Fear Conditioning, Memory and Implications

Question 1

What is the distinction between implicit and explicit memory?

Answer 1

Explicit is conscious and the temporal lobe system (hippocampus) is involved whereas the implicit is unconscious where the amygdala is important

Question 2

Why is there infantile amnesia?

Answer 2

Hippocampal system has a prolonged maturation time.
The amygala based implicit memory system matures earlier
Trauma in infancy produces highly resilient implicit emotional memory without explicit memory

Question 3

Why are emotionally charged memories sometimes so vivid?

Answer 3

They experience adrenaline which enhances memory

Question 4

What is the effect of stress on the hippocampus?

Answer 4

• can selectively hamper hippocampal function
• starts to malfunction
• shrivels hippocampal dendrites

Question 5

Why is it sometimes difficult to trace fear and anxiety to their roots?

Answer 5

• stress damages the hippocampus so it’s hard to access
• If hippocampal system was shutdown due to stress. No explicit memory to be recovered. If partial impairment then the event can be reconstructed but probably with fictions

Question 6

What is the pathway for extinction?

Answer 6

Inhibitory connections from medial prefrontal cortex might be the means of extinction

Question 7

How can the pathway for extinction fail?

Answer 7

If the prefrontal cortex inhibits the stress hormone flow it is likely to break down under intense stress. Therefore a spontaneous return will occur