MVC - Memory

Question 1

What is the role of the medial temporal lobe in memory? (2)

Answer 1

Studies involving patients with resected medial temporal lobes (MTL) for epilepsy show:

• Profound impairment in memory for scenes, words, and faces (declarative memory).
• Preserved motor skill learning (mirror drawing).

Question 2

What types of memory are affected by Long-term memory (MTL) damage? (2)

Answer 2

MTL damage primarily affects declarative memory, which is conscious memory for facts, ideas, and experiences. This includes:

• Episodic memory: Memories of specific events (what, where, when).
• Semantic memory: General knowledge about the world (facts, concepts)

Question 3

What types of memory seem unaffected by MTL damage? (5)

Answer 3

MTL damage appears to spare:

• Non-declarative memory: Unconscious memory involving skills and habits. Examples include:
• Procedural memory (e.g., riding a bike).
• Priming (improved ability to recognize previously encountered stimuli).
• Simple classical conditioning (learned emotional responses).
• Habituation (decrease in response to repeated stimuli).

Question 4

How does priming work in memory?

Answer 4

Priming is the enhanced ability to process information due to previous exposure. It can be:

• Word priming: Recognizing a word more easily after encountering a related word.

EEG studies suggest reduced cortical activity during priming, implying faster processing

Question 5

How does the medial temporal lobe contribute to long-term memory? (3)

Answer 5

The medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, is crucial for long-term memory formation. It allows for:

• Flexible memory representations that can be used in different contexts.
• Conscious access to memories.
• Guiding behavior based on past experiences.

Question 6

How does eyeblink conditioning relate to amnesia? (3)

Answer 6

• Intact in amnesia (patients unaware of UCS/CS pairings)
• Acquired independently of awareness
• Cerebellar and brainstem lesions impair this type of conditioning

Question 7

What is the role of the amygdala?

Answer 7

The amygdala has a critical role in fear learning

Question 8

How does the prefrontal cortex modulate fear learning?

Answer 8

The prefrontal cortex can inhibit the amygdala, helping us extinguish (weaken) conditioned fear responses

• This allows us to learn that previously feared stimuli are no longer a threat.

Question 9

How do emotions influence memory consolidation?

Answer 9

Emotionally arousing events are more likely to be remembered.

• The release of stress hormones from the adrenal gland can enhance the consolidation of these memories in the forebrain through specific neural pathways

Question 10

Habit memory vs Reactive memory

Answer 10

• Habit memory is also known as procedural memory. It’s used to store information for automatic behaviors, like riding a bike.
• Reactive memory is used to store emotional responses to stimuli

Question 11

What did rats with disrupted hippocampal function and with caudate lesions show?

Answer 11

Rats with disrupted hippocampal function had trouble acquiring new, flexible behaviors but could still perform repetitive behaviors.

• This suggests that the hippocampus is important for reactive memory.

Rats with caudate lesions showed the opposite pattern. They could acquire new behaviors but had trouble performing repetitive behaviors.

• This suggests that the caudate nucleus is important for habit memory

Question 12

What do spatial strategies refer to?

Answer 12

This refers to navigating using environmental landmarks.

• For instance, you might remember a specific route because you recognize the shops you pass by along the way

Hippocampal more active during spatial strategies

Question 13

What do non-spatial strategies refer to?

Answer 13

This refers to navigating using a series of memorized actions, like a routine

• An example might be taking a specific set of turns on your way home without really paying attention to your surroundings

Striatum more active during non-spatial strategies