Neuroscience 4240: Exam 3

How long does short term memory last?

Lasts several seconds to minutes.

Does short term memory or sensory memory have more limited capacity?

Short term memory

Where do memories go after they leave the short term memory?

It is the temporary store before items move on to long term memory.

How many items can the short-term memory store hold?

7±2 items.

How many chunks of information can the short-term memory store hold at a time?

Limited to about 4 chunks of information at the focus of attention.

What is Amnesia?

a memory deficit due to brain damage or disease.

Amnesia: Where does damage occur?

Damage often occurs to part of the limbic system, especially the hippocampus or the medial temporal lobe.

Amnesia: What are common causes?

Strokes, major heart attacks, and carbon-monoxide poisoning.

Amnesia can be caused by which diseases?

Alzheimer’s disease and Karsakoff Syndrome.

Anterograde Amnesia

An individual cannot make new memories.

Retrograde Amnesia

An individual cannot retrieve old memories.

Amnesia Case Study: H.M.

In 1953 (at age 27), had bilateral regions of anterior medial temporal lobe removed to treat epileptic seizures. 

What cortex lies in the insula?

The primary gustatory cortex.

What kind of feelings are linked to the insula?

Abstract forms (feelings) of disgust.

When else is the insula active?

When monitoring heart rate, temperature, and pain.

What is the anterior cingulate cortex involved in?

Situations that require the detection of errors or conflict.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex: Stroop Task

Participants are required to say the name of the color of the words printed in a different color.

What type of feelings do errors elicit?

Feelings of unpleasantness.

What is associated with smaller volume or increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex?

The rumination of unpleasant thoughts underlying major depressive disorder.

The Amygdala

Plays a major role in fear learning (conditioning or associative learning). 

Damaged Amygdala Case Study: S.M.

bilateral lesions of amygdala (due to an inherited disease). 

• Exhibits difficulty expressing dear and recognizing fearful information. 

• Does still express fear of suffocation.