Chapter 7: Consolidating Memory

Question 1

what is the consolidation of memory?

Answer 1

the physiological process of memories moving from fragile STM to stable LTM

Question 2

memory consolidation is what type of change?

Answer 2

-observable structural change

-synaptic consolidation
-system consolidation

Question 3

what is synaptic consolidation?

Answer 3

the physical neural change at the synapse

Question 4

what is system consolidation?

Answer 4

change in the organization of the neural networks involved in memory

Question 5

forming a new memory

Answer 5

-anything can become a new memory

the brain is made up of many interconnected neurons, and new experiences and cognition are a result in the organized firing of new networks of neurons (memory)

it is a unique combination of hundreds to thousands of coordinated neurons

Question 6

more in depth explanation of synaptic consolidation

Answer 6

-some neurons will communicate to each other for the first time

when two neurons form a new connection few neurotransmitters are released, and firing rates are much slower. This leads to weak encoding a retrieval for new connections.

neural growth proteins are then released which cause protein synthesis

BUT

when you repeatedly use the neural network (encoding and retrieval) growth proteins continue to be released and this causes a stronger neurotransmitter signal and long term potentiation

Question 7

what is long term potentiation?

Answer 7

when fewer neurotransmitters are needed to produce a strong signal

Question 8

in depth explanation of system consolidation

Answer 8

when new experiences/cognition happens the hippocampal neurons communicate with the rest of the brain to begin an neural network (encoding)

if cognition continues (thru working memory) the new network will become stronger and lead to long term potentiation

Question 9

what are the two models of hippocampal involvement in system consolidation?

Answer 9

1. standard model:
   after encoding becomes so strong, the hippocampus has no role in that LTM retrieval
2. multiple trace model
   the hippocampus continues to help with retrieval even once encoding has become strong

Question 10

what was Viskontas (2009)

Answer 10

measured fmri activity of the hippocampus while recalling recent and older memories

-HC was active for all recent LTM retrieval (pre long term-potentiation)
-HC after 1 week for episodic memory retrieval-the multiple trace model worked for episodic memories, but the standard model was consistent for semantic memories

**remember patient KC (hippocampal damage)

Question 11

what is a way consolidation can be disrupted?

Answer 11

-electroconvulsive therapy
-concussions or other trauma
-drugs

Question 12

what is electroconvulsive therapy used for?

Answer 12

electrically induces seizures as a way to treat depression

Question 13

what was Lisbany (2000)

Answer 13

Studied memory around ECT treatment

-retrograde amnesia for events right before ECT treatment started
-anterograde amnesia for events right after ECT treatment

Question 14

physical damage to neurons in a memory network stops ___________.

Answer 14

consolidation

Question 15

what type of damage would cause anterograde amnesia?

Answer 15

damage to the hippocampus

Question 16

what type of damage would cause retrograde amnesia?

Answer 16

damage to cerebral network for a given memory

Question 17

what are concussions?

Answer 17

-mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
-rapid movement deforms the brain or causes it to strike against the skull
-immediate effects are consistent with poor cognition (slurred speech, blurred vision, confusion, poor attention, loss of memory)

Question 18

the loss of memory from concussions comes from…

Answer 18

a disruption of the hippocampus to cerebrum network

Question 19

long term memory consolidation occurs ________.

Answer 19

gradually

Question 20

at first long term memory consolidation is very…but becomes…

Answer 20

fragile

it is very susceptible to interruption especially in the first 3-6 hours

robust with time

becomes less susceptible to memory loss

Question 21

when a TBI occurs, graded amnesia is common, what types of amnesia are often experiences?

Answer 21

-retrograde memory loss is common for recent events (the last few seconds, or anything that happened before long term potentiation)

-loss of memory for distant events is less common (months in the past, or events after long term potentiation)

(look at the liklihood of forgetting graphic)

Question 22

the first time we move info from STM to LTM is called…

Answer 22

initial encoding

Question 23

when LTM is loved back to stm to be used then stored back in LTM is is…

Answer 23

retrieved then re-encoded

Question 24

when an LTM is retrieved, the brain treats it like…

Answer 24

brand new sensory info

it becomes an STM all over again, but it allows your working memory to start using that information again

Question 25

initial encoding is the most ________ type of memory

Answer 25

accurate primary source info

Question 26

when memory is reconsolidated it becomes ______ ___________.

Answer 26

less accurate it moves from robust LTM to fragile STM secondary source info (the LTM has been changed, even though we arent rlly aware of it) Hmm I think marks new car was a sportscar with X rims, then your brain encodes that as new sensory info even if it isn't correct)

Question 27

is is possible to lose LTM during __________.

Answer 27

reconsolidation

Question 28

what was Nader (2000)

Answer 28

-found that the antibiotic (anisomycin) can be used to stop neural protein synthesis -injected anisomycin into the spinal fluid of rats -created a fear LTM in rats by shocking them when playing a sound -split into a control and 3 different conditions following that" Control: Day 1: associated shock and pain Day 2: nothing Day 3: played tone=rat freezes Condition 1: Day 1: injected anisomycin, associated shock and pain Day 2: nothing Day 3: played tone=NO freeze reponse (prevented initial consolidation, no STM to LTM) Condition 2: Day 1: associated shock and pain Day 2: injected anisomycin Day 3: played tone=rat freezes (anisomycin without LTM,, has no effect on LTM) Condition 3 Day 1: associated shock and pain Day 2: tone plays=rat freezes, inject anisomycin Day 3: tone played=no freeze response (anisomycin during LTM retrieval, preventing STM to LTM reconsolidation)

Question 29

what is PTSD?

Answer 29

a disorder involving traumatic memories of threatening events usually results in intrusive thoughts and physiological reactivity

Question 30

what are intrusive thoughts?

Answer 30

unwanted recall of events

Question 31

what is physiological reactivity?

Answer 31

distressing physiological response to memory of event (hear rate, sweat rate)

Question 32

how can reconsolidation of memory be applied to therapy?

Answer 32

using drugs to alter reconsolidation, or other activities (tetris)

Question 33

what is Lyadurai (2018)

Answer 33

tetris study participants currently in the ER for car accidents were asked to recall the event (LTM to STM) group 1-played Tetris for 20 min while waiting group 2-journaled their experience in the ER for 20 min then followed up a week later, the patients who played tetris suffered from 1/3 of the number of intrusive thoughts about the crash when events recalled from LTM to STM, the tetris interrupted STM/WM of event, therefore, less STM to LTM reconsolidation

Question 34

What was Brunet (2008)

Answer 34

Propanolol (medication) used to turn down fight or flight PTSD patients were given propanolol during recall of traumatic event, then audio sessions were recorded

Question 35

what is the primary effect of propanolol?

Answer 35

-the initial traumatic event consolidation (high stress STM - high stress LTM) -session with propanolol (high stress LTM - high stress STM) (with propanolol (low stress STM) - low stress LTM) -future recall of event (low stress LTM - low stress STM)

Question 36

what is the secondary effect of propanolol?

Answer 36

less stress leads to weaker consolidation

Question 37

what was McGaugh (1990)

Answer 37

rats given epinephrine (stress hormone) within 30 min of memory task -no dose = normal memory -low dose = 60% better memory -high dose = 90% worse memory some stress is good for memory too much is bad and not enough is alright but not great

Question 38

what was Hupbach (2007)

Answer 38

participants were shown a bag of 20 objects -on day 2...group 1 was shown a second bag of objects, group 2 was reminded of day 1 objects and then shown a second bag of objects when participants came back into the lab on day 3, they were asked to recall the Day 1 objects: -groups 1 incorrectly recalled 5% of the day 2 objects -group 2 recalled 24% of the day 2 objects Day 1 - First Bag day 1 STM-LTM Day 2- Second Bag day 1- LTM - STM day 2-STM - LTM Day 3-first bag recall day 1 + day 2 LTM-STM

Question 39

what is Gais (2006)

Answer 39

participants learned a list of words then were tested a day later they found that the only variable that mattered was how soon the participant was able to sleep after learning the words this is because sleep prevents any new information from interrupting encoding, and helped with physiological consolidation too