Brain Areas- Explicit and Implicit Long Term Memory

What are the brain areas relating to long-term explicit memory?

Hippocampus, neocortex

What are the brain areas relating to implicit long-term memory?

Neocortex, Amygdala, basal ganglia, cerebellum

What is the function and location of the hippocampus?

Function: Encodes, consolidates, and retrieves new declarative/explicit long term memory

-Sends this to neocortex for permanent storage

-works with amygdala, which consolidates memories with significant emotional content, to link emotions to explicit memories for easier retrieval- encodes details of experiences, with sensory information and contextual details

Location: Mid-temporal lobe of each hemisphere.

What is the function and location of the neocortex?

Function: Interacts with hippocampus in the permanent storage and retrieval of both explicit and implicit memories.

Location: Top layer of cerebral cortex

What is the function and location of the amygdala?

Function: Consolidation and encoding of memories that have significant emotional content, especially information relating to fear.

-Signals emotional content which strengthens memory consolidation in hippocampus for easier retrieval

Location: Just above and interconnected with hippocampus in medial temporal lobe.

What is the function and location of the basal ganglia?

Implicated in the formation and encoding of implicit habitual behaviours (e.g. not jumping every time a plane flies overhead) and works with the cerebellum to encode procedural memories

-Dopamine helps coordinate voluntary movement in the basal ganglia, while GABA works to block unwanted movements, allowing for smooth and controlled motion. 

Location: Structures deep within cerebral hemispheres.

What is the function and location of the cerebellum?

Function:Cereballet- (coordination and fluency of movements) Encodes and temporarily stores implicit LTM relating to simple movements (such as those demonstrated by classical conditioning) and procedural memory

Location: at the base of the brain.

What is the difference between the roles of the cerebellum and the basal ganglia in LTM?

-The cerebellum encodes and stores implicit LTM relating to simple movements, while the basal ganglia forms the implicit habitual behaviours and works with the cerebellum to encode procedural memories. 

DIscuss how both the neocortex and basal ganglia are involved in learning the motor skill of toothbrushing. 

The basal ganglia is implicated in the formation and consolidation of implicit habitual behaviour and works with the cerebellum to encode procedural memories. Tooth brushing is a procedural memory because it involves carrying out a task involving a motor skill. The basal ganglia creates the memory of how to brush your teeth, which is then stored in the neocortex through its connection to the basal ganglia.