Memory and Cognition Flashcards
What is neuronal plasticity?
Control neurons to adapt neuronal connections in response to learning experiences.
What are the three key components of the brain needed for learning and memory and what are their roles?
Hippocampus forms new memories
Cortex stores memories
Thalamus searches for and accesses memories
What are the four parts of the limbic system and what is their individual roles and their roles collectively?
Part of the grey matter of the brain.
Cingulate gyrus plays a part in emotion.
Hippocampus plays a part in emotion and learning.
Amygdala plays a part in emotion and memory.
Hypothalamus links emotion to the ANS.
Collectively control instinctive behaviour by using a reward and punishment system.
What is immediate/sensory memory?
It lasts a few seconds and is the ability to hold onto sensory information for a short period of time. Visual memory decays the fastest and auditory the slowest.
What is short term memory?
It lasts from seconds to hours and is usually needed to accomplish tasks before it can be forgotten. It requires reverberating circuits which need to be constantly excitated in order to maintain the memory.
What is intermediate long term memory?
It lasts from hours to weeks and is associated with chemical adaptation at the presynaptic terminal. Increasing Calcium release increases the neurotransmitters released.
What is long term memory?
Can be lifelong and is associated with structural changes in synaptic terminals.
What is anterograde amnesia?
The inability to form new memories. Cannot recall events after an incident or if the hippocampus is damaged then results in the permanent inability to form new memories.
What is retrograde amnesia?
The inability to access old memories (more intermediate long term rather than long term affected)
Can’t remember events leading up to accident. Can present as anterograde amnesia but presents only as retrograde if only thalamus is injured and hippocampus spared.
What are the two types of long term memory?
Declarative/explicit- Abstract memory for events (episodic) and for words, languages and rules (semantics). Relies heavily on hippocampus.
Procedural/reflexive/implicit- Acquired by repetition through motor skills and memory. Mainly uses the cerebellum and is independent to the hippocampus.
