brain areas Flashcards
What is the location of the hippocampus?
Above each ear, deep within the brain’s medial temporal lobe area, on the edge of and just under the cerebral cortex
What role does the hippocampus play in memory?
Formation and encoding of new semantic and episodic memories
What is consolidation in the context of memory?
Process of making a newly formed memory stable and enduring following a learning experience
What happens during the process of reconsolidation?
Encoded memories are open to further consolidation and can be changed when retrieved
Is the hippocampus involved in implicit procedural memories?
No, it is not directly involved in the formation of implicit procedural or classically conditioned memories
What is the hippocampus’s role in emotional memories?
Plays a role in the formation of emotional memories through interaction with the amygdala
What type of memory is spatial memory?
An explicit memory for the physical location of objects in space
What is the approximate length of the amygdala?
About 1.5 cm long
What is the primary role of the amygdala?
Processing and regulating emotional reactions, particularly fear and anger
What neurotransmitter is believed to stimulate the amygdala during memory consolidation?
Noradrenaline
What is the neocortex?
The largest and most recently evolved part of the cerebral cortex
What percentage of the cerebral cortex is made up of the neocortex in humans?
About 90%
What is the neocortex’s role in memory?
Interaction with the hippocampus in formation, consolidation, storage, and retrieval of long-term explicit memories
Where is permanent storage of long-term explicit memories typically found?
In the areas where the relevant information was first processed
What is the role of the basal ganglia in memory?
Involved in long-term implicit memories involving motor skills
What neurological condition is associated with impaired voluntary movements related to the basal ganglia?
Parkinson’s disease
What is habituation?
The process of growing accustomed to a situation or stimulus, involving a decrease in responsiveness
What is the primary location of the cerebellum?
At the base of the brain and at the rear
What functions does the cerebellum coordinate?
Fine muscle movements, regulates posture and balance, and contributes to perceptual and cognitive processes
What type of memories does the cerebellum encode and temporarily store?
Implicit procedural memories for motor skills
What type of reflexes does the cerebellum form and store through classical conditioning?
Implicit memories of simple reflexes
True or False: The cerebellum is the long-term storage site for well-learned motor responses.
False
Fill in the blank: The _______ is involved in the encoding and temporary storage of implicit procedural memories.
cerebellum
