Memory & cognition Flashcards

1
Q

What do association areas of the Brain do

A

integrate information from multiple sources, rather than being concerned with one specific function

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2
Q

3 key components of the brain needed for learning + memory

A

Hippocampus
Cortex
Thalamus

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3
Q

Function of hippocampus in regards to learning + memory

A

Forms memories

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4
Q

Function of cortex in regards to learning + memory

A

Stores memories

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5
Q

Function of thalamus in regards to learning + memory

A

Searches and accesses memories

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6
Q

Limbic system gives events … that is essential for memory

A

Emotional significance

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7
Q

Why is the emotional component of an event important for memory

A

the more emotion associated with the situation, the more you remember it

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8
Q

Most primitive part of the cortex / ‘old cortex’ is known as what

A

Limbic system

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9
Q

Limbic system consists of what 4 things

A

Cingulate gyrus
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus

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10
Q

What is the cingulate gyrus involved in

A

Emotion

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11
Q

What is the amygdala involved in

A

Emotion

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12
Q

Function of hypothalamus with regards to learning + memory

A

link between emotion and autonomic NS responses

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13
Q

Limbic system is responsible for what 2 types of behaviour + what drives these behaviours

A

Instinctive, e.g. thirst, sex, hunger
Emotive

Driven by seeking reward of avoiding punishment

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14
Q

Punishment areas in the limbic system those that cause

A

Terror, anger, pain

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15
Q

Reward areas of the limbic system are those that cause

A

intense feelings of well-being, euphoria and sexual arousa

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16
Q

What parts of the brain assess the significance of an event

A

Frontal cortex and its association with the reward/punishment centres in the limbic system

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17
Q

Limbic system responsible for selecting what

A

selecting what experiences are stored in memory

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18
Q

What is the sensory relay station

A

Thalamus

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19
Q

People with bilateral hippocampal damage are characterised by what (2)

A

Immediate (sensory) memory - lasts a few secs

Intact long term memory- remember things from before brain damage

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20
Q

People with bilateral hippocampal damage are in a permanent state of what

A

RETROGRADE + ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA

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21
Q

4 types of memory

A

Immediate/sensory
Short-term
Intermediate long term
Long term

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22
Q

Immediate/sensory memory lasts how long

A

Few secs

23
Q

What memories decay fastest

A

Visual

24
Q

Short term memory (or working memory) lasts how long

A

Secs - hours

25
Q

Short term memory associated with that circuits

A

Reverberating circuits

26
Q

Intermediate long term memory lasts how long

A

hours - weeks, e.g. what you did last weekend

27
Q

How is intermediate long term memory associated with chemical adaptation at the presynaptic terminal (2)

A

Chemical changes in presynaptic neurons - increasing Ca2+ entry to presynaptic terminals –> increasing neurotransmitter release

This strengthens synaptic connection of pre-and-post synaptic neuron because more neurotransmitter release means increased likelihood of exciting post synaptic neurons

28
Q

Long term memory is associated with what structural changes in synaptic connections (3)

A

Increase in neurotransmitter release sites on presynaptic membrane.

Increase in number of neurotransmitter vesicles stored and released.

Increase in number of presynaptic terminals

29
Q

What does long term potentiation involve

A

Increased amplitude in graded membrane potential (EPSP) in the post-synaptic cell
–>This “strengthens the synapse”

forms the basis of learning and memory

30
Q

Long term memory is basically a well established, well rehearsed pattern of what

A

Neuronal firing unique to that particular memory

31
Q

2 types of long term memory

A

Declarative (explicit) memory

Procedural (reflexive) memory

32
Q

Describe declarative (explicit) memory [a type of long term memory]

A

Abstract memory for events (episodic memory) + words, language (semantic memory)

33
Q

Declarative/explicit memory relies heavily on what part of brain

A

Hippocampus

34
Q

Describe procedural (reflexive) memory

A

Acquired slowly through REPETITION

Includes motor memory for acquired skills, e.g. playing tennis

35
Q

Procedural (reflexive memory) [a type of long term memory] is based mainly in what part of the brain

A

Cerebellum

36
Q

What does short term memory depend on

A

Maintained excitation from reverberating circuits

37
Q

Are synapses in a reverberating circuit excitatory or inhibitory

A

Excitatory

38
Q

If the event is deemed significant, reverberation of the short term memory results in what

A

Consolidation of the memory into long term memory storage

39
Q

If an event is deemed insignificant, the reverberation of the short term memory…

A

…fades and is not consolidated into long term memory storage

40
Q

2 types of amnesia

A

Anterograde

Retrograde

41
Q

Define retrograde amnesia (2)

A

Can’t access memory of events leading up to the injury

Although can recall events that happened a long time ago before the injury

42
Q

If only the thalamus damaged and hippocampus spared, what type of amnesia would be seen

A

Retrograde

Suggests thalamus needed for ‘searching’ our existing memory bank

43
Q

Define anterograde amnesia (2)

A

Can’t form new memories leading to an inability to recall events that happen after the injury, e.g. may not even remember a question you asked a few secs ago

But long term memories from before the event remain intact

44
Q

Destruction of hippocampus means what in regards to memories

A

Permanent inability to form new memories

45
Q

Short term memory is converted to long term memory through a process called what

A

Consolidation

46
Q

What mechanisms does consolidation involve in order to convert short term memory into long term memory (3)

A

Strengthening of synaptic connections through:

  • repetition of the reverberating circuits
  • chemical changes in presynaptic neuron
  • structural changes in synaptic connections
47
Q

How long does consolidation take (converting a short term to long term memory)

A

Hours - days

48
Q

What does coding of new memories mean

A

Means they’re stored with existing memories that the brain deems similar then they’re stored in the sensory and associated areas of the cortex

49
Q

How are memories created from sensory information

A

1) Sensory input into the somatosensory cortex and the sensory association areas
2) Info is passed onto frontal cortex which assesses significance of the event and passes the info to the limbic system
3) The sensory info then passes through the hippocampus of the limbic system which relays the info to other parts of the limbic system (papez circuit)
4) Limbic system reward/punishment centres assess the significance of the event and decides if it should be stored in memory
5) If deemed significant, this electrical activity then reverberates back to the frontal cortex then to the primary somatosensory cortex and the sensory association areas to be written into long-term memory
6) If experience still deemed significant and useful, the frontal cortex ‘GATES’ the papez circuit
7) Reverberating activity then continues between the Papez circuit, the frontal cortex, the sensory and association areas until the consolidation process of short term into long term memory is complete

50
Q

If the experience/event is deemed significant, the frontal cortex ‘gates’ what circuit + describe the components of this circuit

A

Papez circuit

  • hippocampus
  • mamillary bodies
  • anterior thalamus
  • cingulate gyrus
51
Q

Why is sleep important for memory processing

A

REM sleep is important for memory

-dreaming may enable memory consolidation, reinforce weak circuits

52
Q

If deprived of REM sleep, what can be impaired

A

Memory consolidation for complex cognitive tasks

53
Q

What is Korsakoff’s syndrome + common cause

A

chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1)

commonly caused by chronic alcoholism

54
Q

Theory behind ‘smells can ring bells’

A

Olfactory stimuli are relayed via the olfactory tract to the primary olfactory cortex where substantial connections to the amygdala and hippocampus are found

This association with the limbic system, and hippocampus in particular, explains why smells are especially powerful in evoking long-term memories