Final Exam! (Chapters 13,14,12)

amnesia

Severe impairment of memory, which can be classified into retrograde and anterograde.

retrograde amnesia

Difficulty in retrieving memories formed before the onset of amnesia.

A medial temporal lobe structure that is crucial for learning and memory.

What is the hippocampus?

declarative memory

Memory of facts and information acquired through learning that can be consciously recalled.

nondeclarative memory

Memory about perceptual or motor procedures that is demonstrated by performance rather than conscious recollection.

long-term potentiation (LTP)

A stable and enduring increase in the effectiveness of synapses following repeated strong stimulation.

encoding

The first process of the memory system, where raw information is passed into short-term memory.

consolidation

The process of transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory.

retrieval

The process of recalling stored information from memory.

Korsakoff's syndrome

A memory disorder caused by thiamine deficiency, often associated with chronic alcoholism, leading to memory impairments.

episodic memory

A type of declarative memory that includes specific events and experiences from one's life.

semantic memory

Generalized declarative memory, such as knowing facts or concepts without recalling specific learned experiences.

priming

A change in the way you process a stimulus due to prior exposure, which can influence responses without affecting declarative memory.

classical conditioning

A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, producing a conditioned response.

instrumental conditioning

A form of associative learning where behaviors are modified by their consequences.

neuroplasticity

The ability of the nervous system to change in response to experience or environmental factors.

memory trace (engram)

A persistent change in the brain that reflects the storage of memory.

reconsolidation

The process by which a memory trace returns to stable long-term storage after being retrieved.

confabulation

A memory error involving the production of fabricated or misinterpreted memories without the intention to deceive.

cognitive map

A mental representation of the physical environment used to navigate and orient oneself.

attention

The process of selectively focusing on specific stimuli for enhanced processing while ignoring others.

selective attention

A state of awareness in which specific stimuli are chosen for enhanced processing.

vigilance

The global and nonselective level of alertness an individual maintains.

overt attention

Attention where the focus aligns with sensory orientation, such as focusing on what one is looking at.

covert attention

Attention directed without corresponding eye movement, allowing monitoring of different stimuli simultaneously.

cocktail party effect

The ability to focus on a single speaker in a noisy environment while filtering out other conversations.

inattentional blindness

The failure to notice an unexpected stimulus in one's visual field when attention is focused on something else.

divided attention task

A task that requires attending to multiple stimuli simultaneously, where performance is often impaired due to limited attention resources.

attentional spotlight

A metaphor describing how attention functions to highlight certain stimuli for enhanced processing.

the binding problem

Question of how the brain understands which individual attributes blend together into a single object, when these different features are processed by different regions in the brain

voluntary attention

Also called endogenous attention; the conscious directing of focus to specific aspects of the environment based on interests and goals.

reflexive attention

Also called exogenous attention; the automatic reorientation of attention toward unexpected stimuli.

inhibition of return

The phenomenon where returning attention to a previously attended location is impaired after a delay.

feature search

A visual search for a target defined by a unique attribute that allows it to 'pop out' from distractors.

conjunction search

A visual search that requires identifying a target based on a combination of two or more features, such as color and shape.

event-related potential (ERP)

An averaged EEG response that reflects brain activity in response to a specific stimulus.

neuroeconomics

A field studying the brain mechanisms behind decision-making, particularly in evaluating rewards and risks.

dorsal frontoparietal network

A brain network involved in voluntary attention and top-down control mechanisms.

right temporoparietal junction (TPJ)

A brain region associated with reflexive attention to new stimuli and unexpected events.

Balint's syndrome

A disorder caused by bilateral parietal damage characterized by inability to perceive the visual field as a whole, difficulty in fixating the eyes, and inability to move the hand to a specific object by using vision.

hemispatial neglect

An attention disorder resulting from right-hemisphere brain damage, leading to a disregard for the left side of the visual field.

lobotomy

A surgical procedure that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex, historically used to treat mental disorders.

schizophrenia

A severe psychopathological disorder characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, flat affect, and cognitive impairments.

positive symptoms in schizophrenia

Abnormal behavioral states in psychiatry, including hallucinations and delusions.

negative symptoms in schizophrenia

Abnormalities reflecting insufficient functioning, such as emotional withdrawal and blunted affect.

dopamine hypothesis

The theory that excess levels of synaptic dopamine or dopamine receptor sensitivity result in schizophrenia.

antipsychotic drugs

Medication used to alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia by blocking dopamine receptors.

tardive dyskinesia

A disorder characterized by involuntary movements, often as a side effect of long-term antipsychotic drug use.

cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

A type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

A medical treatment that involves sending small electric currents through the brain, often used for severe depression.

mood disorders

Psychological disorders that primarily affect a person’s emotional state, including depression and bipolar disorder.

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

An anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, marked by flashbacks and severe anxiety.

anxiety disorder

A class of psychological disorders characterized by excessive fear or worry, including phobias and panic disorders.

lithium

A medication used to treat bipolar disorder, known for stabilizing mood and reducing manic episodes.

The likelihood of developing psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia or depression.

What is genetic contribution in the context of psychological disorders?

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers in the brain that transmit signals between neurons, implicated in various mental health disorders.

vagus nerve stimulation

A treatment for depression that involves delivering electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve.

Learning

The process of acquiring information is called __.

Memory

The ability to store and retrieve information is known as __.

the medial portions of both temporal lobes

Bilateral medial temporal lobectomy involves the removal of ___ _____ ________ __ ____ _________ _______ and adjacent cortex.

after

Anterograde amnesia refers to the loss of memory for things occurring __ a brain injury.

before

Retrograde amnesia entails the loss of memories formed __ a brain injury.

severe anterograde amnesia

The inability to make new memories after H.M.'s surgery resulted in _____ ______ _____.

long term declarative

Patient H.M.'s memory deficits predominantly affected his ____ _______ ________ memory.

occipitotemporal

Priming as a type of non-declarative memory is associated with reduced activation in the __ cortex.

medial temporal

Skill learning, a type of non-declarative memory, does not require the __ lobe.

cerebellum

Classical conditioning requires the __, not the hippocampus, in its simplest form.

structure

Neuroplasticity refers to changes in the __ and function of synapses that underlie learning and memory.

memory formation

The mechanism of memory that involves long-term potentiation (LTP) is critical for __.

memory consolidation

Hippocampal LTP is crucial for __ _______.

visual

The inferotemporal cortex is responsible for storing __ patterns.

basal ganglia

Procedural memory primarily involves the __ and motor cortex.

Sensory buffer

A brief storage system for sensory information, allowing individuals to retain impressions of sensory stimuli for a short period.

short-term memory

The capacity to hold a small amount of information in an active, readily available state for a brief period, typically around 20-30 seconds.

long-term memory

The system for storing, managing, and retrieving information over extended periods, ranging from hours to years.

A neurotransmitter essential for enhancing synaptic strength in long-term potentiation

What is the role of glutamate in long-term potentiation?

Involved in the storage of visual patterns and recognition.

What is the role of the inferotemporal cortex in memory?

Responsible for processing emotional significance and forming emotional memories.

What is the function of the amygdala in memory?

involved in tasks that require sequential responses and working memory

How does the prefrontal cortex contribute to memory?

essential for storing motor skills and coordinating movement

What type of skills does the cerebellum help to store?

Involved in the relationship between stimuli and responses, particularly in habit formation.

What is the function of the striatum in relation to memory?

Hippocampus

Which brain structure is crucial for the transformation of short-term memories into long-term memories?

global amnesia

A form of amnesia where an individual loses memory of all past events and experiences, but retains the ability to form new memories. This condition can be temporary or permanent depending on the underlying cause.

Retrograde amnesia involves difficulty recalling memories from before an injury, while anterograde amnesia affects the ability to form new memories after an injury

What distinguishes retrograde amnesia from anterograde amnesia?

it facilitates learning by enabling structural changes in the brain related to memory

What role does neuroplasticity play in memory?

he retained procedural memories despite severe deficits in declarative memory

What aspect of memory does Henry Molaison's case illustrate regarding the types of memories affected by brain damage?

consolidation of short term memories into long term memories

Which memory formation process is primarily hindered in patients with damage to the hippocampus, as demonstrated by H.M.'s case?

they enhance brain strucutre and function through increased synaptic connections and branching

How do enriched environments influence memory development?

non-declarative memory is typically unconscious and does not require the medial temporal lobe

In the context of memory types, what distinguishes non-declarative memory from declarative memory?

Short-term memory holds information temporarily (20-30 seconds), while long-term memory stores it permanently and is more stable, though susceptible to distortion during retrieval and reconsolidation.

What are the distinctions between long-term memory and short-term memory?

Separation of implicit and explicit memory functions

What key distinction in types of memory was demonstrated by Henry Molaison (Patient H.M.)?

it allows learning without awareness of having learned

What is the main characteristic of procedural memory, as evidenced by Henry Molaison's abilities?

Filter model of attention

Attention model that suggests that information is processed in stages, where a filtering mechanism selects which stimuli to process based on physical characteristics.

Attention model that posits that unattended information is not completely blocked but instead is weakened, allowing some aspects to be processed.

attenuation model

Attention model that refers to the ability to distribute cognitive resources across multiple tasks or stimuli simultaneously.

Divided attention

Spotlight model of attention

Attention model that describes attention as a beam of focus that highlights certain areas of the visual field while leaving others in the periphery.

Reflexive attention is automatic and involuntary, triggered by external stimuli, while voluntary attention is controlled and intentional, guided by an individual's goals and interests

What are the differences between reflexive and voluntary attention?

The challenge of how the brain combines separate features (color, shape, motion) into coherent objects, especially in demanding conjunction searches.

What is the binding problem in visual search strategies?

Non-declarative memory does not require conscious recall, unlike declarative memory, which involves the conscious recollection of facts and events.

How does non-declarative memory differ from declarative memory?