Neurobiology of Memory

This set of flashcards covers the history, case studies (Patient HM), definitions of memory types (declarative vs. nondeclarative), and the brain regions associated with specific memory functions discussed in the lecture.

What is Ribot's law as described by Theodore Ribot in 1881?

A time gradient observed in retrograde amnesia where the most recent memories are lost first and the oldest memories are most highly preserved.

What psychiatric syndrome did Sergei Korsakoff identify in alcoholic patients?

A condition involving strong memory loss for recent events where patients often repeat themselves and confabulate, or make up for missing gaps in their memories.

What brain structures surrounding the third ventricle did Karl Wernicke implicate in memory function?

The thalamus, the dorsal medial nucleus, and the mammillary bodies.

What were the major anatomical changes observed in the brains of individuals with Pick's disease?

Profound changes and damage specifically around the frontal lobe.

Which specific surgical procedure was performed on Patient HM (Henry Molaison) by William Scoville in 1954?

A bilateral resection of the rostral medial temporal lobes.

What is the primary difference between anterograde and retrograde amnesia?

Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories moving forward in time, while retrograde amnesia is the loss of memories from the past.

What is the definition of 'memory span' in psychology and neuroscience?

The longest list of items a person can repeat back in order immediately after presentation on at least $50\%$ of all trials.

What did Patient HM's performance on the mirror drawing test reveal about his memory?

It showed that while he could not recall practicing the task (declarative memory), his error rate decreased significantly over three days, proving he could form long-term nondeclarative (procedural) memories.

What are declarative memories?

Conscious or explicit memories for things you know and can tell others, localized primarily in the hippocampus for consolidation.

What are nondeclarative memories?

Implicit memories shown through performance or doing, such as skills, priming, or conditioning, which do not require conscious awareness.

What does the delayed non-matching to sample task measure in monkeys?

Object recognition memory, which is a form of declarative memory.

Which test is used to measure spatial location memory in rats, and which brain region is required for it?

The eight-arm radial maze test; it requires an intact hippocampus.

What are place cells?

Neurons in the hippocampus that become active specifically when an animal is in or moving towards a particular spatial location.

What anatomical findings were observed regarding the hippocampus of London taxi drivers?

The posterior hippocampus was larger than in nontaxi drivers, and the volume increased with the number of months of driving experience.

Which brain region is primarily associated with skill learning (sensorimotor, cognitive, or perceptual)?

The basal ganglia.

What is the difference between the neurobiology of perceptual priming and conceptual priming?

Perceptual priming is related to activity in the bilateral occipital temporal cortex, while conceptual priming is associated with the left frontal cortex.

Which brain structure is crucially important for associative learning tasks like classical conditioning?

The cerebellum.