94. Learning/Memory

Question 1

What are the 3 steps of memory?

Answer 1

1. Encoding (attention/working memory - Frontal Networks)
2. Retention (storing - Limbic/Papez)
3. Retrieval (recall - frontal network)

Question 2

Describe classical conditioning and extinction (how PTSD works?)

Answer 2

Unconditioned stim yields unconditioned response
introduce neutral stim = conditioned stim now induces a conditioned response without unconditioned stim

Extinction: loss of conditioned response as unconditioned stim is removed
PTSD: failure to extinguish - burden of not forgetting unconditioned stim

Question 3

Describe operant conditioning and scheduling (how addiction works?)

Answer 3

Positive Reinforcement: giving reward to increase behavior
Negative Reinforcement: removing punishment to increase behavior
Positive Punishment: giving punishment to decrease behavior
Negative Punishment: removing reward to decrease punishment

Scheduling
Continuous: reinforce every action, fastest action, more likely for extinction
Fixed: faster response rate b/c predictable
Variable: more reliable response rate, more resistant to extinction (due to unpredictability)

Addiction: positive reinforce pt to not use drug

Question 4

Describe plasticity and its use in the hippocampus

Answer 4

Plasticity: repeated synaptic firing = increase neuronal interaction/efficiency
Hippocampus relies on synaptic plasticity for constant forming/reforming of synapses
damage: anterograde amnesia - cannot form new memory

Question 5

Describe the differences between the following types of memory:
Sensory Memory
Working Memory
Explicit Memory
Implicit Memory

What is memory consolidation?

Answer 5

Sensory: (ms - sec), high capacity, no awareness, lost by primary decay (can’t maintain stim)
Working: retention of info for brief periods of time (sec - min), limited (7 +/- 2 chunks), consciously aware, lost by primary decay
Explicit: long-term declarative memory (facts, info, events), limbic dependent until consolidated, high capacity, consciously aware, lost by primary interference (faded memory/misremembering)
Implicit: long-term nondeclarative memory (procedures, skills, habits, conditioning), limbic independent (retained in BG/cerebellum), high capacity, not consciously aware, lost by primary interference (faded memory/misremembering)

Memory consolidation: long-term memory distributed throughout frontal lobe (prefrontal regions)