Memory and Cognition

Question 1

what process may be described as the integration of all sensory information to make sense of situation

Answer 1

cognition

Question 2

what is neuronal plasticity

Answer 2

central neurons adapting their neuronal connections in response to new experiences

Question 3

where is the primary motor cortex

Answer 3

precentral gyrus

Question 4

where is the visual cortex

Answer 4

occipital lobe

Question 5

where is the taste area of the brain

Answer 5

underneath the temporal lobe

Question 6

function on hippocampus

Answer 6

memory formation

Question 7

function of a cortex

Answer 7

memory storage

Question 8

function of thalamus

Answer 8

memory search and access

Question 9

what structures make up the limbic system

Answer 9

cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus

Question 10

where are memories formed

Answer 10

in the hippocampus

Question 11

which two parts of the limbic system are associated with emotion

Answer 11

aygdala and cingulate gyrus

Question 12

what kind of instinctive behaviours come from the limbic system

Answer 12

responses driven by rewards and avoiding punishment, such as hunger, thirst and sex

Question 13

what motivates us to learn

Answer 13

affective components: gaining rewards and avoiding punishment

Question 14

which region of the cortex assesses the significance of an event

Answer 14

frontal cortex

Question 15

what effect on memory would bilateral hippocampal damage have

Answer 15

inability to form new long-term memories (hippocampus is formation)

Question 16

what electrical mechanism is utilised by short-term memory

Answer 16

reverberating circuits

Question 17

the neurons in a reverberating circuit are excitatory/inhibitory

Answer 17

excitatory

Question 18

two types of amnesia

Answer 18

anterograde - unable to form new memories (hippocampus)

retrograde - unable to access old memories (thalamus)

Question 19

causes of amnesia

Answer 19

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

Question 20

what chemical mechanism does intermediate long-term memory utilise

Answer 20

increasing Ca+ entry (at pre-synaptic terminal) to increase neurotransmitter release so signal does no fade too fast

Question 21

what structural and chemical changes are utilised in long-term memory

Answer 21

long-term potentiation

increase pre-synaptic terminal, number of neurotransmitters stored and increased neurotransmitter release sites.
additionally increased amplitude

Question 22

two types of long-term memory

Answer 22

declarative or procedural

Question 23

what defines declarative memory

Answer 23

for specific events of learning like of words, rules or languages

Question 24

what defines procedural memory

Answer 24

it is acquired through repetition and can be motor. So skills like driving and playing instruments is this type .
INDEPENDENT OF HIPPOCAMPUS

Question 25

which type of long-term memory is independent of the hippocampus

Answer 25

procedural

Question 26

how is short-term memory changed to long term memory

Answer 26

consolidation through repetition, otherwise electrical signal fades out

Question 27

what is coding

Answer 27

new memories being stored alongside existing memories that the brain deems similar

Question 28

summarise pathway of a sensory input to long-term memory

Answer 28

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

Question 29

what vitamin in thiamin

Answer 29

B1

Question 30

what syndrome resulting from chronic alcohol abuse gives a B1 deficiency

Answer 30

korsakoff’s

Question 31

what memory process occurs through sleep

Answer 31

consolidation of short-term to long-term. If deprived of REM memory congnition and memory are impaired

Question 32

what sleep stage is reduced in alzheimers and korsakoff’s syndrome

Answer 32

REM

Question 33

what type of neurones are responsible for REM. Cholinergic or muscarinic

Answer 33

cholinergic