Brain Structures Involved in Memory

Question 1

Brain regions

Answer 1

• hippocampus
• amygdala
• neocortex
• basal ganglia
• cerebellum

Question 2

Role of the Hippocampus

Answer 2

The hippocampus, located in the middle of the brain and is primarily involved in:
● Encoding of explicit (semantic and episodic) memories
● Transferring these memories to relevant parts of the brain for permanent
long-term storage
● The transfer of memories to other brain regions occurs at times when it is
less busy, such as during sleep
● Is responsible for the consolidation of most memories.
○ Consolidation is the neurobiological process of making newly formed memory stable and enduring following a learning experience
● It is important for spatial memory physical locations of objects in space ➡
○ Spatial memory enables one to na gate from place to place and to
learn and remember locations.
● The amygdala signals the hippocampus to strengthen consolidation of a
memory when it is significant.

Question 3

Role of the Amygdala

Answer 3

● Located in the middle of the brain, the amygdala is a small structure involved
in encoding and consolidating emotionally charged memories, particularly fear and anger
○ Memory for events that evoke an emotional response
● The amygdala is essential for the formation of implicit memories including
those formed during classical conditioning.
● The amygdala also has a special role in the memory for emotions shown on
faces.
● In activating the hippocampus, the amygdala also plays a part in the
consolidation of declarative memory with emotional content
A person is more likely to remember events that produce strong emotional reactions
● At these times, of heightened emotional arousal, there is an increased amount of noradrenaline in the amygdala.
○ This attaches more emotional significance to the experience and signals the hippocampus to encode and ensure long-term storage

Flashbulb memories are a vivid, highly detailed and long-lasting memory of an event that is very surprising, consequential or emotionally arousing.

Question 4

Role of the Neocortex

Answer 4

● The neocortex is the top layer of the cerebral cortex and is involved in high order mental process such as:
○ Language ○ Attention ○ Memory
● It interacts with the hippocampus to form, consolidate, store and retrieve long term explicit memories
● Each lobe of the neocortex is responsible for processing different sensory information, which in turn impacts where each aspect of memory is stored.
○ Frontal Lobe - Motor movement
○ Parietal Lobe - Somatosensory information (bodily sensations)
○ Occipital Lobe - Visual information
○ Temporal Lobe - Auditory information
● Memories are widely distributed around the cortex, and are usually permanently stored in the areas where the sensory input was first processed
● These components of a memory are linked by neural networks to ensure they don’t stay as separate parts

Question 5

Role of the Basal Ganglia

Answer 5

The Basal Ganglia is a group of deep structures deep inside the hemispheres
● Primary roles in:
○ Learning
○ Routine beha ours
○ Emotions
○ The formation/encoding of implicit procedural memory
○ Planning and controlling fine motor skills

Question 6

Basal Ganglia and Habits

Answer 6

● Habituation is the process of growing accustomed to a situation or stimulus ○ Typically occurs without conscious awareness
● The basal ganglia forms habits by associating movement with reward or reinforcement
● The Habit Loop is a cycle of cue and reward
○ When the loop is repeated, the beha ours related to the sequence of
movement is strengthened and becomes more precise and efficient
○ This makes repetitive beha ours automatic

Question 7

Basal Ganglia and Fine Motor Skills

Answer 7

● The basal ganglia has extensive connections to the neocortex and has a role in long-term implicit memories, invol ving motor skills
○ E.g: holding and writing with a pencil
● Responsible for planning and controlling fine motor control relating to a
sequence of goal directed beha ours
● It does this by communicating with other brain regions to acquire motor and
cognitive skills gradually through practice

Question 8

Role of the Cerebellum

Answer 8

● The cerebellum is located at the base of the brain
● It is involved in:
○ Acti vities requiring a skilled sequence of movements
○ Every day voluntary movements
● Damage to the cerebellum can make it difficult to time and coordinate
muscle control for everyday tasks
● Encoding and temporary storage of implicit procedural memories
● However, it does form and store implicit memories such as reflexes acquired
through classical conditioning
● Responsible for remembering motor skills tasks and coordinating fine muscle
movements and regulating posture