memory

Question 1

what is memory

Answer 1

ability to store information from past experience and retrieve it

Question 2

what does having memories cause (2)

Answer 2

1. consciously recollect things
2. changes in behavior

Question 3

what is learning

Answer 3

processes through which new information is acquired by cns

Question 4

what is equivalent of learning in brain

Answer 4

plasticity

Question 5

habituation vs sensitization

Answer 5

habituation -> learning to ignore novel stimulus (lose reflex)
sensitization -> heightened response when paired with harmful stimulus (reflex becomes better)

Question 6

cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning (2)

Answer 6

1. long term sensitization
2. long term habituation

Question 7

molecular changes of learning (2)

Answer 7

1. structure in presynaptic terminals changes
2. functional effectiveness of preexisting synapse changes

Question 8

what is declarative/explicit memory

Answer 8

memory of semantics (facts/concepts) and episodic memory (events)

Question 9

what is nondeclarative/implicit memory (4)

Answer 9

1. priming
2. associative learning (conditioning)
3. procedural memory (motor learning like riding a bike)
4. nonassociative learning: habituation and sensitization

Question 10

qualitative categories of memory classification (2)

Answer 10

1. declarative/explicit memory
2. nondeclarative/implicit memory

Question 11

temporal categories of memory classification (3)

Answer 11

1. immediate (sensory memory) -> ~ 1s
2. stm (working memory) -> s to min
3. ltm -> days to years

Question 12

what helps consolidate stm to ltm

Answer 12

sleep

Question 13

what information is found in working memory

Answer 13

information relevant to achieve a goal

Question 14

limitations of working memory (2)

Answer 14

1. duration
2. capacity

Question 15

what is working memory pertinent for (2)

Answer 15

1. language reasoning
2. problem solving

Question 16

brain circuits involved in working memory (3)

Answer 16

1. phonological loop -> broca and wernicke’s area to pfc
2. visuo-spatial sketch pad -> occipital lobe to pfc
3. episodic buffer (perceptual processing) -> parietal lobe to pfc (and vice versa)

Question 17

what is consolidation

Answer 17

progressive stabilization of memories that follows initial encoding of memory ‘traces’ through conscious or unconscious rehearsal or practice

Question 18

what is an engram

Answer 18

physical embodiment of any memory in neural machinery: changes in efficacy of synaptic connections, growth or reording of connections

Question 19

where is the engram

Answer 19

cortex

Question 20

where are memory traces

Answer 20

hippocampus

Question 21

what leads to persistence of memories at the cellular level

Answer 21

changes in protein synthesis and other mechanisms of synaptic plasticity

Question 22

where do memories go to be consolidated

Answer 22

from hippocampus to cortex

Question 23

what does priming do

Answer 23

changes processing of 2nd stimulus due to previous encounter with the same or related stimulus

Question 24

what does priming show us

Answer 24

importance of association

Question 25

priming in schizophrenic patients

Answer 25

associations not as strong so priming doesn't really work

Question 26

things that enhance memory span (3)

Answer 26

1. associating 2. giving meaningful context to meaningless items 3. motivation

Question 27

classical conditioning vs operant conditioning

Answer 27

classical -> pair normal trigger with unrelated stimulus (repeated association), eventually unrelated stimulus elicits response operant -> increasing behavioral response by associating response with reward

Question 28

which type of conditioning is (a) passive, (b) active

Answer 28

(a) classical (b) operant

Question 29

what do we forget (2)

Answer 29

1. things with no particular importance 2. unused or unrehearsed memories over time

Question 30

pathological process of forgetting

Answer 30

amnesia

Question 31

types of amnesia

Answer 31

retrograde -> can't remember things that happened before anterograde -> can't form new memories (like blackout from alcohol)

Question 32

brain structures that have role in establishing new declarative memories (2)

Answer 32

diencephalic and medial temporal lobe structures

Question 33

brain systems/structures underlying memories (3)

Answer 33

1. diencephalic and medial temporal lobe structures 2. hippocampus and amygdala 3. limbic system

Question 34

part of the limbic system in hippocampus (3)

Answer 34

1. parahippocampal gyrus 2. entorhinal cortex 3. perirhinal cortex

Question 35

subcortical connections to thalamus and mamillary bodies

Answer 35

hippocampus and amygdala

Question 36

patient hm (3)

Answer 36

1. had epilepsy 2. removal of temporal lobe bilaterally 3. epilepsy cured, but anterograde amnesia

Question 37

what did patient hm lose (3) and what was preserved (2) (in terms of memory)

Answer 37

1. recollection of early memories preserved (because already in cortex, not in hippocampus anymore) 2. recollection of having met dr. milner lost 3. capacity to encode new events and facts lost 4. procedural memory preserved 5. recollection of having learned motor skill (not acquired before lesion) lost

Question 38

conclusion from patient hm's memory performances

Answer 38

different brain systems underlie different aspects of memory

Question 39

medial temporal structures involved in … of … memories

Answer 39

encoding and consolidating declarative memories

Question 40

role of medial temporal structures in procedural and ltm memories

Answer 40

procedural and ltm independent from medial temporal structures

Question 41

what does activation of hippocampus and adjacent cortex predict

Answer 41

memory performance

Question 42

what does the quality of encoding depend on

Answer 42

structural and functional changes of neural connections as a result of experience

Question 43

what brain area is relevant for remembering

Answer 43

posterior hippocampus

Question 44

what cells make up the brain's gps

Answer 44

place cells and grid cells

Question 45

location of place cells and grid cells

Answer 45

place cells -> hippocampus grid cells -> entorhinal cortex

Question 46

what are place cells and grid cells

Answer 46

place cells -> neurons that fire when animals traverse specific locations grid cells -> neurons that fire when rat was in different parts of the arena that formed a hexagon (fires for 6 different places)

Question 47

how can brain navigate

Answer 47

combination of place and grid cells maps location in relation to other things

Question 48

what system does procedural learning depend on

Answer 48

motor system

Question 49

procedural learning is affected in (2)

Answer 49

1. parkinson's 2. huntington's

Question 50

where is ltm stored

Answer 50

cerebral cortex

Question 51

which areas of cortex is semantic memory stored in (not hippocampus)

Answer 51

areas in cortex that were activated when encoding object (when saw the thing)

Question 52

forms of ltm (2)

Answer 52

1. implicit (nondeclarative) 2. explicit (declarative)

Question 53

brain region involved in (a) priming, (b) procedural learning (not motor system), (c) emotional response of conditioning, (d) skeletal musculature response of conditioning, (e) habituation & sensitization

Answer 53

(a) neocortex (b) striatum (c) amygdala (d) cerebellum (e) reflex pathways