Question

Discuss the mechanisms and structures of visual learning and discuss the mechanisms and structures of auditory learning.

Answer 1

VISUAL LEARNING:

The first of one of several areas of the brain involved in visual learning is the Cortex.we can see that visual representation moves from the retinas into an area of the thalamus called the lateral geniculate nucleus. This information is processed and is then sent to the striate cortex. This data is analyzed further and sent to the extra striate cortex. The extra striate cortex splits the information and sends it further along the visual association cortex. This spilt information is sent along ventrally to the inferior temporal cortex or dorsally to the posterior parietal cortex dependent upon the type of information that has been input. These areas are associated with the “what” as in what is the object in the inferior temporal cortex and the “where” which is information of object location, both types of learning used in object recognition.

When an object is viewed, changes are made to this area. Changes in synapses in this area create new neural connections as a result of visual input. These changes are known as perceptual memories. The object is perceived by sight and it is translated into neurons in the extra striate cortex. Once these neurons are in place, at any time that this information is seen again, these same neurons then become activated. This is what is known as recognition, which happens after learning the stimulus. Under functional magnetic resonance imaging when persons are asked questions about visually learned stimulus, activity in the area of the visual association cortex takes place. This is an indicator that there that previous learning has taken place.

AUDITORY LEARNING:

Two important areas of the brain involved in Auditory learning are the amygdala and the hippocampus. Sound information is brought from the ears through the auditory cortex, a part of the temporal lobe in the cerebral cortex. Once this information is processed it is sent to the lateral nucleus of the amygdala. It is believed that learning takes place in this location. Neuronal terminal buttons transmit this information to the lateral nucleus by forming synapses through connections with dendritic spines to each other. These actions are accomplished by activation of a type of receptor known as NMDA. The receptors produce an additional type of glutamate receptor, the AMPA which is also called long term potentiation. Long term potentiation is essentially a strengthening of connections between synapses. The actions in areas of the brain involved in Auditory learning are a physiological response to the sensory input which creates what is believed to be associations or relational memories with other areas of the brain.

The hippocampus plays a role in areas of the brain involved in Auditory learning through the modification and linking of these memories.we can also see that it is necessary for the retrieval of those memories for later use, due to its central function and connections with other areas of the brain. The formation of physiological changes occurs in this area as a result of input from many areas of the brain but in particular input from the hippocampus. This gives rise to associations which assist in understanding of context such as order of events and perception of objects or in this case auditory information that identifies with particular objects. From these actions we can see that learning is about context and association. The formation of stronger connections are memories that result from the auditory information. This is one way in which learning occurs.