Learning and memory

Question 1

Describe HM

Answer 1

Had medial temporal lobe removed for epilepsy. Had anterograde amnesia so couldn’t learn new things or make new declarative memories but could remember past

Question 2

Which chemicals affect memory?

Answer 2

Noradrenalin and adrenaline

Question 3

What is experimental evidence supporting noradrenalin and adrenaline affect memory?

Answer 3

Pictures remembered better when presented with exciting story, but advantage disappeared with a noradrenalin antagonist

Question 4

What does growth of new synapses allow you to do? (3)

Answer 4

Combine previously unrelated info, respond to old stimuli in new way and re-route info to new pathways

Question 5

How can a positive feedback loop be broken?

Answer 5

By using noradrenaline antagonists

Question 6

What do action potentials either become? (2)

Answer 6

More frequent (excitation) or less frequent (inhibition)

Question 7

How do changes become permanent? (2)

Answer 7

Increased neural activity and sustained activity which can cause synaptic growth and take over

Question 8

What is the effect of increased transmission rate?

Answer 8

React more quickly to important changes in environment

Question 9

Describe the effect of decreased transmission rate

Answer 9

More likely to ignore unimportant changes in the environment (lose them)

Question 10

How is memory affected by amount of cortex?

Answer 10

More cortex removed = worse performance on memory tasks

Question 11

What is associated with a lesion in v4?

Answer 11

Loss of colour perception and memory

Question 12

What can be associated with a lesion in the right fusiform gyrus?

Answer 12

Impaired facial processing and loss of memory for faces

Question 13

Function of parietal lobe is…

Answer 13

Sensori-motor integration, makes decisions about choices

Question 14

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Answer 14

Motor control and planning

Question 15

Function of the temporal lobe is…

Answer 15

Activates neurons

Question 16

What is the role of the occipital lobe?

Answer 16

Vision - to connect specific neurons in lobes

Question 17

Describe Korsakoff’s syndrome

Answer 17

Chronic alcoholism due to a thiamine deficit. Anterograde and retrograde amnesia so can’t learn new skills and unaware of coniditon

Question 18

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Answer 18

Inability to forget. Flashbacks, concentration problems, depression, nightmares. Stress hormones play role

Question 19

Describe the amygdala

Answer 19

Part of limbic system, crucial for emotion and memories. Direct contact to hypothalamus, gateway to ES. Can lead to positive feedback loop.

Question 20

Describe the steps in PTSD (5)

Answer 20

Amygdala activated by stress, activates hypothalamus. Hypothalamus activates ES, ES releases adrenalin and noradrenalin. Adrenalin + noradrenalin improve memory of stress.