Lecture 6 - Memory and Executive Functions Flashcards
When does the prefrontal cortex peak in synaptic density?
At 1 year old
When does the prefrontal cortex reach adult level of synaptic density?
At 15 years
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
Organizes thoughts, remember facts, start and complete tasks, tell stories
What are executive functions (EF)? Give examples too
Higher cognitive functions; cognitive sills guiding goal-directed behavior
Explain flexibility/shifting
Shift between thoughts. 3-4 yr olds can already do it, then steady increase with age
Explain inhibition
Ability to stop/suppress actions
Explain planning
The ability to plan actions
Explain working memory/updating
Type of short-term memory, “updating”.
Mastering of WM tasks depend on their complexity.
Develops slowly. Capacity diminishes with age.
How to improve short-term memory span?
Rehearsal
Which are the two main categories of long-term memory?
Explicit (declarative) and Implicit (nondeclarative) memory
Which are the subcategories of explicit (declarative) memory?
Semantic memory - facts,
Episodic memory - events
Which are the subcategories of implicit (non declarative) memory?
Procedural - skills and procedures
etc. (others are not discussed)
Explain procedural memory
Automatic, unconscious memory (often motor)
Explain semantic memory
Knowledge of facts, concepts, word meanings
Explain episodic memory
Remembering events and details from the past
Procedural memory in old age
Implicit memory capacity changes little. Only issue that could hinder it is biological decline
Semantic memory in old age
It’s preserved with age, some parts even expand (vocab, history). But older adults show difficulties when the info needs to be accessed rapidly
Which are the encoding strategies? Explain them
Use of mental activities to improve processing of information.
Rehearsal - for short-term memory,
Organization - for long-term m,
Elaboration - for long-term m
Episodic memory in adolescence
New strategies develop during adolescence. More deliberate and more selective
Episodic memory during adulthood
Decline towards older years. Magnitude of decline depends on the nature of the task and method of testing.
What are the age differences in episodic memory?
The differences are mostly in the ability to recall (not in recognition)
What is the associative deficit hypothesis?
There is no age difference in recognition, it is actually the association (name and face for example) what is difficult for older people
Which are the four hypotheses about memory improvement and decline?
- Changing in basic capacities
- Changing memory strategies
- Knowledge of memory
- Knowledge of the world
Explain the changes in basic capacities hypothesis
Brain changes, change in working memory space for manipulating and processing information
Explain the changes in memory strategies hypothesis
Development of effective methods for storing and retrieving information
Explain the knowledge of memory hypothesis
This knowledge results in selecting appropriate strategies to learn
Explain the knowledge of the truth hypothesis
The more familiarized we become with the world, the easier it is for us to learn and remember
What are contextual factors in aging in regards to memory?
Characteristics of learner, characteristics of task/situation, environmental differences > Biological and environmental factors
What declines and what increases in the midlife intersection?
Decline: functional health, speed of processing, working memory
Increase: knowledge, experience, emotional regulation
Is it possible to minimize or slow down decline in midlife with protective resources?
Yes, by adapting our lifestyle (healthy) and interventions cam also help
What are strategy-based interventions?
Rehearsal, organization, visual imagery, Method of Loci, Peg-Word Mnemonic > teach strategies
What are process-specific interventions?
Training of specific processing systems without providing explicit strategy info
What is the difference between working memory and short-term memory span?
Working memory is the active treatment of information; short-term memory is passive retaining of info for 30 seconds.
Short-term memory span is also less affected by age.
Which type of long-term memory develops earlier?
Implicit procedural (bc of conditioning) - 2.5 months
Changes in basic capacities during childhood
Not much change in sensory register and LTM, encoding improves, speed of mental processes improves
Changes in basic capacities in older age
Decline in sensory abilities, decline in working memory, inhibition deficit, reduced speed of processing
Why does working memory decline in older age?
The prefrontal cortex is not as good anymore
What happens to memory strategies in older age?
Adults do not use them spontaneously, however, when prompted to use one they show improvement
What is the effect of metamemory awareness in childhood?
Those children who have metamemory awareness have better memory ability but they must be motivated to use the appropriate strategy
What is the prospective memory paradox?
When tested in a lab young adults outperform old adults. However when tested in naturalistic contexts older adults perform better than young adults
What is needed to carry out everyday activities?
Intact cognitive abilities
Biological markers of cellular aging. Shorten with age
Telomeres
What are predictors of leukocyte telomere length?
Healthy behaviors > longer
What lowers the risk of dementia and increases cognition in older age?
Exercise and physical fitness during middle age
Which memory improvement intervention is better? Strategy or process?
Magnitude - both are good,
Maintenance - process better (more researched so not sure),
Transfer - process better
