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PHYS - NEURO > 15. LEARNING & MEMORY > Flashcards

15. LEARNING & MEMORY Flashcards

1
Q

What are the broad two types of memory?

A
  1. Declarative memory

2. Non-declarative memory

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2
Q

What is declarative memory?

A
  • Explicit
  • Declarative memory refers to facts & events that can be recalled or retrieved consciously
  • These memories are explicitly stored & recalled
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3
Q

What is non-declarative memory?

A
  • Implicit
  • Non-declarative memory is accquired & can be used unconsciously
  • Can affect thoughts & behaviors
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4
Q

What are three types of non-declarative memory?

A
  1. PROCEDURAL MEMRY - Striatum
  2. SKELETAL MUSCULATURE- Cerebellum
  3. EMOTIONAL RESPONSE - Amygdala
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5
Q

*What is procedural memory?

A
  • Procedural memory is part of long term memory, involves knowing how to do certain procedures without conscious awareness of previous memories
  • Involves the striatum
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6
Q

What is associative learning?

A
  • A type of learning where a new response is associated with a particular stimulus
  • E.g Pavlov
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7
Q

What are the three types of declarative memory?

A
  1. WORKING MEMORY
  2. SHORT TERM MEMORY
  3. LONG TERM MEMORY
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8
Q

What is working memory?

A
  • Type of declarative memory
  • Cognitive system with limited capacity
  • Temporary storage lasting seconds
  • Found in pre-frontal cortex
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9
Q

What is short term memory?

A
  • Type of declarative memory
  • Can hold information for short amount of time but not modified
  • Vulnerable to disruption
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10
Q

What is long term memory?

A
  • Type of declarative memory
  • unlimited capacity
  • Can recall memory after months or years
  • Issue is accessibility not availability
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11
Q

How can short term memory be converted into long term memory?

A
  • Memory consolidation
  • Memory consolidation is a time dependent process where learned experiences can be transferred into the long term memory
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12
Q

Describe the pathway of information from the sensory information into long term memory?

A

Sensory information -> Short term memory or short term memory
- Short term memory -> long term memory

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13
Q

What type of memory is found in the pre-frontal cortex?

A
  • Working memory
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14
Q

What are the functions of the pre-frontal cortex?

A
  • Decision making
  • Problem solving
  • Planning
  • Self-awareness
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15
Q

Describe an experiment showing the importance of the pre-frontal cortex

A
  • In an animal study, where the animal had to remember where the object was located from memory., there was a delay phase
  • During this delay phase, the animal was trying to remember where the object was using it’s working memory
  • There was increased firing in the pre-frontal cortex showing the importance of the working memory
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16
Q

What is an engram?

A
  • Memories are encoded in groups of neurones called engrams

- Engrams are where memories are stored

17
Q

What is the Hebbian theory for memory?

A
  • The Hebbian theory suggests that cell assemblies are formed during learning & memory as a result of the synaptic changes arising from a stimulus
  • These cell assemblies can then be modified & strengthened
  • Partial activation of the cell assembly, leads to activation of the entire representation
18
Q

Which brain structure is involved in memory consolidation?

A
  • Hippocampus is involved in memory consolidation
19
Q

Which lobe is the hippocampus found in?

A
  • Medial temporal lobe
20
Q

**Describe the flow of sensory information through the medial temporal lobe?

A

Sensory information -> Para hippocampal/entorhinal areas -> Hippocampus/Medial temporal lobe -> Hypothalamus via the fornix

21
Q

What is amnesia?

A
  • Amnesia refers to the loss of memory and/or the ability to learn
22
Q

What are some causes of amnesia?

A
  • Concussion
  • Encephalitis
  • Brain tumour
  • Chronic alcoholism
  • Stroke
23
Q

What are the two types of amnesia?

A
  1. Retrograde amnesia

2. Anterograde amnesia

24
Q

What is retrograde amnesia?

A
  • Retrograde amnesia refers to the inability to recall previous/old memories before the point of trauma
25
Q

What is anterograde amnesia?

A
  • Anterograde amnesia refers to the inability to form & recall new memories after the point of trauma
  • However long term memory before point of trauma is still in tact
26
Q

What is spatial memory?

A
  • Spatial memory is a type of memory responsible for the recording & recall of information needed for navigation
27
Q

What are place cells?

A
  • Place cells are neurones located in the hippocampus
  • They are involved in spatial memory
  • Place cells fire when an animal is in a location
  • Place cells are neurones which are glutamatergic, so glutamate antagonists can disrupt the process of learning
28
Q

Where are place cells located?

A
  • Place cells are located in the hippocampus

- Neurons involved in spatial memory

29
Q

What are the two models of memory consolidation?

A
  1. Standard model of memory consolidation

2. Multiple trace model of memory consolidation

30
Q

What is the standard trace model of memory consolidation?

A
  • Sensory information form the neocortex (cerebral cortex) is sent to the hippocampus (medial temporal lobe) for processing
  • Synaptic systems consolidation: Memories are transferred to different brain regions from the hippocampus, stored in engrams of different regions
  • After memory consolidation, the hippocampus is no longer needed & doesn’t play a role in memory
31
Q

What is the multiple trace model of memory?

A
  • Multiple trace model of memory suggests that even after memories have been transferred to engrams in different regions of the brain, the hippocampus is still involved
  • Changes to hippocampal activity can modify the memory stores
32
Q

What is synaptic plasticity?

A
  • Both models of memory consolidation involve synaptic plasticity
  • Synaptic plasticity is a biological process where changes in patterns of synaptic activity lead to changes in synaptic strength
33
Q

**What is the trisynaptic circuit?

A
  • The trisynaptic circuit is the relay of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus/medial temporal lobe
34
Q

**Describe the flow of information in the trisynaptic circuit?

A
  • Entorhinal cortex –> Dentate gyrus via the PERFORMANT PATH
  • MOSSY FIBRES from the dentate gyrus synapse with pyramidal neurons CA3 of the hippocampus
  • Axons of CA3 known as SCHAFFER COLLATERALS synapse with CA1 hippocampal region
35
Q

Define long-term potentiation

A
  • Long term potentiation is the process by which repeated patterns of synaptic activity result in the consistent strengthening of a synapse
36
Q

Why does dendritic spine growth occur as a result of long term potentiation?

A
  • Long term potentiation results in increased AMPA expression in the post-synaptic membrane
  • The membrane increases in size to accommodate the increase in receptors which leads to dendritic spine growth

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