Higher Cortical Functions: Memory, Consciousness, Intellect - Quiz 17/18

working memory

o Information: Goal-relevant, short timeframe

o Location: Prefrontal and temporoparietal association cortex

working memory

o Temporary storage and manipulation of information

o Essential for language, problem-solving, mental navigation, reasoning

o Complex mental multitasking requires working memory

o Central to cognition

Encoding, Consolidation, Retrieval

Three stages of declarative memory

declarative memory

o Information: Facts, events, concepts, locations

o Location: Lateral prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe

declarative memory

o Conscious

o Recollections that can be easily verbalized

o Requires attention during recall

Immediate: 1-2 sec

Short term: brief storage, lose in 1 min

Long-term: relatively permanent storage

episodic, semantic

What are the two types of declarative memory?

episodic memory

- Collection of specific personal events

- Who, where, why, when

semantic memory

- Acquired concepts/common knowledge

- Not based on personal experience

- Examples: letter sounds, number concepts

procedural memory

o Information: Skilled movements and habits

o Location: Frontal cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia

o Automatic, unconscious

procedural memory

o Requires practice

o The activity needs attention until mastered, then more automatic

o Accessed through unconscious systems such as movement or perception

memory creation

Synapses are formed and strengthened through practice (motor learning and neuroplasticity)

attention, emotion, arousal, linking old and new information, reviewing

memory is enhanced by:

distraction, stress, disinterest

memory is reduced by:

alertness

o Degree to which pt is awake, aroused, and attentive

awareness

o Ability to perceive or be aware of a fact, occurrence, or event

arousal

o Physiologic readiness for activity

attention

o Ability to focus consciousness on specific information

o Influenced by arousal, awareness, and motivation

brainstem

What structure regulates consciousness?

thalamus

regulates arousal, attention, awareness, thinking, motor behavior

cerebral cortex

regulates attention and generalized arousal

arousal, attention, vigilance, voluntary, attention, motor

Role that the following neurotransmitters and neuromodulators play in consciousness:

-Serotonin: general _______

-Norepinephrine: _________ and _________ (fight or flight)

-Acetylcholine: _________ direction of _________ toward an object

Dopamine: initiation of _____ or cognitive actions

alert

Level of Consciousness:

o Awake and attentive

lethargic

Level of Consciousness:

o Drowsy and falls asleep easily

o Difficulty maintaining attention

o May have to use loud voice to keep pt awake and engaged

delirium

Level of Consciousness:

o Often seen as pt emerges from coma

o Characterized by confusion with circumstances. May hallucinate or act as if in a dream. Conversation may not make sense

obtunded

Level of Consciousness:

o Difficult to arouse from sleep

o Requires repeated stimulation

stupor

Level of Consciousness:

o Responds only to noxious stimuli

o Quickly returns to unconsciousness if stimulation stops

o Unable to interact when aroused

coma

Level of Consciousness:

o Pt cannot be roused even with noxious stimuli

o Reflex motor responses may be seen

selective attention

o Ability to select important/relevant information while ignoring other sources of information

divided attention

o Ability to process more than one source of information or multitask; reflects that the skill may be more procedural (automated)

alternating attention

o Attention switching between two tasks or sources of information as needed

sustained attention

o Ability to pay attention over a period of time without losing interest or focus/vigilance

intellect

o Ability to form concepts and to reason

o Involves memory and ability to process mental events

o Scores on psychologic tests of intellect are unrelated to reality

frontal, parietal, temporal, cerebellum, temporal, cerebellum

Brain regions with influences on intellect:

- Core regions of _______ and ________, but require strong networks and ability to work in concert with other regions

- Frontal lobe especially with strong connections to which lobe?

- Parietal lobe with strong networks to what?

- Which region for visuomotor ability?

drive, education, socialization, social awareness

What four influences on intellect were described in the lecture?

prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus

What three brain regions/structures were described as involved in goal-directed behavior?

basal ganglia

What brain structure was mentioned as involved with motivation?

frontal lobe, thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus

Which parts of the limbic system were mentioned as involved with emotion?

emotional, emotions,

Medial prefrontal association cortex

-Identifies _________ stimuli, generates and perceives ________

(readings other's emotions and intentions)

emotional loop

o Prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus

o Links emotion, cognitive, and motor systems

o Involved in reward-seeking behavior

behavior

o Medial prefrontal cortex and limbic system

o Ventral prefrontal cortex and social behavioral loop

mood, affect

Prefrontal cortex and social behavior loop connect areas regulating ____ and ______