Lecture 22 - KB recap and exam info Flashcards
(18 cards)
What memory impairment did patient HM show after hippocampal removal?
Severe declarative memory loss (episodic and semantic), with preserved procedural memory
How did HM demonstrate intact procedural memory?
He improved on the mirror-drawing task despite not recalling performing it
What did HM’s case prove about the hippocampus?
That it’s essential for forming new declarative memories, but not procedural learning
Why are NMDA receptors critical for memory formation?
They are necessary for Long-Term Potentiation (LTP), which underlies synaptic plasticity
What two conditions activate NMDA receptors?
- Glutamate binding
- Depolarisation (removal of Mg2+ block)
What does calcium influc through NMDA receptors trigger?
Intracellular changes that strengthen synaptic connections
Which study first demonstrated LTP’s role in memory?
Bliss & Lomo (1973): Showed high-frequency stimulation strengthens synapses
What circuit supports episodic memory?
The Papez circuit: Hippocampus -> Fornix -> Mammillary bodies -> Anterior thalamus -> Cingulate gyrus -> back to Hippocampus
What hippocampal pathway is involved in LTP?
The Schaffer collateral pathway (from CA3 to CA1 pyramidal neurons)
Which brain structure supports object memory and familiarity?
The perirhinal cortex
Which sex is more commonly diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD and ADHD?
Males
What might explain the higher prevalence of these disorders in males?
- Hormonal and structural brain differences
- Females may also be underdiagnosed due to different symptom profiles
What is cortical plasticity?
The brain’s ability to reorganise itself with experience, learning, or after injury
Which processes demonstrate cortical plasticity?
- Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)
- Sensory re-mapping
- Learning during critical periods
Why is cortical plasticity important?
It supports learning, adaptation, and rehabilitation following brain damage
Which personality trait is linked to better health outcomes?
Conscientiousness
How does intelligence contribute to health?
Thorugh better problem-solving and health literacy
How can brain connectivity be used to predict personality and intelligence?
Via connectome studies using fMRI to map brain networks
