Limbic System

Question 1

Differentiate between declarative and procedural memory.

Answer 1

declarative = memory of time, facts that have a temporal and spatial context
procedural = the ability to learn new motor skills

Question 2

This is memory of time, facts that have a temporal and spatial context.

Answer 2

declarative memory

Question 3

This is the memory/ability to learn new motor skills.

Answer 3

procedural memory

Question 4

What kind of memory is impaired in lesions of the hippocampus vs. the cerebellum/basal ganglia?

Answer 4

hippo lesion = no short term or declarative memory

cerebellum/basal ganglia lesion = no procedural memory

Question 5

Explain the concepts of short-term, working and long-term memory.

Answer 5

short-term = fractions of seconds to seconds
working = seconds to minutes
long-term = days to years

Question 6

What kind of memory is affected by lesions of the frontal cortex, neocortex, hippocampus?

Answer 6

frontal cortex lesion = no procedural or working memory
neocortex lesion = no long term, declarative memory
hippocampus lesion = no short-term memory

Question 7

Discuss the experimental evidence showing that the neocortex is the site for long-term memory storage.

Answer 7

ex: facial recognition
- -> fMRI studies implicate the inferotemporal cortex
- -> monkeys with bilateral inferotemporal lesions don’t recognize familiar faces

Question 8

Recognize the reason for the memory deficits displayed by patient HM.

Answer 8

HM = bilateral hippocampal removal –> amnesia, no short-term memory (anterograde amnesia; no declarative memory)

Question 9

Explain how Long Term Potentiation (LTP) can account for associative memory.

Answer 9

dentate gyrus –> CA3 –> CA1
glutamate –> AMPA –> NMDA activation –> more AMPAs –> same stimulus allows for more activation bc more receptors are present
Bc of vigorous repeated stimulation, the synapses strengthen!

Question 10

Describe how synapse formation and adult neurogenesis could be involved in learning and memory.

Answer 10

synapses are plastic
possible adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb
olfactory learning involves the hippo and cerebellum, which are important for declarative and procedural memory

Question 11

Discuss the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s and the implications of this hypothesis for development of new treatments for this disease.

Answer 11

beta-amyloid accumulates
disrupts LTP in the hippocampus
target beta-amyloid with antibodies
inhibit beta or gamma secretase proteins

Question 12

Describe the role of the limbic system and amygdala in emotion.

Answer 12

The amygdala is part of the limbic system
the 5 Fs:
feeding 
fighting
fleeing
feeling 
fucking

*** disrupt = Kluver-Bucy syndrome

Question 13

Describe the mechanism for conditioned flavor aversion.

Answer 13

food is avoided if it is associated with malaise

basal forebrain –> ACh –> insular cortex –> muscarinic activation –> NMDA phosphorylated and activated for 30 mins –> stimulation via amygdala –> associative learning of food to feelings