Midterm 2 Flashcards
working memory
AKA short-term memory. Works with or uses information to address a particular situation or question. Lasts from a few seconds to a minute or two.
long-term memory
Systems that are capable of encoding, storing, and retrieving information over periods of time. Divided into implicit and explicit memory.
implicit memory
AKA non declarative memory. The kinds of memories you can’t demonstrate verbally that you have. Involves skills and learning that can occur without conscious awareness
explicit memory
AKA declarative memory. Information that can be consciously recalled and expressed. Divided into semantic and episodic memory
procedural memory
A type of implicit memory. Memories for how to perform skills or habits. Major brain region: striatum
priming
A type of implicit memory. Past experiences influence or increase the response to a given sensory stimulus (recognizing an incomplete drawing of an elephant as an elephant). Major brain region: cortex
classical conditioning
A type of associative learning, implicit memory. Pairs an unconditioned stimulus with an unconditioned response through a conditioned stimulus.
operant conditioning
A type of associative learning, implicit memory. Pairs a behavior with a consequence, altering the frequency of the behavior.
non-associative learning
A type of implicit memory. Long-term changes in reflex pathways in the nervous system. Includes habituation and sensitization.
habituation
Repeated exposure to the same stimulus gradually reduces the response
sensitization
The response to a stimulus increases following exposure to an especially strong stimulus
motor conditioned/skeletal responses
A type of implicit memory. Example: eye blink in response to tones predicting a puff of air. Major brain region: cerebellum
emotional conditioned responses
A type of implicit memory. Example: autonomic responses like increased heart rate. Major brain region: amygdala
semantic memory
A type of explicit memory. Memories of facts.
episodic memory
A type of explicit memory. Memories for past autobiographical events.
familiarity
A vague sense of emotional content, without accompanying context.
recollection
A complete recollection involves rich recreation of place, time, surroundings, actions, and events.
Henry Molaison
A patient who had his hippocampus removed. Was then unable to form new episodic memories (anterograde amnesia)
anterograde amnesia
The inability to form new episodic memories. Can’t remember what you’ve done.
retrograde amnesia
The inability to retrieve episodic memories of events that occurred for a certain period of time before a brain injury.
place cells
Neurons in the hippocampus that only fire when the organism is located in a particular place in its local environment.
medial temporal lobe
Major brain region for explicit memory.
spatial memory
The part of memory responsible for recording information about one’s environment and spatial orientation
place field
The region of the external environment that elicits the activity of a particular place cell when the animal enters the region
spontaneous confabulation
Happens in brain injury patients. They generate confabulations without cues, and are convinced their fantasies are real.
confabulation
Creating a shifting version of reality that does not currently exist and acting as if they believe fully in this reality