Lecture 15: Memory

Summary of Memory systems in the Brain

What are the three components of Memory?

1. Learning - Encoding

2. Consolidation

3. Retrieval

Encodings is a stage of memory formation in which?

Information entering sensory channels is passed into short term memory

Consolidation is a stage of memory formation in which?

Information in short term or intermediate term memory is transferred to long-term memory

Retrieval is a process in memory in which?

A stored memory is used by an organism

Graph of Memory Process

Engram is the?

Physical bases of a memory in the brain which involves changes in neural circuits rather than response from a single neuron

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the nervous system to?

Change in response to experience or the environment which may be physiological or structural

Changes at the synaptic level is influenced by different factors such as?

Genetics, environment factors, and exercise

Diagram of impoverished, standard, and enriched condition

1. Impoverished condition

• Least stimulation

• Animal is alone, minimal toys, minimal sensory input

• Leads to smaller cortex, fewer synapses, weaker learning

2. Standard condition

• Normal environment

• Several animals together, basic stimulation

• Baseline brain development

3. Enriched condition

• High stimulation

• Many animals together, toys, tunnels, exercise wheels, changing environment

• Leads to thicker cortex, more synapses, better learning and memory

Structural MRI scans of brain, Researches have found that human adolescents from an advantageous socioeconomic environment will have a?

Thicker cortex than someone from a low socioeconomic environment

The key anatomical structures involved in forming new memories (Hint: there are 7)

• Hippocampus – essential for forming new declarative memories

• Entorhinal cortex (EC) – major input/output gateway to the hippocampus

• Perirhinal cortex (PRC) – object recognition memory

• Parahippocampal cortex (PHC) – spatial/context memory

• Mammillary bodies – part of the Papez circuit

• Temporal lobe – houses the medial temporal memory system

• Cerebellum – procedural learning (motor memory)

Four different duration categories of memory being?

Sensory Buffer/Iconic Memories
Short Term Memory (Working)
Intermediate-Term Memory
Long-Term Memory

Sensory buffers/Iconic memores are the?

Briefest memories that vanish within seconds which are though to be residual of sensory neural activity

Short-Term Memory is a?

Component of memory that holds a small amount of information in an active, readily available state for brief period, typically a few seconds to a minute

It is mostly holds

7+/-2 information in our brains for 15-30 seconds

A type of STM is working memory which will hold?

A limited amount of information available for ready access during performance of task

Working memory is mainly controlled by?

Prefrontal cortex

Working Memory consist of? (Hint: Their are 3)

Phonological loop: Contains auditory information
Visuospatial sketch pad: Visual impression of stimuli
Episodic Buffer: Platform for integration of visual, auditory and other sensory systems

Baddeley’s Working Memory Model

Shows the four components of working memory:

• Central Executive — directs attention and coordinates the system

• Phonological Loop — holds and rehearses verbal/auditory info

• Visuospatial Sketchpad — holds visual and spatial info

• Episodic Buffer — integrates info from the subsystems + long‑term memory

Also shows connections to long‑term memory systems:

• Language → phonological loop

• Visual semantics → visuospatial sketchpad

• Episodic LTM → episodic buffer

The Hippocampus is involved in the ________ __ __________ but doesn’t do what?

Consolidation of Memory
Doesn’t store long-term memory

What are some facts about consolidation? (Hint: Their are 3)

It takes time to occur
It is vulnerable/fragile
Changed upon recall/restorage

Most memories are stored in the?

Cortex

Sleep after learning enhances the?, this will induce?

Memory processing in hippocampus

Induce memory transfer between hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex

This transfer __________ memories, so new memories become?

Consolidates
Stable

What is one thing about emotional events?

They are remembered better

What are the Good Old Days

Pleasent emotions are usually remembered better than unpleasant ones

What helps memory?

Emotional arousal, not importance of information

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the?

Unwanted recall of fearful stimuli creating a feed-foward loop, with each recall producing emotional reaction than reinforces that memory

Propranolol is?

An adrenalin atagonist, which blocks adrenergic stress hormones

Early treatment with propranolol (perhaps 2 hours after event) may?

Prevent emotional reinforcement of memories in PTSD

What will help a little?

Subsequent Treatment