o r e of t h e neuraxis (Ramo/n-Moliner and Nauta, 1966).These medial systems may be understood t o f u l f i l l a n indispensable r o l e by providing both t h e s t r a t e g i c and t a c t i c a l backgrounds essent i a l f o r learning.The c l a s s i c a l sensory pathways may be understood a s conveying p a r t i c u l a r i z e d sensory messages which provide a g r e a t e r range and accuracy of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .Background s t a t e s of t h e nervous system e v i d e n t l y a ff e c t t h e way incoming sensory s i g n a l s are processed and d i st r i b u t e d among c e n t r a l c i r c u i t s .s e e m designed t o provide t h e " b i o l o g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e " which modulates incoming s i g n a l s and otherwise c o n t r i b u t e s t o shaping t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s response, h i s outward expression, and g e n e r a l comportment.Medial systems a l s o appear t o provide p r e p a r a t o r y messages f o r cortex: t h a t i s , when novel o r biologi c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t s t i m u l i are presented, an e l e c t r i c a l d-c s h i f t takes p l a c e a c r o s s t h e cortex.Morrell (1961a) i n experiments spawned by Rusinov's discovery of what Rusinov (1953) c a l l e d t h e "dominant focus e f f e c t , " has succeeded i n experimentally i m i t a t i n g t h e d-c s h i f t and demonstrating t h a t i t markedly a f f e c t s t h e a c t i v i t y of c o r t i c a l u n i t s i n ways t h a t look
Author: Robert B. Livingston
Institution: University of California San Diego
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2746724065