Higher cortical function: Memory Flashcards
What is learning?
Acquisition of ‘experience’.
What is memory?
Retention of ‘experience’
Why is having learning and memory important?
Learning & memory work together to enable the individual to adapt their behaviour.
E.g. if you do something and the outcome was good, then you are more likely to repeat the activity and vice versa.
What is the contrast between learning and stereotypical reflexes?
In stereotypical reflexes, the same thing is always done – no learning, no change, no adaptation.
How has the development of the brain impacted responses?
The development of the brain has enabled us to move from fixed responses to varying responses over time and with experience.
How is memory classified?
Memory classification is done on 2 bases: the nature of the memory and duration.
What are the 2 types of memory based on nature?
Declarative and non-declarative.
What is declarative memory?
‘You can declare the information’. It is explicit, ‘the what’.
E.g. There is a chair, I know it’s a chair because it has a seat and 4 legs.
What happens to declarative memory over time?
It fades with time unless it is reused.
‘Use it or lose it’. E.g. Remembering your PIN for ATM. If you do not use it for a while, you will eventually forget it.
What are the types of declarative memory?
Semantic declarative memory and episodic declarative memory.
What is semantic declarative memory?
Memory for facts.
E.g. The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.
What is episodic declarative memory?
All about events, bringing together pieces of information to remember a particular event.
E.g. You may remember what you had for lunch on your birthday but not the day before.
What is non-declarative memory?
Implicit memory that is hard to declare, often described as skills, habits, or behaviours.
What are the types of non-declarative memory?
Procedural memory, conditioned responses, and emotional responses.
What is procedural memory?
Skills and habits.
E.g. Learning how to ride a bike.
What are conditioned responses?
Associated reflexes.
E.g. Pavlov’s dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell with food.
What are emotional responses in non-declarative memory?
Emotional responses can be shaped by our experience and change over time.
What are the 4 types of memory based on duration?
Sensory memory, short-term memory, long-term memory, and working memory.
What is sensory memory?
Lasts for fractions of a second during basic sensory processing.
What is short-term memory?
Lasts approximately 30 seconds with a limited capacity of 7 ± 2 items.
What is long-term memory?
Short-term memory converted for long-term storage through consolidation.
What is working memory?
Processing of newly acquired information combined with long-term memory.
What is the process of converting from short-term memory to long-term memory known as?
Consolidation.
Why is forgetting necessary?
Forgetting helps prevent the brain from being overwhelmed by sensory information.
