learning and memory Flashcards
(23 cards)
What are the different qualitative types of memory?
Declarative memory (explicit) “knowing that”
- episodic = event based memory ‘i remember’
- semantic = fact based memory ‘ I know’
Nondeclarative memory (implicit) “knowing how”
- involve skills and associations
- not available to consciousness
- not easy to verbalise
What are the temporal categories of memory?
Working memory
- normal range 7+/-2
- works in rage of seconds -> minutes
- working memory is STM buffer that allows for the manipulation of stored information
- Has to actively maintained
- Is fragile and easily disrupted
- Has limited capacity
Long term memory
- Can store larger quantities of information for potentially unlimited duration
- Long-term memory does not have to have to be actively maintained
- Very stable once memories are made long-term they are hard to disrupt
what are all categories of memory?
Declarative:
- daily episodes
- words and their meanings
- history
Nondeclarative
- Motor skills
- Associations
- Priming cues
- Puzzle-solving skills
What are the different types of learning?
Priming creating associative learning
Conditioned learning:
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
What is conditioned learning
A form of non-declarative learning
Heavily studied by behaviourists like skinner
Can be defined as process whereby a response becomes for frequent or more predictable in a given environment as a result of reinforcement, with reinforcement typically being a stimulus or reward for a desired response
What is classical conditioning?
Modifying an existing (unconditioned) reflex by associating its normal (unconditioned) stimulus with a new unrelated (conditioning) stimulus
What is operant conditioning?
Altering the probability of a behaviour by association of the behaviour with reward / punishment
Unlike classical conditioning behaviour doesn’t have to be a natural response to the unconditional stimulus
Behaviour is altered by associating the behaviour with a reward or punishment. Unlike classical condition the behaviour that is being altered is not reflexive. Very simple form of learning, as such, forms majority of training regimes for pets and animals
What is the effect of association
Can improve memory
Over months can develop ability to remember 80 element digit strings - break up and associate subset of numbers to dates and track meetings
Ability to remember related to how much information is presented to someone
Motivation can and will increase association.
What structures are related to each type of memory?
Hippocampus: cruiccial for forming new memories, particularly declarative memories. Studies emphasise significances in spatial memory and navigation. Organises for easier retrieval.
Amygdala: Cluster of nuclei plays a vital role in emotional memory. It processes emotional responses and attaches significance to memories based on emotional weight. Particiulary important for fear-based memories
Prefrontal cortex: area of brain associated with higher cognitive function, including decision-making and social behaviour. Involved in working memory
Who was HM?
Man who suffered from grand mal seizures following a bike accident. In 1953 underwent surgery to alleviate the epilepsy (at aged 27).
Removed amygdala, uncus, hippocampal gyrus, 2/3 of anterior hippocampus removed.
What did HM help to uncover about learning and memory?
HM was no longer able to form new episodic memories due to the removal of the hippocampus
Memories of events before surgery remained intact
Perceptual ability, reasoning, abstract remained normal
Part of brain that encodes new memories and part (s) that store and retrieve memory thus must be different
Could still perform star mirror drawing task showing that hippocampus not responsible for non-declarative memory
- Similar effect with Gollin figure tasks, HM gained ability to identify gollin figures through association.
What are other cases of damage to the hippocampus
RB - hippocampus damage following ischemia during surgery (normal IQ and amnesia)
NA - fencing foil up the nose
KC - motorbike accident
How was the effect of the hippocampus tested?
Morris water maze - mice with hippocmapus found they’re way out of the maze faster but mice without hippocampus remained lost.
Shows that hippocampus contains place cells.
What are diseases of the brain that can impact on memory?
Dementia = syndrome that leads to deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday activities
Amnesia = syndrome that involves substantial difficulty learning and retaining new information
What are types of dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease
Lewy body dementia
Frontotemporal dementia
HIV dementia
Mild cognitive impairment
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Vascular dementia
What are types of amnesia
Korsakoff’s syndrome
Transient global amnesia
What occurs in alzheimer’s?
Hippocampus affected early in process
Memory loss is often one of the first symptoms reported by sufferers
Hippocampal volume is rapidly lost with disease
Loss of hippocampal volume is associated with decreasing memory deficits
What occurs in fronto-temporal dementia?
Most common form of dementia in under 60s
Memory loss is not often one of the first symptoms
Frontal cortex as well as temporal deficits
Changes to behaviour one of the first symptoms
What is Korsikoff’s disease
Form of amnesia
Associated with chronic alcoholism
Thiamine isn’t absorbed which causes damage to several parts of the brain including the mamillary bodies
Crhonic amnesia results however implicit learning is relatively observed
What occurs in acute temporal lobe epilepsy?
Focal seizures in the temporal lobe can spread across the brain
Has an acute effect on memory - means that sufferers often do not remember seizure or the event leading up to the seizure
Loss of cells in the hippocampus can lead to LTM deficits
Mechanisms of cell loss are not clear although they relate to the seizures
What is the effect of cannabis on the hippocampus?
Hippocampus has cannabinoid receptors that are stimulated by THC in cannabis
Results in the well known affect of cannabis on memory
Has been demonstrated in animal models similar to the morris water maze
What is learning
Process by which new information is acquired and integrated by the nervous system
Learning observable by changes in behaviour
What is memory
Encoding, storage and retrieval of learned information
Forgetting of transiently useful information is important
