Unit 5 Lesson 6: Biological Bases for Memory

amygdala

the part of the brain that regulates aggression, fear, and fear memories, as well as memory consolidation

arousal theory

the theory that strong emotions form strong memories and weak emotions form weaker memories

cerebellum

the hindbrain structure that enables the production of implicit memories

engram

the group of neurons that serve as the physical representation of memory

equipotentiality hypothesis

the proposal that if one part of the brain involved in memory is damaged, another part of the same area can take over that memory function

flashbulb memory

a vivid, enduring memory associated with a personally significant and emotional event.

glutamate

a neurotransmitter that is secreted by the brain when a human or animal experiences stress

hippocampus

the structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory

long-term potentiation (LTP)

one of the main neural pathways by which memories are stored in the brain. It is also a process that enhances connections between neurons

memory consolidation

the process of transferring new learning into long-term memory

neurotransmitter

a chemical substance that transmits nerve signals across a synapse

prefrontal cortex

the part of the frontal lobe that is responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning

Karl Lashley

made lesions in the brains of animals such as rats and monkeys, searching for evidence of the engram; formulated the equipotentiality hypothesis