Semantic memory

Question 1

What do list learning tasks measure

Answer 1

Encoding abilities [episodic memory]

Question 2

What do recall tasks measure

Answer 2

consolidation and retention of novel information and retrieval abilities

Question 3

WHere does memory retention happen?

Answer 3

MTL

Question 4

Where does memory retrieval happen?

Answer 4

FL

Question 5

What do recognition tasks measure

Answer 5

retrieval abilities

Question 6

Describe dissociation between recall and recognition

Answer 6

low recall + low recognition - retention is impaired, doesn’t tell you if retrieval is impaired
low recall + high recognition - retention good, retrieval is impaired - if you put in support system will be able to find information

Question 7

Describe associate agnosia

Answer 7

can draw a teapot but won’t know what it is - can’t recognise it [held in different parts of brain - like Wernicke’s and Broca’s Aphasia]

Question 8

What is neuroanatomy of semantic dementia

Answer 8

bilateral degeneration / atrophy of brain regions housing semantic memory - inferolateral and anterior temporal lobes

Question 9

What part of brain is first affected in semantic dementia?

Answer 9

lateral temporal lobes

Question 10

What is spread of semantic dementia

Answer 10

inferolateral / anterior temporal lobes –> ventromedial frontal lobes

Question 11

What is effect of SD on normal working memory [Verbal and NV]?

Answer 11

None

Question 12

What is effect of SD on anterograde episodic memory [Verbal and non-V]

Answer 12

None

Question 13

What is effect of SD on retrogrrade episodic memory?

Answer 13

may be poor

• reverse temporal gradient
• long established life events may be similar to semantic info

Question 14

Describe phonology and syntax in semantic dementia

Answer 14

preserved

Question 15

Describe topographical, visuo-spatial deficits and organisation skills in SD

Answer 15

None

Question 16

What is most common initial deficit in SD?

Answer 16

anomia [can’t find correct word for object]

Question 17

What follows anomia in SD?

Answer 17

impaired word comprehension [language becomes impoverished]

• paraphasias [‘chair’ for table]
• circumlocutions
• omissions

Question 18

Describe category dissociation in SD

Answer 18

• can have loss of knowledge in discrete category of semantic memory [eg numbers, body parts, natural objecs]
• not due to continuum of difficulty

Question 19

Describe modality dissociation in SD

Answer 19

can have impaired semantics in verbal modality but intact semantics in visual [and vice versa]

Question 20

How do you assess semantic memory?

Answer 20

word definitions
picture drawing
picture naming
word-picture matching

Question 21

What did Tulving say about episodic - semantic dissociation

Answer 21

double dissociation between episodic and semantic isn’t possible; only single dissociations [impaired episodic and preserved semantic] can occur

Question 22

How does semantic dementia question Tulving’s hypothesis?

Answer 22

Episodic memory still functioning when semantic isn’t

Question 23

What did Graham’s test say about SD patients cf AD patients on perceptually identical / different objects?

Answer 23

SD: poorer naming than AD
SD no different to controls on PI items but worse on PD [PI - episodic memory encoding and retention; PD - semantic]
AD poorer than SD on PI and PD, no difference btwn PI and PD

Question 24

What did Graham’s test say about Tulving’s hypothesis?

Answer 24

Disproves it [though still best we have]. Episodic memory only became impaired if relying on semantic memory.

Question 25

What supports double dissociation btwn episodic and semantic encoding?

Answer 25

Varga-Khadem’s children; semantic demntia

Question 26

What are the three autobiographical / remote amnesic states?

Answer 26

temporal gradient
reverse temporal gradient
no temporal gradient

Question 27

Where are remote [non autobiographical] memories stored?

Answer 27

frontal and temporal neocortex, diencephalon