Learning and memory

Question 1

Define the different types of attention.

Answer 1

1. A global cognitive process encompassing multiple sensory modalities, operating across sensory domains. 2. A domain-specific cognitive process relating to a specific sensory modality.

Question 2

Define arousal.

Answer 2

A general state of wakefulness and responsivity.

Question 3

Define vigilance.

Answer 3

Capacity to maintain attention over prolonged periods of time.

Question 4

Define divided attention.

Answer 4

Ability to respond to more than one task at once.

Question 5

Define selective attention.

Answer 5

Ability to focus on one stimulus while suppressing competing stimuli.

Question 6

What could be the result of the break down of global attention?

Answer 6

Delirium - impaired arousal, vigilance, and divided and selective attention.

Question 7

What could be the result of break down of domain-specific attention?

Answer 7

visual inattention, sensory inattention, neglect.

Question 8

Which two areas of the brain interact to modulate global and domain specific attention?

Answer 8

Prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, limbic cortex. Ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

Question 9

What would be the result of damage to the ARAS?

Answer 9

Drowsiness, delirium, coma.

Question 10

What would be the result of damage to the prefrontal, parietal or limbic cortex?

Answer 10

Inattention, neglect.

Question 11

What different brain components make up the ARAS?

Answer 11

Brainstem nuclei, thalamic nuclei, cortex.

Question 12

What different components make up the limbic system?

Answer 12

Cingulate gyrus Hippocampus Fornix Amygdala Orbital and prefrontal cortex Mamillary bodies

Question 13

How is attention tested clinically?

Answer 13

Orientation in time and place. Serial 7s (counting down from 100 in 7s). Digit span and digits backwards. Months of the year or days of the week in reverse.

Question 14

What is working memory?

Answer 14

Immediate recall of small amounts of verbal or spatial information. It functions independently of long-term memory.

Question 15

Which specific parts of the brain are responsible for the spatial and verbal aspects of working memory?

Answer 15

Spatial information - non-dominan parieto-occipital lobe. Words, numbers, melodies - dominant peri-sylvian language areas.

Question 16

Define episodic memory.

Answer 16

A form of explicit (declarative memory) available to consious access and reflection. Personally experienced temporally specific episodes and events.

Question 17

Episodic memory is controlled by which part of the brain?

Answer 17

Extended limbic system (circuit of papez).

Hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, thalamic nuclei, mamillary bodies.

Question 18

How do we test episodic memory in clinical practice?

Answer 18

Recall of complex verbal information (e.g. recall of stories in the Wechsler
Memory scales)
Word-list learning (e.g. California verbal learning test)
Recognition of newly encountered words and faces (Warrington’s
recognition memory test)
Recall of geometric figures (e.g. Rey-Osterrieth Figure test)

Question 19

What is semantic memory?

Answer 19

Form of explicit (declarative memory) – available to conscious access and
reflection

Factual information (general knowledge) and vocabulary
Independent of context , time and personal relevance

Question 20

How do we test semantic memory in clinical practice?

Answer 20

Tests of general knowledge and vocabulary (e.g. Wechsler Adult
Intelligence Scale)
Fluency – generate exemplars from specific semantic categories (e.g.
name as many animals as possible in 60secs)
Object naming to confrontation (e.g. Boston naming test)
Tests of verbal knowledge (e.g. What colour is a banana?)
Person-based tasks (e.g. naming photographs of famous people)

Question 21

What is implicit memory

Answer 21

No conscious access to implicit memory stores
We progressively acquire motor skills to perform tasks (but we cannot easily explain
the procedure)
e.g. Learning to play a musical instrument, learning to ride a bike, learning to use a
computer keyboard.