Module 1 - Biological bases and memory Flashcards
What is a memory?
storage and retrieval of information
Episodic memory
the collection of past personal experiences that occured at a particular time and place
Semantic memory
the recollection of ideas, concepts and facts
- general knowledge
autobiographical memory
the memory for events and facts related to one’s personal life story
- a combination of episodic and semantic memory
emotional memory
emotion-memory interactions (emotional response to memory recollection)
- often important in episodic memory
3 main components of memory
1) encoding
2) storage
3) retrieval
Encoding
the processing of information so that it can be stored
Storage
creation of a trace of this information within the nervous system
Retrieval
the process of getting information out of memory storage
sensory memory
A type of storage that holds sensory information for a few second or less
- this occurs before information becomes stored in the short term memory
serial position effect
our tendency to recall best the last and first items on the list
Primacy effect
tendency to recall the first terms of list
Recency effect
tendency to remember words at the end of the list especially well
Short term memory
activated memory that holds a few item briefly before the information is stored or forgotten
long term memory
the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills and experiences
Working memory
a newer understanding of short term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual spatial information, and of information retrieved from long term memory
congruent idea
occurs when combining two different phrases but complement each other so it makes sense
elaboration
the process by which the subject organizes and relates new information to material that is already held in long term memory
depth of processing
the idea that information that is thought about at a deeper level is better remembered
- shallow: e.g. sound, shape
- deep: meaning (semantic structure)
elaborative encoding
the process of actively relating new information to knowledge that is already in the memory
schema
a mental framework-an organized pattern of thought - about some aspect of the world
- helps organise and encode details you read about
semantic network
a series of ideas that are linked together because of their meanings
Retrogade amnesia (H.M)
an inability to retrieve information form one’s past
anterograde amnesia
an inability to form new memories
consolidation
A hypothetical process involving the gradual conversion of information into durable memory codes stored in long memory
encoding retrieval context
A study which is associated with the environment of encoding information from a location then retrieval of the information in the same conditions and location and will result in a much better performance
Habits formation
is a process by which behavioral control shifts from goal dependence to context dependence
implicit memory (procedural)
conditioned associations and knowledge of how to do something
- memory is demonstrated through action
explicit memory (declarative)
memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and “declare”
Trace decay theory of forgetting
if a person does not access and use a memory, the memory trace will weaken or decay over time and will be less available for later retrieval
Forgetting due to interference
forgetting is due to the presence of other information interfering with retrieval or storage
retroactive interference
the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information
proactive interference
the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information
Spatial summation
if 2 input occurs at the same time, then the pulse activity (graded potential) that comes down this branch can add together
Temporal summation
2 inputs arriving closely together in time and adding on top of each other
Agonist
drugs that binds to the receptor of the cell and trigger a response to that cell (mimics a neurotransmitter)
Indirect agonist
drugs that doesn’t mimics the natural neurotransmitter but enhances transmission across synapse perhaps by increasing the release of natural neurotransmitter or changing the way it bind into a receptor or by letting it sit longer at the synaptic cleft to change the reuptake
Antagonist
Drugs that block or suppress agonist-mediated responses
Can be done by:
- reducing the amount of neurotransmitter
- reducing the release by blocking the receptors so that the neurotransmitter can’t bind with them
Acetylcholine
a neurotransmitter that is involved in memory formation (levels of ach in the brain will modulate how much we remember)
Dopamine
flight or fight response (sympathetic)
Serotonin
- involves in modulation of mood
- common drugs to treat depression (SSRI)
Glutamate
- involves in processing of cognitive processes
- involves when nervous system wants to transmit information quickly
Sensory store
this is an area where George sterling concluded that retain information before it goes into the short term memory storage
Differentiate between short term memory and working memory
Working memory is related to short term memory, but it lasts longer and is involved in the manipulation of information
Judgement of Atkinson and Shiffrin Muti-store model with short term memory
short term memory holds amount of information for short periods of time with relatively little processing. It is a urinary system which means that it is a single system (or store) without any subsystems
Priming
even though people do not explicitly remember seeing the priming word, their nervous system has been implicitly affected by it
Temporal Lobe Amnesia
- short term memory is intact
- long term episodic memory is disrupted
- but semantic memory is intact
- priming is spared
- habits formation are intact
What are the different types of procedural or implicit memory?
- skill learning
- habits
- priming
- conditioning
Memory distortion: suggestibility
this idea suggest that memories of information can be easily manipulated and altered when some source of additional information is provided to them
e.g. adding details to a memory that was not originally part of the actual memory
Reconsolidation
event of a memory that has been stored for a long time, this could be manipulated and new experiences can be incorporated in that memory
Memory prone to distortion
when pulling memory of events that occured years ago, we are pulling it using our current knowledge to interpret. That memory was initially base prior knowledge and prior schema, we are using our current schema to interpret that information
Pareidolia
a condition which an individual has a tendency to see meaning within objects (e.g. faces on objects)
Graded potential
occurs when a ligand open a ligand gated ion channel in the dendrites, allowing the entry of ions into the cell
synapse
a special junction which neurons used to communicate
neurotransmitters
a special chemical released from the presynaptic terminal when an action potential arrives
- these are chemicals that bind to receptors and activates channels for ion ion to flow into cells and result to changes in ion flux in the membrane
The 5 processes of the neurotransmitter
1) synthesis
2) storage
3) release
4) binding
5) reuptake
Deep Brain Stimulation
often used as a treatment for neurological disorders such as parkinson’s disease
- turns on neurons in the electrodes and causing them fire
Intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS)
activates neurons in the brain which has axons that releases dopamine
- appears to produce a pleasurable effect in animals (including humans)
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)
contains cell bodies with axons that project into the nucleus accumbens up into the prefrontal cortex and release dopamine
Reflex
the simplest behavior-producing network
The reflex
a simple automatic response to a stimulus
What neurons control muscle movements?
alpha neurons (lower motor neurons)
An increase in synaptic strength could be mediated by:
- an increase in neurotransmitter release
- an increase in postsynaptic response
- an increase in synaptic connections between neurons
What does experience do to the brain?
experience which is likely to lead to memory formation changes the structure of the brain
- changes in structure includes a change in synaptic connectivity
- however changes in synapse are , in turn, associated with better memory and learning capabilities
sleep propensity
the readiness to transit from wakefulness to sleep, or the ability to stay asleep if already sleeping
Wake maintenance zone
during this zone there is a a decrease in propensity which was or could be a result for evolution for survival
e.g. ancestors needs to gather food and hunt to eat before sleeping
circadian cycle
during the sleep-wake cycle there is a change in hormone levels
- melatonin levels are low in the morning and peak high during night time
Actogram (black lines)
represents one 24 hour period of activity
Free running period
the length of time it takes for an organisms endogenous rhythm to repeat in the absence of environmental cues
- causes shifts in the circadian rhythm
Pineal gland
this is the area of the brain that releases hormone melatonin at night time
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
the brain core region which controls the sleep cycle
Melatonin hormone release
the nucleus gland connects to a pineal gland which releases the hormone called melatonin at night under the control of the SCN
Zeitgeber
an environmental cue that entrains an organisms biological rhythm
Melanopsin receptors
- located below the retina as they are photosensitive
- these receptors sents information through to the SCN, which drives the body to function the SCN
Energy conservation theory - sleep
sleep forces us to conserve energy at time when we could be relatively inefficient at searching for food
Energy metabolism
- this is decrease by 10% in humans during sleep due to decrease in body temperature and caloric demand
What are the predictions of a recuperation theory?
a) sleep deprivation should produce physiological and psychological disturbances
b) these disturbances should get worse as deprivation continues
c) after deprivation much of sleep debt will be recovered
Wy is sleep essential?
Plays a major role in muscle growth, tissue repair, protein synthesis and growth hormone release occur mostly during sleep
Studies suggestion: Diekelmann and Born (2010), Rasch et al (2007)
these studies suggests that:
- Decalrative memory is enhances by early or SWS rich sleep
- procedural memory is enhance by late or REM-rich sleep
Importance of REM sleep for infants?
important for procedural units
- this is when babies start learning things so require long hours of rest
What is the percentage of REM sleep does adults and infants spent across lifespan?
Adults
- about 20%
Infants
- about 50%
hypnagogia
involuntary spontaneous dream like experiences that incorporate recent wake experience
Hippocampal cells?
encode experience
sleep spindle?
predicts memory
where is experience encoded?
in the hippocampus
