Learning and Memory Flashcards
What are the two main types of memory?
Procedural (implicit) and declarative (explicit)
What is procedural memory?
Implicit, non-declarative, reflexive
Skills/habits used frequently that are automatic
Cerebellum in charge of motor, nucleus accumbens in charge of non-motor
What is declarative memory?
Explicit
Conscious recollection of learned facts/experiences
Subdivided into episodic (memory of events) and semantic (memory of words, language, rules)
How long does short-term vs long-term memory last?
Seconds/hours to years
What is working memory?
Recalling facts/memories for use
In terms of plasticity, what changes can be made in the CNS?
Synaptic function vs physical structure of neurons
What are examples of changes in synaptic function?
Post-tetanic potentiation
Long-term potentiation
What are examples of changes in structure of neurons:
Gain/loss of synapses
Structural changes in dendrites
Structural changes in soma
What is post-tetanic stimulation?
Brief, high frequency discharge of presynaptic neuron for ~60 seconds to increase probability of AP in postsynaptic cell
How does post-tetanic stimulation work?
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
What is long-term potentiation?
Series of changes in both pre- and post-synaptic neurons to lead to increased response to NTs
What does CREB do?
Changes synapse structure permanently and creates new synapses via protein synthesis
What are the four steps to creating declarative memories?
Encoding, storage, consolidation, retrieval
What is an important component to encoding memories?
Emotion
What locations are involved in temporary storage of memories?
Hippocampus, parahippocampal cortex, prefrontal cortex
What does consolidation involve?
Physical changes in synaptic structure to make memories permanent. Requires hippocampus, temporal lobes, and papez circuit
What is the papez circuit?
Hippocampus -> hypothalamus/mammillary bodies -> anterior thalamus -> cingulate cortex -> hippocampus
What can happen to memories during retrieval?
Can be modified or lost
What areas of the brain are involved in memory retrieval?
Neocortex -> parahippocampal regions (sends components) -> hippocampus (memory reconstructed here) -> back to cortex
What is the three-component model of working memory?
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)
How and where are long-term memories of space stored?
In CA1 of hippocampus using place cells (pyramidal cells)
What are place cells?
Neurons active only at specific places. Receive inputs from grid cells in the entorhinal cortex, head direction c cells, and border neurons
In Short-term memory:
What serves as a target of Alzheimer’s disease?
The Nucleus Basalis of Meynert (cholinergic projection) serving as the interconnection to the neocortex and amygdala
