Chapter 5 Flashcards
What is memory?
active processing system that encodes, stores and recovers information
What is encoding?
process of converting information into a useable form that can be manipulated and stores in the brain
What is storage?
retention of information over time
What is retrieval?
process of accessing information that has been stored in LTM and bringing it into the STM
What is the short term memory (STM)?
a memory store that stores limited amounts of info that is being attended and manipulated
What is the duration of the STM?
18-30 seconds
What is the capacity of the STM?
7+-
What is chunking?
increase of STM capacity
What is sensory memory?
entry point for memory which briefly stores an exact replica of info
What is the capacity of sensory memory?
infinite
What are the two types of sensory memory?
echoic (auditory) and iconic (visual)
What is the duration of the two sensory memory types?
echoic - 3-4sec
iconic - 0.2-0.4sec
What is long term memory (LTM)?
memory store where unlimited info is stored relatively permanently
What are the two memory types in the LTM?
implicit (unconsciously formed) and explicit (consciously formed)
What are the two types of implicit memory?
procedural and classically conditioned
What are the two types of explicit memory?
semantic and episodic
What are procedural memories?
memory involving motor skills or knowledge of how to complete a task
What are classically conditioned memories?
memory involving classically conditioned learning/response
What are semantic memories?
memory involving general knowledge or facts
What are episodic memories?
memory involving personal experiences or events from the person’s perspective
What is the role of the hippocampus in encoding and storing memories?
encodes non-emotional parts of explicit memories
What is the role of the amygdala?
encodes emotion driven aspects of explicit memories
What is the role of the neocortex?
stores explicit memories
What is the role of the cerebellum and basal ganglia?
work together to encode and store implicit memories
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive decline in structure, activity and function of brain tissue due to degeneration
What is Alzheimer’s a type of?
dementia
What does Alzheimer’s specifically effect?
the hippocampus (ability to encode explicit memories)
Can Alzheimer’s be cured?
no
Can Alzheimer’s be diagnosed?
only diagnosed 100% post mortem, scans can be done to rule out stokes, haemorrhages and show brain mass loss
What are Alzheimer symptoms?
gradual severe memory loss, confusion, impaired attention, disordered thinking, declined social skills and personality changes
What are the 2 main causes of Alzheimers?
build up of amyloid plaque outside neurons trapping them and killing neural pathways
neurofibrillary tangles of tau inside neurons inhibiting essential substances and killing neurons
both result in brain shrinkage and lack of acetylcholine
What does the progression of Alzheimers look like on memory?
first affects hippocampus and causes anterograde amnesia
then spreads and causes retrograde amnesia
How does a brain with Alzheimers compare to a normal aging brain?
Normal only has slower CNS, slight brain shrinkage and lower capacity to encode info
What are the 4 main types of mnemonics?
acronym, acrostic, method of loci and songlines
What is a mnemonic?
a device or system that assists in remembering something
What is an acronym?
mnemonic device in which the first letter of each item creates a word
What is an acrostic?
mnemonic device in which the first letter of each item creates a word in a sentence
What is method of loci?
mnemonic device that relates each item to a real or imagined place in a series
What is a songline?
mnemonic device in which learning of different things is done in different places, strongly rooted in country and community (orally communicated over generations)
What is autobiographical memory?
memory system consisting of episodes of an individuals life made of episodic and semantic memories
What is reconstruction?
the linking of stored information with other information to form a coherent and accurate memory
What is imagined future/episodic future thinking?
projecting self forward to pre-experience a possible event in the future
What are the four types of imagined future?
abstract or specific
personal or non-personal
What memories does future thinking rely on?
autobiographical
(overlay of activity when thinking of past and future)
What is amnesia?
permanent or temporary, complete or partial loss of memory type
What are the two types of amnesia?
anterograde and retrograde
What is and causes anterograde amnesia?
loss of memory for events after trauma
damage to hippocampus
What is and causes retrograde amnesia?
loss of memory for events before the trauma
neurodegneration
(cannot retrieve episodic memories)
What is aphantasia?
inability to visualise imagery due to inability to access visual processing areas of brain (weak link)
What is the cause of aphantasia?
birth, brain trauma and depression
