brains in memory Flashcards
(21 cards)
brain areas involved LTM Storage
- No single brain structure is responsible for memory.
- memory is the result of the interaction of a number of brain areas working simultaneously.
- diff areas of the brain responsible for the formation and storage of different types of memory.
Hippocampus & STM
-The hippocampus is in the medial temporal lobe (underneath the temporal lobe area of the cerebral cortex.)
- part of the limbic system of the brain includes hippocampus, amygdala and cingulate gyrus
- hippocampus is seen to be centre for STM BCS heavily involved in **FORMING AND ENCODING **new EXPLICIT (declarative) memories.
Hippocampus & Memory Formation
hippocampus has direct neural connections to a number of brain areas involved in memory.
The hippocampus receives information from areas of the cerebral cortex - have initially processed stimuli. - - then integrates this info to form single multi-faceted memory as opposed to a collection of separate memories.
Hippocampus & Memory Formation pt2
- hippocampus receives info about emotions generated by particular event from amygdala and integrates this into a memory w/ a emotional attachments (normally a episodic memory)
- does NOT appear to be involved with FORMATION or STORAGE of implicit memory.
Hippocampus & Memory Storage and Consolidation
- hippocampus important role in consolidation of memories - this process transfers information from the STM to LTM
- hippo acts as ;switching station’ - where new DECLARATIVE memories are passed from STM to LTM for more PERMANENT storage in relevant areas of cerebal cortex
Hippocampus & Consolidation of Memories
-CONSOLIDATION of memories takes at least 30 minutes, sometimes days or longer
- hippocampus is very active during certain sleep periods-
DAMAGE to the hippocampus
-inability to create new LTM- but older memories can be accessed
-hence hippo endoces and TEMPORARILY stores delcarative memories and then transfers them to other brain areas for LONG TERM STORAGE
-shrinkage of hippo- recessive alcohol usage
AMYGDALA
- cluster of neurons in limbic system in medial temporal lobe
- neural connections to brain stem - hippo and the cortex
- influential in forming memories of INTENSE EMOTIONAL SIGNIFICANT experience and SURVIVAL related behaviours
- enables to react to dangerous stimuli BEFORE full comprehended situation (FFF)
- pathways between amygdala and pre frontal cortex are damaged = unnecessarily react to threat in over aggressive way
what memories are the amygadala involved in?
- implict memories, conditioned emotional responses to situations
e.g if hear a sound, the amygdala assesses as threatening - u will feel distressed and form memory of the sound associated with fear
-amygdala contributes to FORMATION AND STORAGE of long term explicit memories that have an emotional attachment
Link with amygdala and hippocampus
- when the FFF is activated - release adrenalin
- then induces release of noradrenalin in amygdala- the presence of the hormone stimulates amygdala to attach MORE emotional significance to experience and signal hippo to encode and ensure LONG TERM storage of emotional details during MEMORY CONSOLIDATION process
DAMAGE to the amygdala
- may threaten physical and social survival
- unable to assess a threat APPROPRIATELY - putting at risk
- incapable of feeling appropriate emotional response or perveiveing emotional response of others = awkward social situations
BASAL GANGLIA
- role in long term IMPLICT memories involving motor skills
- STORE procedural memories of PRACTICED voluntary movments, habits.
- fluid movement
damage to BASAL GANGLIA
- people w/ parkisons disease often have damage to dopamine-producing neurons in a part of the basal ganglia
- results in motor symptoms e.g tremors, poor posture, difficultly standing and walking
- huntingtons disease- degenerative of neurons in basal ganglia = difficulties learning and remember motor skills.
CEREBELLUM
- forms parts of hind brain- region of brain responsible for lower functions that occur w/o conscious effort
- has two hemispheres and neural connections w/ other cortical structures (involve processing info at high level)
cerebellum and procedural memories
- involved in processing memories related to LEARNT motor skills and habits - STOREHOUSE for implicit procedural memories
- responsible for balance and fine control and COORDINATION of skeletal muscles used in VOLUNTARY movement
- cerebellum transmits motor info to and receives motor messages FROM cerebral cortex
damage to the CEREBELLUM
- difficult complete movements that would normal automatic e.g walking, playing musical instrument or shaking hands
- difficultly in speaking cuz the muscles int e vocal chords and windpipe and mouth for speaking will not be coordinated
cerebellum and CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
- FORMS and STORES implict memories of simple REFLEXES acquired through classical conditioning e.g associating a sound w/ impending puff of air in the eye and consequently blinking.
NEOCORTEX
- outer surface of bran - newest part of cerebral cortex ( 2-3mm thick) shares neural LINK with ALL other brain structures
- divided into TWO hemispheres - each hemi has 4 lobes that play in memory
- each lobe responsible for high cognitive processes e.g learning and memory
NEOCORTEX pt2 what memories does it form and store?
- pre- frontal cortex evaluates info send from ALL LOBES and has neural links that relay info TO and FROM hippo and amygala
- contributes to FORM SHORT term declarative memories and STORAGE of LONG term declarative memories
- comm motor info FROM motor cortex in frontal lobe to the cerebellum, involved in FORMATION and STORAGE of procedural memories.
NEOCORTEX pt3, what other lobes are involved?
- parietal lobe- processing bodily sensations and contribute memories involved in spatial thinking and ability to navigate environment
- occipital lobe- processes memories for visual info
- temporal lobe - processing auditory info and language, complex stimuli (faces and scenes)
damage to the lobes in the neocortex
- temproal lobe- difficulty rmembering and undestanding language - inability to name familiar objects, places or faces
- Wernicke’s area in the temporal lobe is damaged, people can’t remember the meaning of words or rules of language.
- right temporal lobe= impaired memory for non verbal info e.g recognising familiar faces, music and pics
