Learning and Memory

Question 1

Essay Question

Answer 1

Evaluate the strength of the link between the Hippocampus and memory

Question 2

Essay Plan

Answer 2

Introduction; What is Learning; Other Mechanisms of Learning; Divisions of Memory; Brain Damage Studies; Hippocampus and Declarative memory; Hippocampus and Spatial Memories; Hippocampus and Learning about Context; Other Areas; Biochemical Mechanisms; Limitations; Conclusion

Question 3

What is Learning

Answer 3

Classical conditioning (Pavlov) and Operant conditioning
Lashley find physical engram in cerebral cortex, Equipotentiality and Mass action
Thompson said engram in cerebellum with rabbit air puffs
Suppressing lateral interpositus nucleus in cerebellum results in no learning

Question 4

Other Mechanisms of Learning

Answer 4

Delayed response (food aversion), (Rozin & Kalat, 1971)
Insightful behaviour, monkey tools, (Wolfgang)
Imitation, birdsong.
All suggest memory in learning

Question 5

Divisions of Memory

Answer 5

Long term memory and Short term memory
All info enters STM which is consolidated into LTM, Hebbs theory (1949)
Working memory storage, delayed response task suggest prefrontal cortex (Baddely & Hitch, 1994)
More activation in old people when good at DRT, (Rosel et al., 2002)

Question 6

Brain Damage Studies

Answer 6

Damage to hippocampus causes amnesia, H.M. (Scoville & Milner, 1957)
STM is intact in H.M. and K.C., Rosenbaum, 2005)
Hippocampus important for explicit memory but not implicit

Question 7

Hippocampus and Declarative Memory

Answer 7

Delayed matching to sample tasks with monkeys impaired with hippocampal damage, (Zola et al., 2000)

Question 8

Hippocampus and Spatial Memory

Answer 8

Enhanced activity in hippocampus in spatial tasks network of friends, finding direct route
Rats with hippocampal damage can’t learn mazes

Question 9

Hippocampus and Learning about Context

Answer 9

Details are lost as time passes, (Komorowski et al)

Question 10

Other Areas

Answer 10

Basal ganglia for gradual learning, procedura - implicit, patients with damage do not imporave on trail and error (Parkinsons disease), evidence in fMRI, (Moody et al, 2010)
Prefrontal cortex for details in past memories and memory suppression

Question 11

Biochemical Mechanisms

Answer 11

Hebbian synapse, connections strengthened through activity

Long term potentiations leave a synapse sensitive, specifity, cooperativity and associativity

Question 12

Limitations of experiments

Answer 12

Construct validity
Are animals the same
Different brain damage areas

Question 13

Conclusion

Answer 13

Looks key but many brain areas involved, also consider Lashley’s findings