8 The Remembering Brain Flashcards
STM
STM = memory for information currently “in mind”; limited capacity
in an active state - RAM of computer
LTM
LTM = stored information that need not be presently accessed or even consciously accessible; has virtually unlimited capacity
All information from minutes, hours, days and years ago is in LTM, unless it happens to be presently brought to mind (in which case it enters STM)
Hold about facts or events
Minutes hours days years ago
Resembles hard drive - able to access if need
why was WM term proposed
Term WM proposed as it captures better the idea that the information currently in mind is manipulated
what does STM give the impression of
Whereas STM gives the impression of a static/passive store (maintenance)
ranganath et al 2004
subsequent memory effects for F and R
ranganath et al 2004
subsequent memory effects for F and R
scan phase - size and animacy
post-scan - confidence and source judgement
scan phase
size rleated decision
animacy - living or non
post scan
confidence - the word appeared in encoding study – definitely new to definitely old
memory source judgement
when were researchers able to classify each word as familiar
Researchers were able to classify each word as familiar when pps recorded increased recognition judgements but lack of accurate source judgements
when were researchers able to classify each word as recollected
Recollected - source judgements reported accurately
familiarity
Familiarity-based recognition was predicted by activation in the perirhinal cortex
as recognition confidence increases so does perirhinal cortex activity
recollection
Recollection-based recognition was predicted by activation in the hippocampus
retrieval - MTL effects
New decision - hasn’t been encountered at encoding
Familiarity - recognised as being encountered but no further detail comes to mind about the previous encounter
Recollection - pps recall additional details from encoding episode in relation to these items - recall thoughts when encountered item at encoding or anything that is extra to the item itself - context
hippocampus
recollection-based recognition (but not familiarity) independently of the type of stimulus
Objects
Faces
Scenes
Activation of the hippocampus was maximal when pps were able to recall additional details about the previous encounter with these items
rest of MTL
The rest of the MTL =
Familiarity based recognition with a degree of material-specialisation
Rest of MTL
Familiarity based
Different structures of the MTL
Responded to stimulus familiarity for slightly different types of stimuli
The perirhinal cortex supported familiarity for objects
Entorhinal cortex supported familiarity for objects and faces
Parahippocampal cortex responded to familiarity for objects and scenes
Amygdala - part of MTL supported familiarity for faces
what does the perirhinal cortex support in familiarity
The perirhinal cortex supported familiarity for objects
what does the Entorhinal cortex support in familiarity
Entorhinal cortex supported familiarity for objects and faces
what does the parahippocampal Cortex support in familiarity
Parahippocampal cortex responded to familiarity for objects and scenes
what does the amygdala support in familiarity
Amygdala - part of MTL supported familiarity for faces
is there a crtitical role of MTL in recognition memory
yes
what does the mtl do
Support functional specialisation depending
on the type of memory experience
what is the hippocampus responsible for
The hippocampus is responsible for encoding and retrieving the constituent elements of an experience
For example:
• Names with faces
• Location of objects/people within a scene
where is familiarity memory supported
Familiarity memory is supported by the rest of the MTL (the cortices).
what areas are affected in alzhimers
One of the first structures affected in Alzheimer’s is entorhinal cortex and the hippocampus. A lot of patients, therefore, at the first stages of the disease, have difficulty with recall and with spatial memory (i.e., navigating in well-known environments).
The remaining of the MTL cortical areas remain relatively normal, until later stages of the disease. We may, therefore, assume that familiarity memory can assist these patients in recognising familiar faces and places. This is very often reported by family members and carers of AD patients, especially in the early stages. Although, their memory lacks episodic detail (in other words recollection), they can recognise familiar places and faces.
what is consolidation
Consolidation = process that stabilises a memory over time after it is first acquired
After consolidation a memory is more amenable to forgetting, it becomes more stable
what are the 2 consolidation types
synaptic consolidation
system consolidation