Memory And Learning Flashcards
Where are memories stored?
In the ENGRAM. Lashley made cuts into this part of the brain to understand the connection between conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus (classical conditioning)
What is the basic process behind learning and memory involving the nerves?
Long-term potentiation - this is the lasting change at synapses that occurs when long-term memories form
What’s the difference between short-term and long-term memory?
Short-term memory has a limited capacity and when information is forgotten it is lost.
Long-term memory has an unlimited capacity and information is able to be retrieved through cues.
What is the link between the hippocampus and memory?
This is where STM are changed into LTM.
Case study: Patient had suffered with seizures so hippocampus was removed which stopped the seizures but cause damage to long term memory. No new long term memories were able to be made but short term memory wasn’t affected.
What are the three types memory?
Semantic - everyday facts such as doctors appointments etc
Episodic - sentimental memories such as wedding day
Procedural - memories of skills such as riding a bike
What is Korsakoff’s syndrome?
Korsakoff’s syndrome is when brain damage has caused amnesia. The neurons in the brain shrink and the executive functioning in the frontal lobe is affected.
Can be caused by alcohol of vitamin b1 deficiency.
What is the cause of Alzheimer’s disease?
The overproduction of the Amyloid protein in the brain, which causes it to waste away.
What are the two types of amnesia?
Anterograde - where you can’t remember memories after the amnesia
Retrograde - where you can’t remember memories before the amnesia
Who came up with the working memory model?
Baddeley and Hitch
What are episodic memory and semantic memory examples of?
Explicit memory
What is procedural memory an example of?
Implicit memory
What is the nature vs nurture debate in Alzheimer’s?
Almost all down syndrome adults will get Alzheimer’s in later life - biological?
However half of all cases have no relatives who have it. (Nature)
Nigeria has a low rate of Alzheimer’s - could this be due to their low fat/salt/calorie diet? (Nurture)
