Lecture 6 Flashcards
What is Karl Lashley’s principle of “mass action” regarding memory storage in the brain?
Karl Lashley’s principle of “mass action” posits that memory is distributed throughout the cortex rather than being localized to a specific brain region. According to this principle, various parts of the cortex work collectively to store and retrieve memories.
Who was Patient H.M., and what is his significance in the study of memory?
He became a significant figure in the study of memory after undergoing surgical removal of his hippocampus and other brain structures to alleviate severe epilepsy. This surgery left him with profound anterograde amnesia, meaning he couldn’t form new long-term memories. His case provided valuable insights into the role of the hippocampus in memory formation and the distinction between declarative and procedural memory.
Can you explain the significance of R.B.’s case, where he had a small lesion in the hippocampus and exhibited a minor memory deficit?
R.B.’s case is significant because it demonstrates the role of the hippocampus in memory function. Even a small lesion in the hippocampus can result in memory deficits, emphasizing the hippocampus’s importance in forming and retrieving memories. This observation supports the idea that the hippocampus plays a critical role in various aspects of memory processing.
What are implicit and explicit memories, and how do they differ from declarative memory?
Implicit memory is unconscious memory influencing behavior, while explicit memory involves conscious recollection. Declarative memory is a subset of explicit memory for consciously recalled facts and events.
What are the components or types of implicit memory?
Implicit memory can be categorized into several components, including procedural memory (skills and habits), priming (subconscious influence of past experiences), and classical conditioning (associations between stimuli and responses).
What did the damage to R.B cause on the performance of the Rey-Osterreith figure
How was the rhinal cortex involved in H.M.’s surgery, and what role does the rhinal cortex play in memory?
In H.M.’s surgery, the rhinal cortex was not directly removed, but there was damage to adjacent structures, including parts of the rhinal cortex. The rhinal cortex is associated with memory processes, particularly in the encoding and retrieval of declarative memories. Damage to this region, along with the removal of the hippocampus, contributed to H.M.’s severe anterograde amnesia, indicating the crucial role of the rhinal cortex in memory formation and retrieval.
In the study what image did the patient G.T with HPC and Rhinal damage draw.
A horse
Who is Patient N.A., and how does his case relate to diencephalic amnesia?
Patient N.A. is an individual who experienced diencephalic amnesia, a condition characterized by memory deficits resulting from damage to the diencephalon, which includes structures like the medial dorsal thalamus and mammillary bodies. Damage to these diencephalic structures can lead to severe memory impairments
What is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, and how does it affect memory and brain function?
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a disorder often linked to chronic alcohol abuse, leading to memory deficits, confusion, and cognitive impairments. It highlights the role of thiamine deficiency in brain function and memory.
What brain regions are damaged in Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, and how does this damage lead to memory and cognitive problems?
In Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, damage primarily occurs in the. dorsal-medial nucleus thalamus, mammillary bodies, and cortical regions
What is the hippocampal-diencephalic memory system, and what is its role in memory?
The hippocampal-diencephalic memory system is a neural circuit that includes the hippocampus and various diencephalic structures like the thalamus and mammillary bodies. Memories are initially processed in the hippocampus and later transferred to surrounding diencephalic regions, where they become less dependent on the hippocampus for retrieval
Can you name and briefly describe the specific parts or structures that make up the limbic system in the brain?
The limbic system consists of several key structures, including the hippocampus (involved in memory), amygdala (associated with emotions and fear), thalamus (sensory processing), hypothalamus (regulating vital functions and emotions), and cingulate gyrus (emotion and cognitive processing). These structures work together to influence emotions, memory, and various behaviors.
How do new and recent memories rely on the hippocampal-diencephalic memory system, and what happens when this system is damaged
The hippocampal-diencephalic memory system is crucial for forming new and recent memories. It helps encode and consolidate information. When this system is damaged, individuals may struggle to create new memories and recall recent events, resulting in memory deficits.
does damage to the hippocampal-diencephalic memory system cause both retrograde and anterograde amnesia, and what are the effects on past and new memories?
Yes, damage to this system can result in both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. Retrograde amnesia affects past memories, potentially causing their loss or impairment. Anterograde amnesia impairs the formation of new memories, making it challenging to remember recent events and information.
