Eyeblink Classical Conditioning

Kevin L Brown; John H Freeman

doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.55021-1

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Book chapter

Eyeblink Classical Conditioning

Kevin L Brown and John H Freeman

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, pp.635-641

Elsevier Ltd, Second Edition

2015

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.55021-1

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Abstract

Eyeblink conditioning is a classical conditioning procedure that has been used extensively to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying associative learning and memory. The cerebellum ipsilateral to the conditioned eye is essential for eyeblink conditioning. Conditional stimulus (CS) and unconditional stimulus (US) input arising from the pontine nuclei and inferior olive, respectively, converge upon the cerebellar cortex and deep nuclei. Combined input from the CS and US pathways during training trials induces synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar cortex and anterior interpositus nucleus. These two sites of synaptic plasticity constitute the memory necessary for the eyeblink conditioned response. A future direction for this research is to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cerebellar learning.

Cerebellum

US pathway

Anterior interpositus

Pontine nuclei

Associative learning

Purkinje cell

CS pathway

Inferior olive

Details

Title: Subtitle: Eyeblink Classical Conditioning
Creators: Kevin L Brown
John H Freeman
Resource Type: Book chapter
Publication Details: International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, pp.635-641
Edition: Second Edition
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.55021-1
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Language: English
Date published: 2015
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984065858302771

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