Learning, Memory, and Language

Amygdala

Plays an important role in the emotional aspects of memory

Aphasias

Language disorders resulting from damage to specific brain regions, such as Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia.

Basal Ganglia

Brain region involved in processing procedural memory

Broca's aphasia

Nonfluent aphasia resulting in impaired speech production abilities and slow, halting speech.

cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)

Molecule activating genes and protein synthesis, essential for long-term memory.

Cerebellum

Specifically involved in motor tasks that involve coordinated timing

Cerebral Cortex

Responsible for long-term storage of detailed knowledge about facts and events, and how this knowledge is used in everyday situations

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)

Molecule activating enzymes and increasing synaptic receptors, enhancing synapse sensitivity.

Declarative Memory

Conscious recollection of everyday facts and events

Episodic Memories

Memories of specific personal experiences that occurred at a particular place and time

Executive Functions

Selection, rehearsal, and monitoring of information being retrieved from long-term memory

FOXP2 gene

Gene associated with speech and language development, with rare mutations causing difficulties in spoken and written language.

Hippocampus

Brain region critical for converting short-term memories to long-term, permanent ones

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

Long-lasting increase in synaptic response strength following stimulation, prominent in hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

Neurotrophins

Proteins promoting synapse growth and neuron responsiveness to stimulation.

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors

Receptors involved in changes in synaptic strength and long-term potentiation.

Nondeclarative Memory

Knowledge of how to do something, expressed in skilled behavior and learned habits

Parahippocampal Region

Brain area involved in processing 'what,' 'where,' and 'when' information about specific events

Prefrontal Cortex

Maintains and manipulates memories, interacts with a network of posterior cortical areas

Procedural Memory

Knowledge of how to do something, expressed in skilled behavior and learned habits

Semantic Memory

Declarative knowledge that includes general facts and data

Synapses

Connections between neurons where memory involves a persistent change

Temporal lobes

Brain regions involved in recognition of speech sounds and words, as well as comprehension and production of speech.

Wernicke's aphasia

Fluent aphasia resulting in impaired comprehension of heard speech and unintelligible gibberish in speech output.

Word deafness

Inability to comprehend auditory speech, even single words, despite the ability to hear sound.