Memory

Question 1

What brain region is essential for forming new declarative memories?

Answer 1

The hippocampus.

Question 2

What are the two main types of long-term memory?

Answer 2

Declarative (explicit) and non-declarative (implicit).

Question 3

What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?

Answer 3

A long-lasting increase in synaptic strength; considered a cellular mechanism for memory formation.

Question 4

Which neurotransmitter and receptor are involved in LTP in the hippocampus?

Answer 4

Glutamate and the NMDA receptor.

Question 5

What role does the prefrontal cortex play in memory?

Answer 5

Involved in working memory, attention, and memory retrieval.

Question 6

What is the difference between declarative and non-declarative memory?

Answer 6

Declarative: conscious recall (facts/events); Non-declarative: skills, habits, conditioning (unconscious).

Question 7

What is the role of the entorhinal cortex in memory?

Answer 7

Acts as a gateway between the hippocampus and neocortex, involved in memory consolidation and retrieval.

Question 8

What are place cells and where are they found?

Answer 8

Neurons in the hippocampus that fire in specific spatial locations — involved in spatial memory and navigation.

Question 9

What are the molecular changes in LTP?

Answer 9

NMDA activation → Ca²⁺ influx → CAMKII activation → insertion of AMPA receptors → stronger synapse.