Memory & Amnesia

Question 1

What processes are required for information to be learned/remembered?

Answer 1

• input
• hold
• output

Question 2

Define input

Answer 2

Acquisition - perception and encoding

Question 3

Define hold

Answer 3

Storage - consolidation and maintenance

Question 4

Define output

Answer 4

Retrieval - performance, recall, recognition

Question 5

What causes forgetting?

Answer 5

Temporal decay/interference from other learning

- most input immediately forgotten

Question 6

What are the main 2 types of memory systems?

Answer 6

• Long term

- Short term

Question 7

What are the 2 types of long term memory?

Answer 7

Declarative

Non-declarative

Question 8

What are the 2 types of declarative memory?

Answer 8

• episodic (remember experiences, dependent on hippocampus)

- semantic (remember facts, depends on prefrontal cortex)

Question 9

When would semantic memory be defective?

Answer 9

Schizophrenia

Question 10

What are the types of non-declarative memory?

Answer 10

Procedural
Priming and Perceptual Learning
Simple Classical Conditioning
Non-associative learning

Question 11

What is procedural memory?

Answer 11

• remember skills (easier to show others than to talk about it - opposite to declarative)

Question 12

Which parts of the brain take part in procedural memory?

Answer 12

Striatum, cerebellum and motor cortex

Basal Ganglia

Question 13

Which part of the brain is involved in priming and perceptual learning?

Answer 13

Neocortex

Question 14

Which part of the brain is involved in simple classical conditioning?

Answer 14

Amygdala and cerebellum

Question 15

What is the involvement of the hippocampus in spatial memory?

Answer 15

Allows you to be aware of your surroundings

Remember how to get home from a certain place

Question 16

What are the temporal aspects of memory?

Answer 16

Immediate to LT memory - do not need working memory in between
All of this can be forgotten

Question 17

What are the 3 types of amnesia?

Answer 17

Anterograde - new events not transferred to LT memory
Retrograde - unable to recall events which occurred before onset
Dissociative - Blocking out of critical info. (usually traumatic/stressful nature)

Question 18

What are the causes of amnesia?

Answer 18

Physical trauma, infections, drug and alcohol abuse

Question 19

What is LT Potentiation?

Answer 19

Form of synaptic plasticity

• memories formed when neurons form new connections/strengthen existing synapses
• persistent increase in synaptic strength = long lasting increase in signal transmission between 2 neurons
• repeated stimulation = more dendritic receptors appear

Question 20

What is LT depression?

Answer 20

Memory no longer needed/rarely recalled = synapses weaken

- reduction in efficacy of neuronal synapses lasting hours/longer following long patterned stimulus

Question 21

How is LT depression involved in NMDA and AMPA receptors?

Answer 21

• weakened pre-synaptic signal = only AMPA activated

- NMDA channels remain closed as spore blocked by magnesium ions

Question 22

How is LT potentiation involved in NMDA and AMPA receptors?

Answer 22

• large glutamate release binding to AMPA post-synaptically
• AMPA stays open longer = greater depol
• magnesium expelled from NMDA channel
• allows calcium into cell so LTP induction
• gene transcription creates new proteins for memory formation