9.6 Flashcards
forming memories at the biological level
synapses; new memories require changes in connections that neurons make with one another
Longterm potentiation (link to dendritic branching / strengthening)
a process by which neurons become stronger with frequent activation
major process in learning (synaptic level)
Eric Kandel: the sea slug
demonstrated persistent changes in strength of synapses responsible for different types of learning (e.g. classical conditioning)
learning stimulates cascade of gene expression => produces long-term structural changes in neurons (represents memories)
how do you experimentally demonstrate LTP?
- apply rapid series of electrical pulses to one area of the nervous system
- observe the increased reactions of cells receiving input from that area
=> the activation of a neuron sending info and neuron receiving it produces changes
Working memory and the brain: how the executive processes of working memory are organized
studies of people with brain damage suggest several executive functions are managed by different parts of the frontal lobes
=> not one single central executive oversees
Declarative memories and hippocampus
- role in consolidation of semantic and location information in longterm memory
H.M case study findings with declarative memories
- his ability to form new memories was reduced => anterograde amnesia
- could master procedural task => procedural memories intact
- but he could not remember performing the task (declarative memory details)
are semantic memories widely distributed across the cerebral cortex?
they seem to be, because when researchers use brain imaging, they found that listing animals is associated w activity in the occipital lobe
=> visualize an animal’s appearance is helpful
different areas are activated when a person is accessing knowledge of:
- actions
- items that can be manipulated
- concrete concepts
- abstract concepts
What are episodic memories affected by?
- Alzheimer’s disease, more deficit in early stage compared to semantic memory deficits
- areas of temporal lobe and insula => remembering emotional personal experiences
- damage to prefrontal cortex (source amnesia)
ACh and memory
- ACh affects encoding of new information
- high levels may impair memory consolidation and retreival
- low levels, improve the transfer of info from temporary to more permanent storage
What is NMDA?
a glutamate (NT) receptor
- observed in LTP
Glutamate receptors’ role in memory
- chemicals that enhance the activity of glutamate receptors => boost memory formation as shown in a study done with rats
how can caffeine boost memory?
- it blocks adenosine, a product of ATP
- adenosine activity is implicated in the reduction of memory functioning
