Lecture 12: Memory Phases Consolidation

Question 1

what is the adaptive power of having a consolidation process for long term memory

Answer 1

the ability to lock in info and modulate the strength of the memory trace

filter out what you think is important versus not

Question 2

what is flashbulb memory

Answer 2

memories that are encoded extremely well due to an emotional toll (either good or bad)

flashes a scene to where you see things in detail

Question 3

is a remote engram identical to its more recent form

Answer 3

for procedural memory it is highly likely that this is similar

for explicit probably not as similar

Question 4

what are the 2 different types of memory consolidation

Answer 4

fixation (cellular consolidation)

reorganization (systems consolidation)

Question 5

explain the process of fixation (cellular consolidation)

Answer 5

the idea that activity dependant plastic changes need to be fixed/made permanent through some cellular processes to ensure the connections remain strengthened

Question 6

what are some cellular/molecular processes that occur in fixation

Answer 6

protein synthesis

gene activation

reactivation or reverberation of neural activity

enduring kinase activation

Question 7

explain the process of reorganization (systems consolidation)

Answer 7

the idea that the memory trace is changed/moved and becomes dependant on different brain structures than what encoded it

final engram is fundamnetally diff than original

Question 8

what is the path for reorganization

Answer 8

hippocampus to neocortex

episodic to semantic

Question 9

what is our evidence for consolidation (7 experiments)

Answer 9

1. spaced versus massed learning paradigms
2. interference
3. loss of conciousness (concussion-surgery)
4. disrupted activity
5. post learning manipulations of hormones or neuromodulators
6. post learning influences of offline states (sleep)
7. disruption of protein synthesis

Question 10

explain the evidence for consolidation with spaced versus massed learning (ebbinghaus)