Memory - Chapter 7 Flashcards
Learning and Memory
Learning is the process of acquiring new information, while memory refers to the persistence of learning in a state that can be revealed at a later time (Squire, 1987).
Memory
A system that encodes, stores and retrieves information.
Can be defined as ‘the retention of information’
Not static and can change over time
Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
The brain takes essentially meaningless information and turns it into meaningful patterns.
Memories of different types of experiences are stored in different brain regions
Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory - Synaptic Changes
Neural basis for change in the brain during memory storage is in the synapses.
Memories begin as impulses traveling through the brain circuits, leaving a semi-permanent trace.
The more a memory is utilized, the more potential strength that neuron has, called long-term potentiation.
Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)
The gradual strengthening of the connections among neurons from repetitive stimulation
Long-lasting increase in efficiency of neural transmission at synapses.
Basis for learning and memory at neuronal level.
LTP common in Hippocampus
Plays a key role in forming memories
Donald Hebb Neuroscience - Brain and Behaviour
Examined how cells in the brain change over the course of learning
When brain cell consistently stimulates another cell, metabolic and physical changes occur to strengthen the relationship
Hebb’s Law
“Neurons that fire together, wire together”
Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory Hippocampus and Amygdala
Two parts of the brain are involved in memory are the hippocampus and the amygdala – both in the Midbrain.
Hippocampus involved in a process called consolidation.
The amygdala plays a role in strengthening memories that have strong emotional connections.
Biology of Memory Deterioration
Usually begin to show some declines after 65, but not always
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most frequent cause of dementia (50-60% of cases)
Show memory and language losses, consistent with cortical loss
Multistore Model - Three Types of Memory
- Sensory store: holds raw sensory information from senses
- Short-term store (STS): stimuli retained for several seconds
- Long-term store (LTS): examined information stored for future use
Sensory Memory
Sensory memory is the shortest memory
Information enters the sensory memory and is held for a brief time
Sperling’s test
Sperling flashed a group of lettes for 1/20 of a second
People could recall only half of the letters
When he signaled to recall a particular row immediately after the letters disappeared with a specific tone, people could do so with near-perfect accuracy
Short-term Memory
Memory system that retains information for limited durations
Very brief, 5-20 seconds
STM in adults is 7 pieces of information
Interference With STM
Lose information in STM due to two different processes
1. Decay – fades over time
2. Interference – loss of information due to competition with other information
Long-Term Memory (LTM)
Relatively enduring store of information
Includes facts, experiences, and skills that we’ve developed over time
May last decades or a lifetime (perma-store)
Long-term memory errors tend to be semantic (meaning- related) whereas short-term memory errors tend to be acoustic
