Week 2 Brain function: Objective 5: Storage formation of short term and long term memory

Question 1

Declarative Memory: Definition and Characteristics

Answer 1

Refers to various details of an integrated thought

a. meaning of an experience
b. memory of deductions as the result of specific experiences
c. memory of surroundings
d. memory to time relationships
e. memory of cause of experience

Question 2

Reflexive (skill) memory: definition and characteristics

Answer 2

Associated with motor neurons

Question 3

Short term memory

Answer 3

Short term:

1. exemplified by memory of a telephone number
2. Lasts as long as person thinks of number or facts

Question 4

Intermediate- to-Long term memory:

Answer 4

Intermediate- to-Long term memory:

1. Last many minutes or weeks
2. Can become long term memory if memory traces are activated enough

Question 5

Mechanism for Facilitation

Answer 5

1. Studied in Aplysia
2. Stimulation of facilitatory presynaptic terminal at the same time the sensory terminal is stimulated causes facilitator to release serotonin at facilitator synapse
3. Serotonin receptors in sensory terminal membrane activate adenyl cyclase –> cAMP
4. cAMP activates part of a potassium channel
5. Potassium channel is blocked for minutes to weeks
6. Lack of potassium conductance causes greatly prolonged action potential in synapse terminal
7. prolonged activation causes prolonged activation of calcium channels
8. prolonged activation of calcium channels prolongs transmitter release

Question 6

Mec. for Facilitation (truncated version)

Answer 6

1. Stim of facilitator presynaptic terminal @ the same time as sensory terminal stimulated —> facilitator synaptic terminal releases serotonin
2. Serotonin activated adenly cyclase
3. adenyl cyclase + AMP –> cAMP
4. cAMP + potassium channel —-> K channel activated
5. K channels blocked
6. Prolonged K channel blockage —> prolonged action potential
7. prolonged action potential —> prolonged calcium channels
8. prolonged calcium channels —> prolonged neurotransmitter release

Question 7

Long term memory (structural changes)

Answer 7

1. increase in vesicle release sites for secretion of transmitter substance
2. increase in number of transmitter vesicles released
3. increase in number of presynaptic terminals
4. changes in structures of dendrites