Psych Exam 3

Types of Memory

Different categories of memory, including declarative, procedural, and emotional responses.

Declarative Memory

Memory of facts and events that can be consciously recalled.

Procedural Memory

Memory of skills and habits that are performed without conscious thought.

Associations

Memories formed through classical conditioning, such as salivating at a bell.

Emotional Responses

Memories associated with emotions, primarily stored in the amygdala.

Consolidation

The process of converting short-term memories into stable long-term memories.

Working Memory

Short-term memory that lasts seconds and requires active rehearsal.

Short-Term Memory

Memory that lasts for hours and is vulnerable to disruption.

Long-Term Memory

Stable memory formed via consolidation and lasting over time.

Retrograde Amnesia

Loss of memories prior to trauma.

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories after trauma.

Cell Assembly

A network of neurons that can reactivate each other to maintain short-term memory.

Hebb’s Model

The idea that memories are stored through the activation of interconnected neuron groups.

Sensory Cortex

The area of the brain where sensory information is stored for short-term memories.

Inferotemporal Cortex

Brain region important for visual object recognition and long-term visual memory.

Delayed Non-Match to Sample Task

An experiment showing that monkeys with medial temporal lobe damage could not remember seen objects.

Hippocampus

A brain region critical for declarative memory, spatial memory, and relational memory.

Striatum

A brain region associated with procedural memory and habit learning.

Prefrontal Cortex

Brain region involved in working memory and task planning.

Korsakoff’s Syndrome

A condition caused by chronic alcoholism leading to severe amnesia.

Diathesis-Stress Hypothesis

The theory that depression arises from genetic vulnerability and early life stress.

Chronic Stress Effects

Long exposure to stress hormones like cortisol leads to hippocampal atrophy.

Benzodiazepines

Drugs that enhance GABA neurotransmission to reduce anxiety.

SSRIs

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors that increase serotonin levels in the brain.

Panic Disorder Symptoms

Sudden intense terror, heart palpitations, and fear of insanity.

Major Depression

Affective disorder characterized by prolonged sadness and anhedonia.

Lithium for Bipolar Disorder

A treatment that stabilizes mood by affecting second messenger systems.

Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia

A theory suggesting that excess dopamine activity leads to schizophrenia.

Genetic Evidence for Schizophrenia

Runs in families, indicating a possible genetic link.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Delusions and hallucinations experienced by individuals with the disorder.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Reduced emotional expression and social withdrawal seen in sufferers.

Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Difficulties with memory and attention found in affected individuals.

Freud's Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach focused on uncovering unconscious conflicts affecting mental health.

Skinner's Behavior Modification

A treatment approach that replaces maladaptive behavior with more adaptive choices.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

A system that orchestrates the body's response to stress.

Amygdala's Role in Stress

Activates the HPA axis to initiate the stress response.

Chronic Cortisol Effects

Leads to brain damage and worsened stress response.

Classical Conditioning Example

Learning to salivate at the sound of a bell paired with food.

Place Cells

Neurons in the hippocampus that activate in specific locations.

Cell Assemblies and Memory

Groups of neurons that reactivate together to maintain memories.

Neural Basis of Memory

The physical representation of memory stored in neurons and connections.

Reduced Cortical Thickness

Brain change associated with schizophrenia.

Antidepressant Mechanism

Drugs that increase monoamine levels to alleviate depression symptoms.

Transitional Global Amnesia

Temporary memory loss characterized by disorientation and memory gaps.

Striatal Damage Effects

Impairment in habit formation due to lesions in the striatum.

Experimental Evidence in Memory Research

Based on studies with rats, monkeys, and patients to understand memory.

Neuroleptic Medications

Drugs used in treating schizophrenia by affecting dopamine receptors.

Secondary Brain Changes

Additional changes that likely occur alongside symptom relief in depression treatment.

Macaque Monkeys Studies

Research conducted to understand memory processes and neural functions.

Traits of Anxiety Disorders

Inappropriate fear expressions that disrupt normal functioning.

Short-Term Memory Storage

Retention of information over hours, sensitive to external disruptions.