Complex Memory Processes and the Medial Temporal Region of the Human Brain Flashcards
3 phases of memory processing
Encoding, storage, and retrieval
Encoding
creation of memory trace
Storage
memory trace must be held over time
retrieval
memory trace accessible
How do phases of memory processing occur in the brain according to the Standard Consolidation Model?
Encoding in cortex and hippocampus
Retrieval of nonconsolidated memory (involves hippocampus)
Retrieval of consolidated memory triggers connections within cortex and circuit outside and independent of the hippocampus
Types of declarative memory
Semantic and episodic
Semantic memory
Language and other learned knowledge
Episodic memory
memories based on experiences
What contributes to Autobiographical memory?
Semantic and episodic memory
Medial Temporal Regions
Amygdala, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampal cortex, hippocampus, perirhinal cortex
What happened to K.C.?
Damage to hippocampus (lost). Spared parahippocampal cortex.
What did K.C.’s damage present?
Doesn’t have consolidation mechanism in the hippocampus.. The parahippocampal cortex takes over consolidation or storage of semantic memories.
Anterograde amnesia (cannot form new memories)
Some retrograde amnesia (old memories)
Lost a lot of episodic memory
But had some semantic memory.
What does it mean that K.C. had some semantic memory but lost a lot of episodic memory?
He could remember things, but he could not PLACE HIMSELF in the memories.
What did K.C.’s deficits tell us about the medial temporal regions involved in memory encoding?
The hippocampus encodes episodic memories and the parahippocampus encodes semantic memories.
Types of memory distortions
- Egocentric bias
- Merging of memories
- Misinformation effect.
What is the egocentric bias?
Memory exaggeration of that which has to do with ourselves
What is a famous example of egocentric bias?
John Dean, involved with Nixon’s inner circle and Watergate. Called the “human tape recorder.” Was very confident in his memory of conversations, but when compared with actual recordings they were inaccurate. Dean mostly gave himself larger roles in conversations than he actually had.
Was it an “honest lie”?
What are false memories?
Embellished or wrong memories
What are famous cases of false memories?
Hillary Clinton: telling about her experience as a first lady landing in Bosnia
What is the misinformation effect?
Recall of episodic memories becomes less accurate due to post-event information. It is very easy to mix information from two events up
What experiment was done to demonstrate false memories being generated through the misinformation effect?
Loftus- People watched video of minor car accident (two videos: yield vs. stop) and then had to answer questions with misleading information (info given implicitly).
Those who were asked misleading questions were less often correct when asked which video they saw than those asked nonmisleading, correct questions.
What is source confusion and what does it have to do with the misinformation effect
One memory mixes in with another
What is going on in the brain during encoding of a false memory?
Increased activation of hippocampys and perirhinal cortex ( a “true” memory) -> subsequent correct recall AND incorrect recall (incorrect and correct memories are encoded in the same way
What are flashbulb memories? (Theoretically, original formulation)
Vivid and long-lasting memories about events that are significant, surprising, and or highly emotional.
Includes details of personal circumstances remembered in addition to the event itself.
The entire event is “printed” for permanent recall
