Learning and Memory

Question 1

What are the two main types of memory?

Answer 1

Procedural (implicit) and declarative (explicit)

Question 2

What is procedural memory?

Answer 2

Implicit, non-declarative, reflexive
Skills/habits used frequently that are automatic
Cerebellum in charge of motor, nucleus accumbens in charge of non-motor

Question 3

What is declarative memory?

Answer 3

Explicit
Conscious recollection of learned facts/experiences
Subdivided into episodic (memory of events) and semantic (memory of words, language, rules)

Question 4

How long does short-term vs long-term memory last?

Answer 4

Seconds/hours to years

Question 5

What is working memory?

Answer 5

Recalling facts/memories for use

Question 6

In terms of plasticity, what changes can be made in the CNS?

Answer 6

Synaptic function vs physical structure of neurons

Question 7

What are examples of changes in synaptic function?

Answer 7

Post-tetanic potentiation

Long-term potentiation

Question 8

What are examples of changes in structure of neurons:

Answer 8

Gain/loss of synapses
Structural changes in dendrites
Structural changes in soma

Question 9

What is post-tetanic stimulation?

Answer 9

Brief, high frequency discharge of presynaptic neuron for ~60 seconds to increase probability of AP in postsynaptic cell

Question 10

How does post-tetanic stimulation work?

Answer 10

Cell stimulated at such a high level that a lot of Ca2+ enters and cannot be dealt with, so it keeps stimulating NT vesicles to fuse with the membrane for release

Question 11

What is long-term potentiation?

Answer 11

Series of changes in both pre- and post-synaptic neurons to lead to increased response to NTs

Question 12

What does CREB do?

Answer 12

Changes synapse structure permanently and creates new synapses via protein synthesis

Question 13

What are the four steps to creating declarative memories?

Answer 13

Encoding, storage, consolidation, retrieval

Question 14

What is an important component to encoding memories?

Answer 14

Emotion

Question 15

What locations are involved in temporary storage of memories?

Answer 15

Hippocampus, parahippocampal cortex, prefrontal cortex

Question 16

What does consolidation involve?

Answer 16

Physical changes in synaptic structure to make memories permanent. Requires hippocampus, temporal lobes, and papez circuit

Question 17

What is the papez circuit?

Answer 17

Hippocampus -> hypothalamus/mammillary bodies -> anterior thalamus -> cingulate cortex -> hippocampus

Question 18

What can happen to memories during retrieval?

Answer 18

Can be modified or lost

Question 19

What areas of the brain are involved in memory retrieval?

Answer 19

Neocortex -> parahippocampal regions (sends components) -> hippocampus (memory reconstructed here) -> back to cortex

Question 20

What is the three-component model of working memory?

Answer 20

Visuospatial loop (occipital cortex - visual info associated with memory), central executive (prefrontal cortex), and phonological loop (Broca’s and Wernicke’s - auditory info associated with memory)

Question 21

How and where are long-term memories of space stored?

Answer 21

In CA1 of hippocampus using place cells (pyramidal cells)

Question 22

What are place cells?

Answer 22

Neurons active only at specific places. Receive inputs from grid cells in the entorhinal cortex, head direction c cells, and border neurons

Question 23

In Short-term memory:

What serves as a target of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 23

The Nucleus Basalis of Meynert (cholinergic projection) serving as the interconnection to the neocortex and amygdala