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Flashcards in Memory and cognition Deck (53)
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1
Q

What does cognition relate to?

A

Highest order of brain function

Behaviour that deals with thought processing

2
Q

What is cognition?

A

Integration of all sensory systems to make sense of a situation

3
Q

What is neuronal plasticity?

A

Ability of central neurones to adapt their neuronal connections in response to learning experiences

4
Q

What is the function of most of the cerebrum?

A

Association areas which integrate areas from multiple sources

5
Q

What is integration of information from multiple sources required for?

A

Cognition

6
Q

What are parallel processing units?

A

Areas that integrate information from multiple sources

7
Q

What are the 3 components of learning and memory?

A

Hippocampus
Cortex
Thalaus

8
Q

What is the hippocampus used for in learning and memory?

A

Formation of memories

9
Q

What is the cortex used for in learning and memory?

A

Storage of memories

10
Q

What is the thalamus used for in learning and memory?

A

Searches and accesses memories

11
Q

Where are memories formed?

A

Hippocampus in limbic system

12
Q

What is the function of the limbic system in formation of memories?

A

Gives memories emotional significance

13
Q

What are the areas of the limbic system?

A

Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Cingulate gyrus
Amygdala

14
Q

What is the hypothalamus associated with?

A

ANS responses

15
Q

What is the hippocampus associated with?

A

Memory

16
Q

What is the cingulate gyrus associated with?

A

Emotion

17
Q

What is the amygdala associated with?

A

Memory

18
Q

What is the limbic system collectively responsible for?

A

Instinctive behaviour

Emotive behaviour

19
Q

What is emotive behaviour driven by?

A

Reward and punishment

20
Q

What does electrically stimulating the reward areas of the limbic system result in?

A

Feeling of euphoria

21
Q

Why are reward and punishment essential to learning?

A

Give task significance

Form affective components of sensory experiences

22
Q

What does bilateral hippocampal damage cause?

A

Have immediate and very long term memory, but are unable to form short or long term memories
Retained reflexive memory

23
Q

What can memory be divided into?

A

Immediate
Short term
Intermediate long term
Long term

24
Q

How long do immediate memories last for?

A

A few seconds

25
Q

How quickly do visual and auditory memories decay?

A
Visual= 1 second
Auditory= 4 seconds
26
Q

How long does short term memory last for?

A

Seconds to hours

27
Q

What is short term memory used for?

A

Short term tasks e.g. dialling phone number, mental arithmetic, reading a sentence

28
Q

What does short term memory rely on?

A

Excitation from reverberating circuits

29
Q

What causes short term memories to become long term memories?

A

Excitation of reverberating circuits causing consolidation

Determination of significance

30
Q

What happens if a short term memory is deemed insignificant?

A

Reverberations fade and no consolidation occurs

31
Q

What is amnesia?

A

Memory loss resulting from disrupted reverberation

32
Q

What are the types of amnesia?

A

Anterograde

Retrograde

33
Q

What is anterograde amnesia?

A

Unabe to recall events that happen after the injury

Can be short lived or permanent

34
Q

What is retrograde amnesia?

A

Can’t remember events leading up to injury, but usually retain long term, memories

35
Q

What causes retrograde amnesia?

A

Thalamus damage

36
Q

How long does intermediate long term memory last?

A

Hours to weeks

37
Q

What causes short term memories to develop into intermediate long term memories?

A

Chemical adaption at the presynaptic terminal, increasing Ca++ entry to terminals and increased neurotransmitter release

38
Q

What is long term memory associated with?

A

Structural changes in synaptic connections

39
Q

What are the structural changes in synaptic connections that take place in long term memory?

A

Increase in neurotransmitter release sites on presynaptic terminals
Increased number of neurotransmitter vesicles
Increase in no of presynaptic terminals

40
Q

What is long term potentiation?

A

Increased amplitude in graded membrane potential in post synaptic cell

41
Q

What is the function of long term potentiation?

A

Strengthens synapse

42
Q

What is episodic memory?

A

Abstract memory for events

43
Q

What is semantic memory?

A

Memory for words, rules and language

44
Q

What is explicit memory>

A

Episodic and semantic memory

Based in hippocampus

45
Q

What is implicit memory?

A

Memory slowly acquired through repetition

Mainly in cerebellum

46
Q

What is the function of consolidation?

A

Convert short term to long term memory

47
Q

What does consolidation involve?

A

Selective strengthening of synaptic connections through repetition

48
Q

What is the Papez circuit?

A

Hippocampus, maxillary bodies, anterior thalamus, cingulate gyrus

49
Q

What is the function of the Papez circuit in consolidation?

A

Reverberating continues through the Papez circuit, frontal cortex and sensory and association areas until consolidation is complete

50
Q

What is the association of the frontal cortex and Papez circuit?

A

Frontal cortex gates Papez circuit

51
Q

What is the function of coding?

A

New memories stored alongside other existing memories that the brain deems similar

52
Q

What type of sleep is important for memory?

A

REM sleep

53
Q

What is the function of dreaming in memory?

A

Enable memory consolidation and reinforce weak circuits