Cognition And Memory Flashcards
Cognition
Process of knowing and understanding
Memory
Formation of records of new experiences and use of information to guide subsequent activities
Perception
Ability to select those stimuli that require attention from the surrounding sensory environment and interpret them
Executive functions
Ability to plan, manipulate, and problem solve
What are some possible cognitive impairments?
Altered levels of consciousness
Memory loss and orientation deficits
Impaired attention
Impaired executive functioning
What are some examples of executive function dysfunction?
Poor self monitoring (no filter)
Perseveration (do something over and over again)
Poor decision making
What is attention?
Process for determining what sensations and experiences are relevant
If you have no attention then you have no what?
Information processing
How does attention result in making memories?
Attention=interpretation=processing=making memory
Selective attention
Able to focus on one thing (ignore background)
Sustained attention
Maintain attention for a long tume
Divided attention
Divide attention across stimuli
Alternating attention
Shift attention on demand
What is memory?
Perception that has been stored previously and can be called up later
How does memory work?
Starts with sensory memory then working memory then long term
What is working memory?
Maintains goal relevant information short term
Where is working memory located?
Prefrontal and temporoparietal associative cortex
What is declarative memory?
Easily verbalized recollections (conscious or explicit memory)
Where is declarative memory located?
Lateral prefrontal and medial temporal cortex
What is failure of declarative memory called?
Amnesia
What is procedural memory?
Skills and habits (non conscious or implicit memory)
Where is procedural memory located?
Frontal cortex, thalamus, and basal ganglia
What two things make up declarative memory?
Episodic and semantic
What are episodic memories?
Names and events
What are semantic memories?
Facts
What are the results of memory dysfunction?
Impacts safety
Can make independent living difficult
Impairs ability to learn
What is post traumatic amnesia?
Period of time following trauma (or emergence from coma) when a patient is confused, agitated, or disoriented
What does the time period of post traumatic amnesia correlate with?
Quantity of brain tissue destroyed
What is orientation?
Asking questions (person, time, place, situation)
What is the most important memory dysfunction technique?
Do no argue with patient
What usually results post brain injury?
Negative personality changes
How can fatigue be presented in a brain injury?
Sleep wake cycles
Poor endurance (tolerance for activity)
Exaggerated response to fatigue
What are the ABCs of behavior modification?
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Antecedents
Everything that occurs before the behavior (internal and external)
How should you attempt to change behaviors post brain injury?
Clearly define behavior change with target behavior
