Memory and Amnesia

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture notes regarding memory, amnesia, types of memory, and the brain's role in memory processing.

What is the process of acquiring new information called?

Learning

What are the three major stages of memory processing?

Encoding, storage, retrieval

What are the two types of long-term memory?

Declarative and nondeclarative memory

Which part of the brain is critical for the formation of long-term memory?

Hippocampus

What is anterograde amnesia?

The loss of the ability to form new memories.

What is retrograde amnesia?

The loss of memory for events that occurred before the trauma.

What phenomenon describes the tendency for retrograde amnesia to be greatest for the most recent events?

Temporal gradient or Ribot’s law.

What is the difference between episodic memory and semantic memory?

Episodic memory is about personal past experiences, while semantic memory is factual knowledge about the world.

What is the role of the medial temporal lobe in memory?

It is necessary for the formation of long-term declarative memories.

How does stress affect episodic memory consolidation?

High levels of cortisol can impair memory consolidation.

What are place cells?

Neurons in the hippocampus that activate based on an animal's location and orientation.

What is long-term potentiation?

The long-term strengthening of a synapse based on recent patterns of activity.

What is the role of NMDA receptors in memory?

They are crucial for the induction of long-term potentiation.

What can cause dementia that leads to memory impairment?

Diseases such as Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

What is procedural memory?

A type of nondeclarative memory that involves learning motor skills.

What are some common types of nondeclarative memory?

Priming, conditioning, and procedural memory.

What is the importance of sleep in memory consolidation?

Sleep helps replay and stabilize memories acquired during learning.