Lecture 16 Memory and Cognition

Question 1

Describe Cognition

Answer 1

Cognition describes the integration of all sensory information to make sense of a situation.

Question 2

Name the association areas of the cerebrum

Answer 2

Motor
Prefrontal
Sensory
Visual
Auditory

Question 3

What is the function of the association areas of the cerebrum

Answer 3

integrate information from multiple sources

Question 4

3 key components of learning and memory

Answer 4

• Hippocampus- formation of memories
• Cortex- storage of memories
• Thalamus- searches and accesses memories

Question 5

What system are memories formed

Answer 5

Limbic system

Question 6

What makes up the Limbic system

Answer 6

Consists of four distinct areas – hypothalamus (assoc. with ANS responses), hippocampus (assoc. with memory), cingulate gyrus and the amygdala (assoc. with emotion).

Question 7

Describe the effects of bilateral hippocampal damage

Answer 7

have immediate (sensory) memory (seconds in length) and intact long-term memory (from time before damage), but are unable to form new long-term memories

Question 8

Name the 4 types of memory

Answer 8

Immediate or sensory memory
Short term memory
Intermediate long-term memory
Long-term memory

Question 9

What is short term memory dependent on

Answer 9

It depends on maintained excitation from reverberating circuits i.e. they need to be constantly refreshed.

Question 10

What are the 2 types of amnesia

Answer 10

When reverberation is disrupted:
Anterograde
Retrograde

Question 11

Define anterograde

Answer 11

Cannot from new memories

Question 12

Define retrograde

Answer 12

Cannot access (more recent) old memories

Question 13

if only the thalamus is damaged, and the hippocampus spared what type of memory loss occurs

Answer 13

Retrograde

Suggests thalamus is required for “searching” our existing memory bank

Question 14

Describe Long term potentiation

Answer 14

increased amplitude in graded membrane potential (EPSP) in the post-synaptic cell is often observed. This “strengthens the synapse”,
a well established, well rehearsed pattern of neuronal firing unique to that particular memory.

Question 15

What are the 2 main types of long-term memory

Answer 15

Declarative or Explicit memory

Procedural/reflexive/implicit memory

Question 16

Describe Declarative or explicit memory

Answer 16

Abstract memory for events (episodic memory) and for words, rules and language (semantic memory).
Relies heavily on the hippocampus.

Question 17

Describe Procedural/reflexive/implicit memory

Answer 17

Acquired slowly through repetition. Includes motor memory for acquired motor skills such as playing tennis, and rules based learning such as, in the UK, always driving on the left.
Thinking about these skills (“memories”) often impairs performance!
Is based mainly in the cerebellum.
Is independent of hippocampus