Chapter 16.9 Flashcards
What are memories
Stored information gathered through experience
What are fact memories
Specific bits of information
What are skill memories
Learned motor behaviors
▪ Incorporated at the unconscious level with repetition
What are short term memories
Information can be recalled immediately
– Do not last long
– Contain small bits of information
What is memory consolidation
Repeating information allows short-term memory to be converted to long-term memory
What are the two types of long term memories
Secondary memories
– Fade with time and require effort to recall
▪ Tertiary memories
– Do not fade
Which Brain regions involved in memory consolidation and
access
– Amygdaloid body and hippocampus
– Nucleus basalis
– Cerebral cortex
Describe Amygdaloid body and hippocampus
They are components of the limbic system and are essential to memory consolidation. Therefore damage to the hippocampus causes inability to convert short-term memories to new long-term memories
Describe the nucleus basalis
It’s a cerebral nucleus near the diencephalon which plays a role in memory storage and retrieval. Damage changes emotional states, memory, and intellectual functions
Describe the cerebral cortex
– Stores most long-term memories
– Conscious motor and sensory memories are referred to appropriate association areas
List the three ways for Cellular mechanisms of memory formation and storage
▪ Increased neurotransmitter release
▪ Facilitation at synapses
▪ Formation of additional synaptic connections
Describe the increased neurotransmitter release
A frequently active synapse increases amount of neurotransmitter it stores
– Releases more on each stimulation
– The more neurotransmitter released, the greater the
effect on postsynaptic neuron
Describe the facilitation at synases
A repeatedly activated neural circuit results in
continuous release of neurotransmitters
– Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on postsynaptic membrane
– Produces graded depolarization that brings membrane closer to threshold
– Resulting facilitation affects all neurons in circuit
Describe the formation of additional synaptic connections
– When neurons repeatedly communicate,
– Axon tip branches and forms additional synapses on
postsynaptic neuron
– As a result, presynaptic neuron has greater effect on membrane potential of postsynaptic neuron
Facilitated communication along a specific neural circuit
– Caused by anatomical changes
– Thought to be the basis of memory storage
What is a memory engram
– Single circuit that corresponds to a single memory
– Forms as result of experience and repetition
– Takes at least an hour to form
What is deep sleep
Also called slow-wave or non-RE M (NREM) sleep
– Entire body relaxes
– Cerebral cortex activity is at minimum
What is REM sleep
Active dreaming occurs
– Changes in blood pressure and respiratory rate
– EEG resembles awake state
What is sleep
– Alternate between RE M and deep sleep
– REM periods initially average 5 minutes
▪ Increase to 20 minutes during 8-hour period
What is arousal
Awakening from sleep
What is the function of the reticular activating system?(RAS)
Stimulation of RAS produces widespread activation of
cerebral cortex
How is sleep ended
Sleep is ended by any stimulus that activates reticular formation and RAS
Which group maintains alertness and is awake?
One group stimulates RAS with NE
Which group promotes deep sleep?
another group depresses RAS with serotonin
Describe Huntington’s disease
Destruction of ACh-secreting and GAB A-secreting neurons in basal nuclei
– Difficulty controlling movements
– Intellectual abilities gradually decline
Describe serotonin
Affects sensory interpretation and emotional states
Inadequate levels of dopamine causes
motor problems of Parkinson’s
disease
Excessive production of dopamine may be associated with
schizophrenia
