Anatomy of memory and emotion

Question 1

Episodic memory

Answer 1

Declarative memory

- Ability to remember events, conversations and experiences that has happened to oneself

Question 2

Key anatomical reas in episodic memory

Answer 2

Medial temporal lobe:

- Hippocampus

Question 3

Circuit of papez

Answer 3

Neural circuit for the control of emotional expression and memory consolidation.
- Part of the limbic system

Hippocampus—> connects to the mammillary bodies via the fornix

• Hippocampus receives input from the amygdala [anterior to hippocampus]
• Amygdala modulates emotion

Hippocampus communicates
with the neocortex via the parahippocampal gyrus
- Also receives input from the anterior cingulate gyrus [attention]

Mammillary bodies—-> Connects to the anterior thalamus via the mammillothalamic tract

Question 4

Circuit for consolidation of memory

Answer 4

Hippocampus—-> Fornix —> mammillary bodies—-> anterior thalamus

Question 5

Semantic memory

• Definition
• Anatomy involved

Answer 5

The understanding of concepts, facts, information and categorisation.

Anatomy:
- Anterior, inferior lateral temporal lobe= links together concepts

• Posterior inferior temporal cortex: categorises visual perceptions from ventral stream
• Neocortical areas: picks up parts of a concept

Question 6

Ventrolateral frontal cortex/ Orbitofrontal cortex

Answer 6

Part of the circuit for semantic memory.

Selects memory, thoughts based on context of what is presented

Feeds information into the anterior, inferior temporal cortex.

Question 7

Ventral visual stream

• Definition
• Role in semantic memory

Answer 7

Pathway that carries visual information from the primary visual lobe to the temporal lobe.

In semantic memory
- Identifies visual concepts and feeds it to the posterior inferior temporal lobe [linked to ant.inf temporal lobe]

Question 8

Semantic memory circuit

Answer 8

Based around the anterior inferior temporal cortex

Ventrolateral frontal cortex + Posterior inferior temporal cortex [input from ventral visual stream] —-> Various cortical areas

Question 9

Anatomical basis of emotion

Answer 9

Amygdala
- Involved in the experience of emotion and the evaluation of affective relevance

Especially in negative emotions and fear.

Question 10

Ventral frontal cortex

Answer 10

Part of the brain that puts emotion in context- inputs into the amygdala

Medial- internalised context
Lateral- external context [through external perception]

Question 11

Hippocampus and emotion

Answer 11

Recalls emotion [memory], allows learning from emotional experience.
- Receives input from the amygdala

Provides input into the ventrolateral frontal cortex

Question 12

Anterior insula and emotion

Answer 12

Responsible for visceral feeling: visceroautonomic
- Especially disgust

Sends output to the ventromedial frontal cortex

Question 13

Anatomy of emotionally directed attention

Answer 13

Amygdala sends outputs to via cholinergic neurones : - Sensory areas in the cortex - Anterior cingulate

Question 14

Anatomy of the experience of reward

Answer 14

Nucleus accumbens contains dopaminergic projections

Question 15

Anatomy of learning about reward

Answer 15

The ventral tegmental area sends DA projections into the nucleus accumbens and ventromedial frontal cortex