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Flashcards in memory and cognition Deck (47)
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1
Q

what is a brief summary of cognition?

A

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

2
Q

what is neuronal plasticity?

A

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

3
Q

what is an association area of the brain?

A

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

4
Q

where are memories formed?

A

limbic system

5
Q

what is the cingulate gyrus involved in?

A

emotion

6
Q

what is the hippocampus involved in?

A

learning and memory

7
Q

what is the amygdala involved in?

A

emotion and memory

8
Q

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

A

frontal and temporal lobes

9
Q

what are the parts of the limbic system?

A

hypothalamus
hippocampus
cingulate gyrus
amygdala

10
Q

what is the limbic system responsible for?

A
instinctive behaviour (sex, thirst, hunger)
also plays a role in emotive behaviour
11
Q

what is emotive behaviour driven by?

A

seeking reward or avoiding punishment

12
Q

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

A

well being
euphoria
sexual arousal

13
Q

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

A

terror
anger
pain

14
Q

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

A

insignificant experiences

15
Q

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

A

habituation

16
Q

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

A

selects what experiences are stored in memory

17
Q

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

A

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

18
Q

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

A

unable to form new long term memories

19
Q

what are the differnet types of memory?

A

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

20
Q

what is immediate/sensory memory?

A

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

21
Q

what is short term memory?

A

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

22
Q

what is intermediate long term memory?

A

hours to weeks

associated with chemical adaptation at the presynaptic terminal

23
Q

what is long term memory?

A

hours - lifetime

associated with structural changes in synaptic connections

24
Q

what does short term memory depend on?

A

maintained excitation of reverberating circuits

25
Q

what type of synapses are there in a reverberating circuit?

A

all excitatory

26
Q

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

A

if it is deemed “significant”

27
Q

what causes amnesia?

A

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

28
Q

what is anterograde amnesia?

A

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

29
Q

what is retrograde amnesia?

A

unable to remember events leading up to the injury.

30
Q

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

A

only retrograde amnesia presents

31
Q

what causes “strengthening” of synapses on intermediate long term memory

A

increasing calcium ion entry to presynaptic terminals

32
Q

what structural changes occur at synapses in long term memory?

A

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

33
Q

what is long term potentiation?

A

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

34
Q

what are the two main types of long term memory?

A

declarative or explicit memory

procedural/reflexive/implicit memory

35
Q

what is declarative memory?

A

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

36
Q

where is declarative memory mainly based?

A

hippocampus

37
Q

what is procedural memory?

A

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

38
Q

where is procedural memory mainly based?

A

cerebellum

39
Q

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

A

consolidation - onvolves selective strengthening of synaptic connections through repetition

40
Q

how is the “significance” of a memory determined?

A

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

41
Q

where are “coded” memories stored?

A

in the sensory and association areas of the cortex

42
Q

what does “coding” result in?

A

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

43
Q

what 4 structures make up the papez circuit?

A

cingulate gyrus
hippocampus
anterior thalamus
mamillary body

44
Q

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

A

frontal cortex

sensory and association areas

45
Q

where are different components of memory stored?

A

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

46
Q

what is there a severe less of in alzheimers disease?

A

cholingergic neurons in the brain, including the hippocampus

47
Q

what is korsakoffs syndrome?

A

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