Cognition and Memory Flashcards
what is a brief summary of cognition?
the integration of all sensory information to make sense/understanding of a situation
what two skills are required to be cognitive ?
ability to learn and remember
what is required to learn and remember things?
motivation
what is the main function of the association areas in the brain?
integrating information together to be able to understand information properly
what are the four structures which make up the limbic system ?
hypothalamus
hippocampus
cingulate gyrus
amygdala
what two important connections does the limbic system have ?
- temporal lobe
- frontal lobe
what is the main function of the limbic system?
responsible for instinctive behaviour
give some examples of instinctive behaviour which is controlled by the limbic system?
thirst
hunger
sex
emotive behaviour of reward and avoiding punishment
are rewards and punishments a central aspect of learning?
yes
- conveys what experiences were good and which ones were bad
why is it important some tasks have significance ?
a significant task gives more motivation to complete the task
what term is used to describe a task which is barely remembered?
habituation
which structure in the limbic system does all sensory information pass through and acts as a relay to the other limbic structures?
the hippocampus
what is the main function of the hippocampus?
formation of new memories
what would be the clinical complication if someone had bilateral hippocampal damage ?
they have immediate memory and long term memory but they are unable to form new long term memories
what is reflexive memory?
motor skills such as riding a bike
what are the four stages of memory?
immediate
short term
intermediate
long term
how long does immediate memory last for?
few seconds
how long does short term memory last for?
seconds - hours
how long does intermediate memory last for?
hours - weeks
how long does long term memory last for?
hours - life time
what circuits cause short term memory ?
reverberating circuits
- electrical adaptation
what adaption is associated with intermediate memory ?
chemical adaption at the pre synaptic terminal
what changes are associated with long term memory ?
structural changes in synaptic connections.
give an example of intermediate memory
what you did at the weekend
give an example of short term memory
mental arithmetic
reading a sentence
give an example of long term memory
where you grew up
which memories decay the faster?
- visual
- auditory
visual
describe how excitation is maintained in reverberating circuits
- stimulus from A stimulates B
- the circular circuit of neurons before neuron B stimulates B for a second time
- the long lasting neuronal activity in B keeps the memory alive for longer
when does reverberation result in consolidation of a memory ?
when the memory is deemed to be significant
define anterograde amnesia
inability to recall events following the injury but can form new memories
what happens if the hippocampus is destroyed ?
the person can’t form new memories
define retrograde amnesia
can’t remember events leading up to the injury, but can remember long term memory
what is the function of the thalamus in relation to memory
required for “searching” our existing memory bank.
what would be the clinical consequence if the thalamus was damaged but the hippocampus was uninjured ?
retrograde amnesia
in intermediate long term memory, what is the chemical change which occurs ?
increase of Ca to the pre synaptic terminal which increases the release of neurotransmitters and strengths the signal
state the three structural changes which occur during long term memory
- Increase in NT release sites on presynaptic membrane.
- Increase in number of NT vesicles stored and released.
- Increase in number of presynaptic terminals
what is the term used to describe the strengthens the synapse ?
Long term potentiation
what are the two main types of long term memory ?
explicit
implicit
where is explicit memory based?
hippocampus
where is implicit memory based?
cerebellum
what is long term explicit memory ?
memory for events and words, rules and language
what is long term implicit memory ?
motor skills which have been acquired slowly through repetition
what is the term for converting short term memory to long term memory ?
consolidation
describe how consolidation occurs
involves selective strengthening of synaptic connections through repetition (for minutes to hours)
- exists as electrical activity and is vulnerable to being wiped
what 2 parts of the brain decides whether a memory is significant or not?
frontal cortex
limbic system
where are new memories stored in the brain?
sensory and association areas of the cortex
if an experience longer does a memory get stored better?
no
- only if the experience was significant
- for example a guy jumping out at out and points a gun at you and runs away, only lasts a couple of seconds but is remembered
do memories have strong emotional components to them?
yes
what are the four stages of the Papez circuit ?
hippocampus
mammilary bodies
anterior thalamus
cingulate gyrus
why are smells particularly powerful at evoking long term memories ?
the olfactory tract passes through the amygdala and hippocampus to the prefrontal cortex
how does a vitamin B1 deficiency affect memory ?
leads to damage of limbic system structures. Especially mamillary bodies in the hypothalamus. The ability to consolidate memory is impaired.
