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Year 2 - Nervous > Memory & cognition > Flashcards

Memory & cognition Flashcards

1
Q

What do association areas of the Brain do

A

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

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2
Q

3 key components of the brain needed for learning + memory

A

Hippocampus
Cortex
Thalamus

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3
Q

Function of hippocampus in regards to learning + memory

A

Forms memories

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4
Q

Function of cortex in regards to learning + memory

A

Stores memories

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5
Q

Function of thalamus in regards to learning + memory

A

Searches and accesses memories

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6
Q

Limbic system gives events … that is essential for memory

A

Emotional significance

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7
Q

Why is the emotional component of an event important for memory

A

the more emotion associated with the situation, the more you remember it

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8
Q

Most primitive part of the cortex / ‘old cortex’ is known as what

A

Limbic system

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9
Q

Limbic system consists of what 4 things

A

Cingulate gyrus
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus

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10
Q

What is the cingulate gyrus involved in

A

Emotion

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11
Q

What is the amygdala involved in

A

Emotion

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12
Q

Function of hypothalamus with regards to learning + memory

A

link between emotion and autonomic NS responses

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13
Q

Limbic system is responsible for what 2 types of behaviour + what drives these behaviours

A

Instinctive, e.g. thirst, sex, hunger
Emotive

Driven by seeking reward of avoiding punishment

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14
Q

Punishment areas in the limbic system those that cause

A

Terror, anger, pain

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15
Q

Reward areas of the limbic system are those that cause

A

intense feelings of well-being, euphoria and sexual arousa

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16
Q

What parts of the brain assess the significance of an event

A

Frontal cortex and its association with the reward/punishment centres in the limbic system

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17
Q

Limbic system responsible for selecting what

A

selecting what experiences are stored in memory

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18
Q

What is the sensory relay station

A

Thalamus

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19
Q

People with bilateral hippocampal damage are characterised by what (2)

A

Immediate (sensory) memory - lasts a few secs

Intact long term memory- remember things from before brain damage

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20
Q

People with bilateral hippocampal damage are in a permanent state of what

A

RETROGRADE + ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA

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21
Q

4 types of memory

A

Immediate/sensory
Short-term
Intermediate long term
Long term

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22
Q

Immediate/sensory memory lasts how long

23
Q

What memories decay fastest

24
Q

Short term memory (or working memory) lasts how long

A

Secs - hours

25
Short term memory associated with that circuits
Reverberating circuits
26
Intermediate long term memory lasts how long
hours - weeks, e.g. what you did last weekend
27
How is intermediate long term memory associated with chemical adaptation at the presynaptic terminal (2)
Chemical changes in presynaptic neurons - increasing Ca2+ entry to presynaptic terminals --> increasing neurotransmitter release This strengthens synaptic connection of pre-and-post synaptic neuron because more neurotransmitter release means increased likelihood of exciting post synaptic neurons
28
Long term memory is associated with what structural changes in synaptic connections (3)
Increase in neurotransmitter release sites on presynaptic membrane. Increase in number of neurotransmitter vesicles stored and released. Increase in number of presynaptic terminals
29
What does long term potentiation involve
Increased amplitude in graded membrane potential (EPSP) in the post-synaptic cell -->This “strengthens the synapse" forms the basis of learning and memory
30
Long term memory is basically a well established, well rehearsed pattern of what
Neuronal firing unique to that particular memory
31
2 types of long term memory
Declarative (explicit) memory | Procedural (reflexive) memory
32
Describe declarative (explicit) memory [a type of long term memory]
Abstract memory for events (episodic memory) + words, language (semantic memory)
33
Declarative/explicit memory relies heavily on what part of brain
Hippocampus
34
Describe procedural (reflexive) memory
Acquired slowly through REPETITION Includes motor memory for acquired skills, e.g. playing tennis
35
Procedural (reflexive memory) [a type of long term memory] is based mainly in what part of the brain
Cerebellum
36
What does short term memory depend on
Maintained excitation from reverberating circuits
37
Are synapses in a reverberating circuit excitatory or inhibitory
Excitatory
38
If the event is deemed significant, reverberation of the short term memory results in what
Consolidation of the memory into long term memory storage
39
If an event is deemed insignificant, the reverberation of the short term memory...
...fades and is not consolidated into long term memory storage
40
2 types of amnesia
Anterograde | Retrograde
41
Define retrograde amnesia (2)
Can’t access memory of events leading up to the injury | Although can recall events that happened a long time ago before the injury
42
If only the thalamus damaged and hippocampus spared, what type of amnesia would be seen
Retrograde Suggests thalamus needed for ‘searching’ our existing memory bank
43
Define anterograde amnesia (2)
Can’t form new memories leading to an inability to recall events that happen after the injury, e.g. may not even remember a question you asked a few secs ago But long term memories from before the event remain intact
44
Destruction of hippocampus means what in regards to memories
Permanent inability to form new memories
45
Short term memory is converted to long term memory through a process called what
Consolidation
46
What mechanisms does consolidation involve in order to convert short term memory into long term memory (3)
Strengthening of synaptic connections through: - repetition of the reverberating circuits - chemical changes in presynaptic neuron - structural changes in synaptic connections
47
How long does consolidation take (converting a short term to long term memory)
Hours - days
48
What does coding of new memories mean
Means they're stored with existing memories that the brain deems similar then they're stored in the sensory and associated areas of the cortex
49
How are memories created from sensory information
1) Sensory input into the somatosensory cortex and the sensory association areas 2) Info is passed onto frontal cortex which assesses significance of the event and passes the info to the limbic system 3) The sensory info then passes through the hippocampus of the limbic system which relays the info to other parts of the limbic system (papez circuit) 4) Limbic system reward/punishment centres assess the significance of the event and decides if it should be stored in memory 5) If deemed significant, this electrical activity then reverberates back to the frontal cortex then to the primary somatosensory cortex and the sensory association areas to be written into long-term memory 6) If experience still deemed significant and useful, the frontal cortex ‘GATES’ the papez circuit 7) Reverberating activity then continues between the Papez circuit, the frontal cortex, the sensory and association areas until the consolidation process of short term into long term memory is complete
50
If the experience/event is deemed significant, the frontal cortex 'gates' what circuit + describe the components of this circuit
Papez circuit - hippocampus - mamillary bodies - anterior thalamus - cingulate gyrus
51
Why is sleep important for memory processing
REM sleep is important for memory | -dreaming may enable memory consolidation, reinforce weak circuits
52
If deprived of REM sleep, what can be impaired
Memory consolidation for complex cognitive tasks
53
What is Korsakoff's syndrome + common cause
chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) commonly caused by chronic alcoholism
54
Theory behind 'smells can ring bells'
Olfactory stimuli are relayed via the olfactory tract to the primary olfactory cortex where substantial connections to the amygdala and hippocampus are found This association with the limbic system, and hippocampus in particular, explains why smells are especially powerful in evoking long-term memories

Year 2 - Nervous (39 decks)

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