NeuroScience Scientists examined the role of a specific AMPA glutamate receptor
ID: 94988 • Letter: N
Question
NeuroScience
Scientists examined the role of a specific AMPA glutamate receptor on learning and memory by knocking out (i.e., removing) one subunit of an AMPA receptor gene from mice. Mice that lacked this portion of the AMPA receptor are called Gria 1 -/-. These mutant mice (also called knockout mice) were compared to control animals in several tests. (From Bannerman et al., 2014) The graph on the right depicts results from a Morris water maze experiment conducted on Gria 1 -/- mice and controls. Based on this graph, is this AMPA receptor required for spatial reference memory (SRM)? Briefly explain your answer. Briefly (in one or two sentences) explain why the AMPA receptor is thought to be important for learning and memory.Explanation / Answer
7. According to the graph, genetically modified mice that lacks one subunit of an AMPA receptor, show more or less normal acquisition of SRM, requires the hippocampus.
8. Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in their activity.
Since memories are postulated to be represented by vastly interconnected networks of synapses in the brain, synaptic plasticity is one of the important neurochemical foundations of learning and memory.
AMPA receptors play a critical role in the synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory and neuronal development.