All notes taken during General Biology 1! Includes tables, handwritten portions when necessary (specifically examples), highlighted/color-coded information (what you need to pay attention to), and all outline information required for workshop. I earned 102% on Exam 1, 93% on Exam 2, and 102% on the...
General Biology
Lecture notes & textbook notes by Paige Lake
,Paige Lake
9/3/24
Class: General Biology 1
Professor: Dr. Beal
Biology & Learning
☆ I. Memory & Learning
☆ A. Neural Development
- Nervous system = neurons (excitable cells that send electrical
signals to the brain) & supporting cells.
- Synapse: allows communication between neurons; junction
where neuron sends chemical signal to other nerve cells.
- Neuronal Development
- Occurs before birth → brain develops and grows while you
are a fetus in the mother's uterus.
- Gene expression - info from a gene is used to
synthesize proteins; makes neurons grow,
differentiate, and connect.
- Signal transduction - cells respond to external stimuli
& produce signals; when signals reach a neuron /
precursor cell, molecular events occur that result in
gene expression.
,☆ B. Neuronal Plasticity
- After you are born, connections in the brain are adjusted based
on personal experiences.
- Neuronal Plasticity = modifications that occur after
birth (e.g. when you learn to play piano, new connections
between neurons are formed to support increasingly
complex tasks). These modifications = activity dependent
(everyone’s brains = different b/c everyone’s experiences =
different).
- New experiences make the brain create new
connections/memories.
- Keep thinking about info / reliving a moment
in your mind → brain thinks it is important.
- Memory: long-lasting changes in the brain
- Neurons increase connections to each other as you
learn; synapse activity tells brain what is important
(e.g. replaying an embarrassing moment in head →
brain thinks it is important & you keep remembering
it).
☆ C. Types of Memory
- Memorizing something is NOT the same as learning it.
- In order to MEMORIZE something:
- Info = encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed.
, - Encoding: Translating info from the external world into
something the brain can process.
- Retrieval: Pulling info out of long term memory (LTM) to
short term memory (STM).
- In order to LEARN something:
- Use memorized information to decrease the likelihood of
forgetting; you perform better through learning rather
than memorization.
- Unused info is regarded by the brain as unimportant,
which results in forgetting / discarding the info (no new
connections = formed).
- Sensory memory: Stores sensory info (things we touch, smell,
taste, see, hear) that we pay attention to.
- Short-term memory (STM): working memory; what you are
currently aware of.
- NOT permanent; held for short periods of time.
- Can only hold 9 bits of info in STM.
- Long-term memory (LTM): virtually unlimited & permanent
storage of information.
- Methods get info into long term memory:
(1) Repeating information / reviewing repeatedly.
(2) Chunking: taking individual pieces of info from a
list and grouping them into larger, meaningful
categories.
(3) Self-referencing: relating the info to things you
already know (assimilation).
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