Learning and Memory

Question 1

associative learning

Answer 1

As cells fire simultaneously they increase the synaptic associations. This results in networks of cells which are synaptically linked

Question 2

Habituation

Answer 2

decrease in response (& NT release ) with repeated stimulus

like a background noise that you adapt to drown out

Question 3

Sensitisation

Answer 3

increase in response with repeated stimulation – mediated by an interneuron

Question 4

LTD

Answer 4

long term depression helps to avoid the whole brain potentiation

Question 5

Short term memory is

Answer 5

1) a very brief memory (seconds) either from an external
stimulus or retrieval from a long term memory
2) easily displaced by another stimulus
3) Can be extended into working memory by
a) repetition in a phonic loop (temporal extension) or
b) chunking which links familiar chunks together to extend the size of chunk

Question 6

how do we test short term memory

Answer 6

digit span 6-7 is normal

Question 7

chunking

Answer 7

phone numbers

07979 635 815

Question 8

Working memory

Answer 8

1) The maintenance and integration of information in an active state for a relatively
brief time in order to achieve a short term task or goal
2) Is comprised of a mixture of short and/or retrieved long term memory

Question 8

Working memory

Answer 8

1) The maintenance and integration of information in an active state for a relatively
brief time in order to achieve a short term task or goal
2) Is comprised of a mixture of short and/or retrieved long term memory

Question 9

what is the definition of working memory

Answer 9

As Short term memory only lasts a few seconds it must be repeatedly re-activated, its reactivation and subsequent duration

Question 10

what are the subdivisions of LTM

Answer 10

• declarative memory

- non-declarative memory

Question 11

what are subdivisions of declarative memory

Answer 11

this is conscious !!!

• semantics (language/facts)
• episodic (events/experiences)

Question 12

non-declarative or implicit taxonomy

Answer 12

• procedural
• priming
• associative learning $

Question 13

what are the 4 parts of learning

Answer 13

1. encoding - memory creation
2. storage - persistence memory traces
3. retrieval - memory recovery
4. consolidation - strengthening of memory traces

Question 14

memory formation

Answer 14

A) A series of events are encoded by the hippocampus, and a reference is made to their memory location – hippocampal index (File Allocation Table)
B) If this information is recalled prior to consolidation, the hippocampus performs the retrieval from its index of the events
C) After consolidation of the memory retrieval can be initiated directly from the sensory cortices

Question 15

consolidation

Answer 15

this is where there are structural changes at the synapse, LTM us associated with changes in connectivity in networks of neurons predominantly in the cortex

Question 16

what is the basal ganglia pathway for non declarative memory

Answer 16

Corpus striatum (part of Basal ganglia) = caudate nucleus + putamen – thought to influence memories involving movement & procedural memory e.g. Olympic diving
Cerebellum – influences fine motor learning including speech movements

Question 17

Retrograde Amnesia

Answer 17

before event

Question 18

Anterograde Amnesia

Answer 18

after event

Question 19

Lesions in either the anterior or dorsomedial nuclei of the thalamus, or in the Mammillary bodies can cause

Answer 19

anterograde amnesia

Question 20

dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus receives input from

Answer 20

temporal lobe structures (like the amygdala of the limbic system) which is then relayed almost exclusively to the frontal cortex (executive function).