Memory and The Brain & Encoding - Chapter 7

Question 1

How are Memories Stored?

Answer 1

• Long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus
  facilitates memory formation
• Consolidation
• Cross-cortical storage

Question 2

Consolidation

Answer 2

The process of converting short-term memories into long-term memories in the brain

Question 3

Cross-cortical storage:

Answer 3

Long-term memories stored in structures that participated in original experience

Question 4

Lessons from Amnesiacs

Answer 4

• Henry Molaison (H.M.)
  (1926-2008)
• 1953 - Bilateral medial
  temporal lobectomy to
  treat severe seizures

Question 5

Retrograde Amnesia (BEFORE INJURY)

Answer 5

Inability to remember what was already known at the onset of amnesia

Question 6

Anterograde Amnesia (AFTER INJURY)

Answer 6

inability or limited ability to form new memories after the onset of amnesia

Question 7

Assessing H.M.

Answer 7

• Deficits in:
  
  • Digit span + 1 test
  • Corsi block-tapping test
  • Episodic recall
• No Deficits in:
  
  • Classical conditioning
  • Remote memory
  • Mirror drawing test
  • Incomplete pictures test

Question 8

The Oversimplification of H.M.’s Case

Answer 8

• More than hippocampus removed in H.M.
• Hippocampus does not work in isolation
  
  • Part of larger circuitry with surrounding areas, such as the amygdala/limbic system to incorporate emotion

Question 9

Maintenance Rehearsal(Ineffective Encoding)

Answer 9

Prolonging exposure to
information by repeating it

Question 10

How to Effectively Encode

Answer 10

• Shallow Processing vs. Deep Processing
• Elaborative rehearsal

Question 11

Elaborative Rehearsal (Effectively Encode)

Answer 11

A strategy of focusing on meaning and connecting to-be remembered information with other
information already stored in memory

Question 12

Depth of Processing

Answer 12

• A list of 24 words, read one at a time (e.g., basket)
  -Three types of Instructions:
  
  1. Written in capital letters?
  2. Does it rhyme with “gasket”?
  3. Does it fit in this sentence?:
     The girl placed the _______
     on the table

Question 13

Incidental vs Intentional Learning

Answer 13

• A list of 24 words, read one at a time (e.g., basket)
• Four types of instructions:
  
  1. Explicit learning
     (Learn the word)
  2. Implicit learning
     (Find the “e”)
  3. Implicit learning
     (Count the letters)
  4. Implicit learning
     (How pleasant?)

Question 14

Self-Reference and Survival Processing Effect

Answer 14

• Information related to oneself and one’s well-being more easily remembered
• Emotions enhance attention and facilitate deep processing
• Flashbulb memories
  
  • Same decline in memory as ‘normal’ memories
  • Differences in beliefs of
    accuracy
  • Stress hormones enhance short-term recall, impair long-term memory