6C The role of episodic and semantic memory

Question 1

Types of explicit/declarative memory

Answer 1

Semantic memory- facts or knowledge about the world

Episodic memory- personally experienced events

Question 2

Autobiographical memories

Answer 2

memory system consisting of episodes recollected from an individuals life, based on a combination of episodic (sensory details, thoughts and emotions related to time and places) and semantic (general event knowledge, personal facts without context) memory

• links past events together into a personal history that relates self through past, present and future

Question 3

Reconstruction

Answer 3

the combining of stored info with other available information to form what is believed to be a more coherent, complete or accurate memory

Question 4

Episodic future thinking

Answer 4

projecting yourself forward in time to pre-experience an event that might happen in your personal future

Question 5

Mental time travel

Answer 5

the capacity to mentally reconstruct past personal events and imagine possible future scenarios

Question 6

Types of future-orientated thoughts

Answer 6

• Abstract and non personal future events e.g future environmental issues
• Specific but non-personal events e.g upcoming public event
• Abstract but personal events e.g occupation you will take after graduation
• Specific and personal future events e.g dinner date with your partner next saturday

Question 7

Episodic future thinking semantic and episodic memories:

Answer 7

Semantic
- context of the imagined event

Episodic
- specific details of what might occur in the imagined event

Question 8

Alzheimers disease

Answer 8

• a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the progressive deterioration of brain neurons, causing memory loss, decline in cognitive and social skills and personality changes
• Its the most common form of dementia
• Incurable, most people pass within 8-10 years of onset
• No simple diagnostic test to identify
• Brain scans assist in diagnosis

Question 9

Brain scans

Answer 9

an examination of the brain that shows brain activity and tissues that cannont be detected otherwise

Question 10

Computed tomograpgy (CT) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 10

reveal the anatomic structure of the brain and are used to rule out such problems as a tumour, haemorrhage (bleeding of the brain) and stroke, which can mask Alzheimers

Show the loss of brain mass associated with Alzheimers in the middle or later stages

Question 11

Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computered tomography

Answer 11

If CT and MRI are inconclusive then these scans provide images of brain activity based on blood flow, oxygen consumption or glucose use

helps narrow down a diagnosis by revealing neural abnormalities common in Alzheimers.

But they cant show the microscopic lesions -> so cant identify the disease with certanity

Question 12

Lesions

Answer 12

a damaged or abnormal area of the brain that may appear like a scar or wound

Question 13

Alzheimers diagnosis confirmation

Answer 13

when post-mortem is conducted

doctors can detect these discrete microscopic lesions in the individuals brain

Question 14

Symptoms of Alzheimers