Memory Flashcards
(21 cards)
Declarative memory aka
explicit
Non-declarative memory aka
implicit
Declarative memory includes
episodic - events
semantic - facts
Describe declarative memory
Consciously aware of it/remembering
Able to describe in words
Example: what is that
Non-declarative memory includes
procedural - motor skills you can do without thinking
conditioned
-associative (Pavlog’s dog)
-emotional
Working memory is
Combining sensory memory with stored memory to produce a new thought – a functional description of people using their stored memory.
How long doe short term memory last and how many items can you remember
lasts ~30secs-1min
7 items +/- generally, after than it’s a one in/one out scenario
The process of consolidation has what function
Making short term memories long term memories
What is important for consolidation
sleep
Parts of the brain involved in declarative memory
Input > Hippocampus > hypothalamus > thalamus > neocortex
emotion - requires amygdala
Parts of the brain involved in non-declarative memory
supplementary motor cortex (SMA)
basal ganglia
cerebellum
emotion - requires amygdala
Neuroplasticity is
the ability of neurones to makes changes to neurotransmission and synaptic structure
A change in neurotransmission to give a greater EPSP is called
long term potentiation
How does LTP come about
“neurones that fire together wire together”; if all neurones fire at the same time (or at a high frequency) they cause some change in synaptic activity which persist over time
Neurotransmitter critical for long term potentiation
glutamate
Receptors in long term potentiation
AMPA
NMDA
NMDA receptors conduct
Ca
NMDA receptors will only open when
only when glutamate is bound AND the membrane is depolarised enough to displace the Mg2+ block
How does activation of NMDA receptors cause LTP (as opposed to AMPA)
NMDA activation > Ca entry into post-synaptic cell
> Protein kinases activated (CAMKII & PKC)
> change in gene expresion (more AMPA)
> enhance activity of AMPA (phosphorylation)
How synaptic structure changes following LTP
post-synaptic dendritic spines sprout and form new synapses with axons - so 1 axon now has multiple synapses with a post-synaptic neuron
The ion AMPA channels let through
Na
