memory and cognition

Question 1

what is a brief summary of cognition?

Answer 1

describes the integration of all sensory information to make sense of a situation

Question 2

what is neuronal plasticity?

Answer 2

ability of central neurons to adapt their neuronal connections in response to learning experiences

Question 3

what is an association area of the brain?

Answer 3

areas which integrate information from multiple sources rather than being concerned with one specific function

Question 4

where are memories formed?

Answer 4

limbic system

Question 5

what is the cingulate gyrus involved in?

Answer 5

emotion

Question 6

what is the hippocampus involved in?

Answer 6

learning and memory

Question 7

what is the amygdala involved in?

Answer 7

emotion and memory

Question 8

what 2 lobes of the brain in particular does the limbic system have important connections with?

Answer 8

frontal and temporal lobes

Question 9

what are the parts of the limbic system?

Answer 9

hypothalamus
hippocampus
cingulate gyrus
amygdala

Question 10

what is the limbic system responsible for?

Answer 10

instinctive behaviour (sex, thirst, hunger)
also plays a role in emotive behaviour

Question 11

what is emotive behaviour driven by?

Answer 11

seeking reward or avoiding punishment

Question 12

what feelings can the reward areas of the limbic system elicit?

Answer 12

well being
euphoria
sexual arousal

Question 13

what feelings can the punishment areas of the limbic system elicit?

Answer 13

terror
anger
pain

Question 14

what are experiences that are neither rewarding or punishing termed as?

Answer 14

insignificant experiences

Question 15

what is the term given to the action of not remembering insignificant experiences?

Answer 15

habituation

Question 16

what is the limbic system responsible for with regards to memory?

Answer 16

selects what experiences are stored in memory

Question 17

what does almost all sensory imformation go through with regard to the limbic system?

Answer 17

hippocampus, which in turn relays information to other limbic system structures

Question 18

what happens to peoples long term memory when they have bilateral hippocampal damage?

Answer 18

unable to form new long term memories

Question 19

what are the differnet types of memory?

Answer 19

immediate or sensory memory
short term memory
intermediate long term memory
long term memory

Question 20

what is immediate/sensory memory?

Answer 20

memory of a few seconds, describes the ability to hold experiences in the mind for a few seconds

Question 21

what is short term memory?

Answer 21

seconds-hours
used for short term tasks such as dialing a phone number, mental arithmetic, reading a sentence. associated with reverberating circuits

Question 22

what is intermediate long term memory?

Answer 22

hours to weeks

associated with chemical adaptation at the presynaptic terminal

Question 23

what is long term memory?

Answer 23

hours - lifetime

associated with structural changes in synaptic connections

Question 24

what does short term memory depend on?

Answer 24

maintained excitation of reverberating circuits

Question 25

what type of synapses are there in a reverberating circuit?

Answer 25

all excitatory

Question 26

how can short term memories be consolidated into long term memory storage?

Answer 26

if it is deemed "significant"

Question 27

what causes amnesia?

Answer 27

if the refreshing effect of the reverberating circuit is interrupted i.e. in head trauma

Question 28

what is anterograde amnesia?

Answer 28

inability to recall events following the injury, can be short lived or permanent depending on the severity of the injury

Question 29

what is retrograde amnesia?

Answer 29

unable to remember events leading up to the injury.

Question 30

what happens if the thalamus is damaged but the hippocampus is not in regard to amnesia?

Answer 30

only retrograde amnesia presents

Question 31

what causes "strengthening" of synapses on intermediate long term memory

Answer 31

increasing calcium ion entry to presynaptic terminals

Question 32

what structural changes occur at synapses in long term memory?

Answer 32

increase in neurotransmitter release sites on presynaptic membrane increase of number of NT vesicles stored and released increase in number of presynaptic terminals

Question 33

what is long term potentiation?

Answer 33

when EPSPs in the post synaptic cells are bigger, which strengthens the synapse

Question 34

what are the two main types of long term memory?

Answer 34

declarative or explicit memory | procedural/reflexive/implicit memory

Question 35

what is declarative memory?

Answer 35

abstract memory for events (episodic memory) and for words, rules and language (semantic memory)

Question 36

where is declarative memory mainly based?

Answer 36

hippocampus

Question 37

what is procedural memory?

Answer 37

memory acquired slowly through repetition - includes motor memory for acquired motor skills such as sports

Question 38

where is procedural memory mainly based?

Answer 38

cerebellum

Question 39

what is the process called whereby short term memory is converted to long term memory?

Answer 39

consolidation - onvolves selective strengthening of synaptic connections through repetition

Question 40

how is the "significance" of a memory determined?

Answer 40

frontal cortex and its association with the reward/punishment centres in the limbic sstem assess the significance of an event in the Short term memory

Question 41

where are "coded" memories stored?

Answer 41

in the sensory and association areas of the cortex

Question 42

what does "coding" result in?

Answer 42

new memories being stored alongside other existing memories that the brain deems similar

Question 43

what 4 structures make up the papez circuit?

Answer 43

cingulate gyrus hippocampus anterior thalamus mamillary body

Question 44

what area does the papez circuit communicate during the process of consolidation?

Answer 44

frontal cortex | sensory and association areas

Question 45

where are different components of memory stored?

Answer 45

in different part of the cortex e.g. visual component in visual cortex and so on

Question 46

what is there a severe less of in alzheimers disease?

Answer 46

cholingergic neurons in the brain, including the hippocampus

Question 47

what is korsakoffs syndrome?

Answer 47

vitamin B1 deficiency which leads to damage of limbic system structures- ability to consolidate memory is impaired