Memory And Cognition Flashcards
What is cognition
Integration of all sensory information to make sense of a situation
What 3 structures are key for learning and memory (what do they do)
Hippocampus - formation of memories
Cortex - storage of memories
Thalamus - searches and accesses memories
Which system are memories formed in
Limbic system
What is the limbic system composed of (4)
Hypothalamus (ANS response)
Hippocampus (memory)
Cingulate gyrus (emotion)
Amygdala (emotion)
How are reward and punishment central to learning
Form the affective components of sensory experiences
Motivation to learn comes from gaining a reward (passing exam) or avoiding punishment (failing an exam)
This gives a task significance (if not significant experience wont be remembered)
What is immediate or sensory memory
Describes ability to hold experiences in mind for a few seconds based on different sensory modalities (visual memories decay fastest, auditory ones slowest)
what is short-term memory
Lasts seconds - hours
Used for short term tasks such as dialling phone number, mental arithmetic, reading a sentence etc.
Associated with reverberating circuits (needs to be constantly refreshed)
What is intermediate long-term memory
Lasts hours to weeks
E.g. what you did last weekend
Associated with chemical adaptation at the pre-synaptic terminal
What is long term memory
Lifelong
E.g. where you grew up and childhood friends
Associated with structural changes in synaptic connections
What are reverberating circuits in short term memory
Reverberating circuits keeps the short term memory alive. If it is deemed significant eventually this reverberation results in consolidation of the memory into long-term memory
(If insignificant the reverberation fades)
What is amnesia (what causes it)
Disruption of the reverberating circuit e.g. following head injury or infection (especially if hippocampus involved)
Leads to memory loss
What are the 2 types of amnesia
Anterograde - cannot form new memories
Retrograde - cannot access (more recent) old memories
What is anterograde amnesia
Inability to recall events that happen after the injury (depending on severity of injury can be short lived or permanent)
Destruction of the hippocampus results in permanent inability to form new memories
What is retrograde amnesia
Can’t remember results leading up to the injury, although recollection of events that happened long time ago are unaffected
Retrograde often presents with anterograde amnesia, however if only thalamus is damaged and hippocampus is spared only retrograde amnesia is seen
How is short term memory converted to long term memory
Through consolidation- strengthening synaptic connections through repetition
(E.g. repeated recall when studying)
