Memory and Cognition

Question 1

What is cognition?

Answer 1

Integration of all sensory information to make sense of a situation

Question 2

What are the three key components of learning and memory?

Answer 2

Hippocampus - formation of memories
Cortex - storage of memories
Thalamus - searches and accesses memories

Question 3

What important function does the limbic system have in memories?

Answer 3

It gives events emotional significance

Question 4

What function do the temporal and frontal have in memory?

Answer 4

They allow us to make sense of situations through learning

Question 5

What function does the hypothalamus have in memory?

Answer 5

Link between emotion and ANS responses

Question 6

Which four structures make up the limbic system?

Answer 6

Hypothalamus, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus and amygdala (assoc. with emotions)

Question 7

What is the function of the limbic system?

Answer 7

Instinctive behaviour (thirst, sex, hunger etc.) and emotive behaviour

Question 8

What feelings are associated with stimulation of the reward areas?

Answer 8

Well being, euphoria and sexual arousal

Question 9

What feelings are associated with stimulation of the punishment areas?

Answer 9

Terror, anger and pain

Question 10

What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?

Answer 10

It is central to learning and the formation of new memories

Question 11

What happens to a person’s memory if they have bilateral hippocampal damage?

Answer 11

Their immediate memory and long term memory from before the damage are intact but they are unable to form new long term memories

Question 12

Name the four different types of memories

Answer 12

Immediate/sensory
Short term
Intermediate long term memory
Long term memory

Question 13

How are short term memories maintained?

Answer 13

Excitation from reverberating circuits

Question 14

What is anterograde amnesia?

Answer 14

Inability to form new memories

Question 15

What is retrograde amnesia?

Answer 15

Cannot access more recent old memories

Question 16

How are intermediate long term memories created?

Answer 16

Chemical changes in presynaptic terminals: increasing calcium entry to presynaptic terminals which increases NT release

Question 17

How are long term memories created?

Answer 17

Structural changes at the synapse:

• Increase in NT release on presynaptic membrane
• Increase in number of NT vesicles stored and released
• Increase in the number of presynaptic terminals
• Increased amplitude in graded membrane potential in the post-synaptic cell

Question 18

What is declarative/explicit memory?

Answer 18

Abstract memory for events, words, rules and language - relies heavily on the hippocampus

Question 19

What is procedural/reflexive/implicit memory?

Answer 19

Memory acquired through repetition including motor memory and rules for learning - based mainly in the cerebellum and is independent of the hippocampus

Question 20

How are short term memories converted to long term memories?

Answer 20

Consolidation: selective strengthening of synaptic connections through repetition

Question 21

What is a Papez circuit?

Answer 21

Reverberating activity between the frontal cortex, sensory and association areas

Question 22

What happens to memory in Korsakoff’s Syndrome (chronic alcoholism)?

Answer 22

Vitamin B1 deficiency leads to damage of the limbic system - ability to consolidate memory is impaired

Question 23

What happens to memory in Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 23

Severe loss of cholinergic neurons throughout the brain including the hippocampus - gross impairment of memory

Question 24

What happens to memory in those deprived of REM sleep?

Answer 24

Significant impairment of memory consolidation for complex cognitive tasks