20. Memory and amnesia Flashcards
What is meant by ‘learning’ and ‘memory’ and how are these inter-related?
Learning - A process by means of which organisms acquire new knowledge or skills
Memory - the maintenance of such learning across time
Learning and memory are both inferred from changes in behaviour
What are the different types of long term memory?
Declarative (explicit) memory
Non-declarative (implicit) memory
What is ‘declarative memory’?
Aka. episodic memory
This is the conscious, intentional, recollection of factual information, previous experiences and concepts
What are the different types of declarative memory?
Briefly describe these
Episodic memory - this is going back in time to remember personal events
Semantic memory - recalling general facts and facts about the world e.g. what is 2+2
What is ‘non-declarative memory’?
Aka. explicit memory and the most common type is procedural memory
This is memory acquired and used unconsciously - skills and behaviours e.g. how to perform a dance
This memory form is hard to report but is much easier to show to someone
What regions of the brain are involved in declarative memory?
Episodic - hippocampus, medial temporal lobe, neocortex
Semantic - lateral and anterior temporal cortex, prefrontal cortex
What regions of the brain are involved in non-declarative memory?
Procedural - striatum, cerebellum, motor cortex
Describe short term memory and how it differs to long term memory
What evidence is there to support this compared to long term memory?
Short term memory involves holding a small amount of information in the mind in an active, readily available state for a short period of time
This form is not related to learning and memory
Patients with frontal vs temporal lobe lesions - they show there is an independent way in which short term and long term memories are stored
What is spatial memory and which region of the brain is involved in this?
This is memory responsible for recording information based on one’s environment and spatial orientation
The hippocampus is involved in this - cab drivers have a larger hippocampus to normal
What is amnesia and what are the different classifications?
Amnesia is a partial or total loss of memory
Anterograde amnesia
Retrograde amnesia
Dissociative amnesia
Define anterograde amnesia
Form of amnesia where new events are not transferred to long term memory
Is a deficit in learning subsequent to the onset of the disorder
Damage to the hippocampus can result in this (Henry M)
Define retrograde amnesia
Form of amnesia where someone will be unable to recall events that occurred prior to the onset of amnesia
Define dissociative amnesia
Characterised by a blocking out of critical personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature
What can cause amnesia?
Generally due to brain injury related to physical trauma, infections, drug and alcohol abuse or reduced blood flow to the brain (vascular insufficiency)
Infections can also result - that cause damage to the brain tissue
What other diseases is memory impairment prominent in?
Neurodegenerative diseases e.g. Alzheimer’s
