Memory and Cognition Flashcards
what process may be described as the integration of all sensory information to make sense of situation
cognition
what is neuronal plasticity
central neurons adapting their neuronal connections in response to new experiences
where is the primary motor cortex
precentral gyrus
where is the visual cortex
occipital lobe
where is the taste area of the brain
underneath the temporal lobe
function on hippocampus
memory formation
function of a cortex
memory storage
function of thalamus
memory search and access
what structures make up the limbic system
cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus
where are memories formed
in the hippocampus
which two parts of the limbic system are associated with emotion
aygdala and cingulate gyrus
what kind of instinctive behaviours come from the limbic system
responses driven by rewards and avoiding punishment, such as hunger, thirst and sex
what motivates us to learn
affective components: gaining rewards and avoiding punishment
which region of the cortex assesses the significance of an event
frontal cortex
what effect on memory would bilateral hippocampal damage have
inability to form new long-term memories (hippocampus is formation)
what electrical mechanism is utilised by short-term memory
reverberating circuits
the neurons in a reverberating circuit are excitatory/inhibitory
excitatory
two types of amnesia
anterograde - unable to form new memories (hippocampus)
retrograde - unable to access old memories (thalamus)
causes of amnesia
traumatic brain injury
stroke
encephalitis from viral infection such as herpes simplex
encephalitis from autoimmune or cancer response
brain hypoxia - MI, respiratory distress, CO poisoning
alcohol abuse –> thiamin deficiency
brain tumours
alzheimers
what chemical mechanism does intermediate long-term memory utilise
increasing Ca+ entry (at pre-synaptic terminal) to increase neurotransmitter release so signal does no fade too fast
what structural and chemical changes are utilised in long-term memory
long-term potentiation
increase pre-synaptic terminal, number of neurotransmitters stored and increased neurotransmitter release sites.
additionally increased amplitude
two types of long-term memory
declarative or procedural
what defines declarative memory
for specific events of learning like of words, rules or languages
what defines procedural memory
it is acquired through repetition and can be motor. So skills like driving and playing instruments is this type .
INDEPENDENT OF HIPPOCAMPUS
which type of long-term memory is independent of the hippocampus
procedural
how is short-term memory changed to long term memory
consolidation through repetition, otherwise electrical signal fades out
what is coding
new memories being stored alongside existing memories that the brain deems similar
summarise pathway of a sensory input to long-term memory
sensory input –> to frontal cortex to assess significance –> papez circuit of limbic system –> significant –> back to frontal cortex –> to sensory and association areas –> written into long term memory.
Continues of cycle of reassessing and rewriting until deemed irrelevant
what vitamin in thiamin
B1
what syndrome resulting from chronic alcohol abuse gives a B1 deficiency
korsakoff’s
what memory process occurs through sleep
consolidation of short-term to long-term. If deprived of REM memory congnition and memory are impaired
what sleep stage is reduced in alzheimers and korsakoff’s syndrome
REM
what type of neurones are responsible for REM. Cholinergic or muscarinic
cholinergic
