Week 4 (Chapter 25, 27, 31)

Question 1

What is the core purpose of both memory and attention?

Answer 1

To guide adaptive behaviour in a flexible way that takes into account what is relevant within a given context

Question 2

In guiding flexible and adaptive behaviour, memory provides _______ and attention _______

Answer 2

• the informational content

- prioritizes and selects what is likely to be important

Question 3

Memory cells are more active when _____

Answer 3

Their preferred stimulus is held in mind

Question 4

What do descriptive models do?

Answer 4

Characterize cognitive processes at the group level

Question 5

What do predictive models do?

Answer 5

Forecast behaviour for individuals

Question 6

What is the network neuroscience perspective?

Answer 6

Sees the brain regions as nodes, and interactions between them can either be structural or functional

Question 7

Graph theoretical approaches have shown that ____

Answer 7

Human brain networks show features common to other complex systems

Question 8

What is connectome-based predictive modelling?

Answer 8

Identifies functional connections related to behaviour in a group of people, and examines the strength of these connections in new individuals to predict their behaviour

Question 9

The activation of neurons during the use of working memory is _____

Answer 9

Scattered across brain regions

Question 10

Whag is the bump attractor model?

Answer 10

Neurons are arranged around a ring according to their selectivity - causing recurrent connections and a “bump” of activity

Question 11

What are two potential ways to optimize working memory?

Answer 11

• chunking

- executive control

Question 12

Is it possible to have a “control” brain with absolutely no biases?

Answer 12

No

Question 13

What are some examples of instincts in the brain?

Answer 13

• grasping and plantar reflexes
• perception of emotion on faces
• acquiring language

Question 14

What is a major factor in shaping the continuum of information storage in the brain?

Answer 14

long-term environmental stability

Question 15

What did Karl Lashey search for?

Answer 15

Engrams in rodents

Question 16

What do grid, place, and time cells do?

Answer 16

• Grid cells - map space via cell lattice
• Place cells - active in learned locations
• Time cells - track task sequence locations

Question 17

How does the hippocampus map experience?

Answer 17

1. Intrinsic sequence generation
2. Dynamic connectivity
3. Prediction and error-driven learning
4. Spatiotemporal scaffold
5. Context-specific coding

Question 18

What does the term “attention” encompass?

Answer 18

• selection and enhancement of relevant information
• inhibition of distraction
• the maintenance of vigilance over time

Question 19

Working memory requires ____ activity, but has distributed processes in _____

Answer 19

• Prefrontal cortex

- The parietal and sensory cortex

Question 20

What is short-term synaptic plasticity?

Answer 20

Temporary synaptic reweightings biased towards presently relevant information

Question 21

What is a possible mechanism for working memory?

Answer 21

Phase-amplitude coupling of neural synchrony

Question 22

What are the two components of working memory content control?

Answer 22

• Distractor suppression correlates with capacity

- Selection reprioritizes items currently stored in working memory

Question 23

What is the prospective function of working memory?

Answer 23

Task demands bias working memory towards specific features

Question 24

What is the retrospective function of attention?

Answer 24

Attention can be directed to the contents of working
memory itself in order to “retroactively” predict
task-relevant demands

Question 25

The functional connectivity of the brain resembles a ______ network and structurally resembles a ______ network

Answer 25

• scale-free

- small world

Question 26

What is the three-component model of attention?

Answer 26

• Alerting
• Orienting
• Executive networks

Question 27

What type of network is associated with internal attention?

Answer 27

Default mode network

Question 28

What are two predictive models of attention?

Answer 28

• distractor suppression

- sustained attention

Question 29

How does the distractor suppression model of attention work?

Answer 29

Distractor suppression is predicted by within-DMN connectivity and DMN-to-other-network connectivity

Question 30

How does the sustained attention model work?

Answer 30

• connectome-based predictive modelling

- groups of individuals are tested using a performance task, then the models are applied to novel individuals