PSY1022 WEEK 10 COG 2

Question 1

LONG-TERM POTENTIATION (LTP)

Answer 1

Gradual strengthening of the connections among neurons from repetitive stimulation.

• hippocampus, amygdala and other structures
• unsure if directly responsible for memory storage.

Question 2

ENGRAM

Answer 2

The physical trace of each memory in the brain.
- Karl Lashley.
Doesn’t exist, at least like that.

Question 3

ASSEMBLIES

Answer 3

Idea that engram is instead located in assemblies of neurons in the brain.
- Donald Hebb
Mostly right. Neurons that “fire together wire together”

Question 4

LTP AND GLUTAMATE

Answer 4

LTP tends to occur at synapses where the sending neuron releases the neurotransmitter glutamate into the synaptic cleft.

• glutamate activates postsynaptic receptors for NMDA and AMPA
• results in enhanced learning

Question 5

RETROGRADE AMNESIA

Answer 5

Loss of memories from our past.

Question 6

ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA

Answer 6

Inability to encode new memories from our experiences.

- more common than retrograde.

Question 7

GENERALISED AMNESIA

Answer 7

Loss of all memories of previous life. Very rare.

Question 8

DAMAGE TO HIPPOCAMPUS

Answer 8

Impairs explicit memory, but leaves implicit memory intact.

- factual component of memories.

Question 9

DAMAGE TO AMYGDALA

Answer 9

Can remember facts about fear-producing experience, but not the fear.
- emotional component of memories.

Question 10

EMOTIONAL MEMORY

Answer 10

Hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine are release with stress.
Stimulates protein (beta-adrenergic) receptors on nerve cells, which solidify emotional memories.
Propranolol blocks this effect of adrenaline. Can be used to dampen effects of traumatic memories.

Question 11

DEMENTIA

Answer 11

Serious loss of global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person.
- most frequent cause is Alzheimer’s (40-60%)

Question 12

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Answer 12

The most frequent cause of dementia. (40-60%)
Risk is 13% for those over 65.
42% for those over 85.
Language and memory are effected.
Memory loss begins with recent events, with distant events the last to go.
Loss of synapses and death of cells in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.
Physical activity seems to reduce incidence, as does education and intellectual activity.

Question 13

META-MEMORY

Answer 13

Knowledge about our own memory abilities and limitations. Develops during childhood.

Question 14

INFANTILE AMNESIA

Answer 14

Inability of adults to remember personal experiences that took place before and early age.
2-3 years old.
- could be because hippocamus is underdeveloped in infants.
- also no sense of self.

Question 15

FLASHBULB MEMORY

Answer 15

Emotional memory that is extraordinarily vivid and detailed.
- Sept 11, JFK assassination, etc.
But not always accurate. Neisser and Harsch.
- then called phantom flashbulb memories.

Question 16

SOURCE MONITORING CONFUSION

Answer 16

Lack of clarity about the origin of a memory.

Question 17

CRYPTOMNESIA

Answer 17

Failure to recognise that our ideas originated with someone else.

Question 18

SUGGESTIVE MEMORY TECHNIQUE

Answer 18

Procedure that encourages patients to recall memories that may or may not have taken place.
- Elizabeth Loftus.

Question 19

MISINFORMATION EFFECT

Answer 19

Creation of fictitious memories by providing misleading information about an event after it takes place.
- Elizabeth Loftus.

Question 20

SEVEN SINS OF MEMORY

Answer 20

Daniel Schacter.

• Suggestability
• Misattribution
• Bias
• Transcience
• Persistence
• Blocking
• Absentmindedness

Question 21

SHORT TERM MEMORY

Answer 21

Reverberating loops of neural activity.
Maintains neural activity for a period.
Activity decays.

Question 22

HEBBIAN SYNAPSE

Answer 22

Donald Hebb.

• use strengthens synaptic efficiency
• concurrent activity required
• pre and post synaptic neurons

Question 23

EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY

Answer 23

Less accurate when:

• observing another race
• witness has talked to other witnesses
• situation is stressful