Brain Areas Involved in Long-Term Memory

explicit memories structures

episodic and semantic
hippocampus, amygdala, neocortex

implicit memories structu

hippocampus location

medial temporal lobe

functions of the hippocampus in LTM

• forming and encoding semantic and episodic memories

• responsible for consolidation (temporary —> LTM)

• supports reconsolidation (updating memories)

• transfers memories from neocortex for LTM storage

• not involved in implicit memory

Amygdala function in LTM

• located near hippocampus

• processes emotions, particularly fear and agression

• damage impars fear leraning/ expression

• involved in flashbulb memories

• enhances memory by releasing noadrenaline during emtional arousal

• strengthens emotional components of meories but doesn’t store them

flashbulb memories

vivid, highly detailed and long- lasting memory of an event, typically traumatic

e.g 9/11 or war

Functions of the Neocortex in LTM

• covers cerebral hemispheres as a protective layer

• stores long-term implicit memories after transfer from hippocampus

• assists in retrieval even if hippocampus is damaged

visual information in the neorcortex for LTM

stored in occipital lobe

auditory information in neocortex for LTM

stored in temporal lobe

semantic memory in neocortex in LTM

widely distributed

especially in frontal and temporal lobe

episodic memory in neorcortex for LTM

more concentrated in right frontal/ temoral lobes

application of neocortex at a concert

name of the band in a cortical area involved with language (frontal lobe), images in visual cortex (occipital lobe), sounds in audiotory cortex (temporal lobe)

Basal Ganglia

group of deep brain nuclei involved in implicit memory, especially motor skills

Basal Ganglia in LTM

• supports procedural learning (e.g. walking/ typing)

• damage impacts motor memory

• dopamine restoration (via medications) can improve procedural memory

• involved in habituation

habituation

learning to ignore repeated stimuli (e.g. tuning out traffic noise)

damage to basal ganglia

damage can lead to Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease

Parkinson’s disease

dopamine deficiency → difficulty acquiring/ retaining motor skills

Huntington’s Disease

degeneration of neurons → motor skill issues, explicit memories remain intact

Cerebellum

managed fine motor control, coordination and balance

cerebellum in LTM

• important for encoding and temporary storage of procedural memories

• supports motor learning (e.g playing piano/ typing)

• involved in classical conditioning (e.g. eye-blinking relfex)

• supports spatail coordination

damage to cerebellum

impairs learning of conditioned relfexes but not basic reflexes