Memory Formation Flashcards
Hippocampus
The region located deep within each temporal lobe that plays a major role in memory and learning.
Cerebellum
The structure underneath the cerebrum involved in balance, judging distance and coordination of fine motor movement.
Amygdala
A collection of nuclei deep within each temporal love that play a role in emotional responses and modulates the fear response.
Thalamus
The double-lobed structure located just above the brainstem that receives sensory information, except smell and transmits information to the cerebral cortex. Also has an influence on sleep.
Hypothalamus
The structure that sits below the thalamus and regulates sleep, eating, body temperature and sex drive. The hypothalamus also regulates the release of hormones from the pituitary gland that sits beneath it.
Pre-frontal cortex
The front layer of the frontal lobes that coordinates executive functions, such as the ability to predict the consequences of behaviours, as well as the ability to recognise and regulate emotions.
Hippocampus role in the formation of memories
Play a major role in the formation of declarative memories
Hippocampus role in the storage of memories
Memories are temporarily held in the hippocampus then moved to the pre-frontal cortex
Cerebellum role in the formation of memories
One of the brain regions that forms procedural memories
Cerebellum role in the storage of memories
Is involved in the storage of procedural memories, specifically of learned sensorimotor skills such as cutting paper with a pair of scissors.
Amygdala role in the formation of memories
Has a significant role in the formation of memories associated with fear. Such fearful memories can be established with just a few repetitions.
Amygdala role in the storage of memories
It is unlikely that the amygdala stores memories. The amygdala strengthens episodic memories stored in other regions of the brain.
Retrograde amnesia
The inability to recall past memories prior to the onset of amnesia
Anterograde amnesia
The inability to form new memories after developing amnesia
Shallow processing
This form of processing encodes physical information based on appearance, known as structural encoding and via phonemic encoding.
Deep processing
Elaborative rehearsal of information allows for deep processing because the information is encoded semantically.
Structural encoding (shallow)
Encoding of visual information such as shape, colour and size.
Phonemic encoding (intermediate)
Encoding of auditory information.
Semantic processing (deep)
Works by attaching meaning to the information and/or linking the information to knowledge currently in the long-term store.
