memory systems

Course Overview

  • Reminder of the syllabus and rubric for presentations.

  • The expectation for presentations is clearly outlined.

  • Application questions are due, with a last one due next Friday.

  • Last quiz next week, after which only the presentation and final exam remain.

Participation Grade

  • A significant element of the course grading structure.

  • Worth 30 points, which can significantly influence the final grade.

  • Students should be mindful of their participation over the next week.

  • Encouragement to reach out with any concerns regarding participation grade.

Memory Systems

Procedural vs. Declarative Memory

  • Procedural Memory:

    • System that operates alongside and in competition with the declarative memory system.

    • Major area of brain involved:

    • Striatum (Basal ganglia).

    • Not to be confused with declarative memory, which relies on the Hippocampus.

Experiments on Procedural Memory

  • Discussion of Barbara Knowlton's experiments with Parkinson’s disease patients.

    • Patients demonstrated difficulty in tasks relying on the basal ganglia.

    • Example tasks included learning associations between cards and weather predictions.

    • Parkinson’s patients could recall details about the cards but not apply the learning.

Rat Experiment

  • A rat experiment discussed to illustrate memory systems.

    • Rats tasked with finding rewards within a maze.

    • Focus on the rat's memory type:

    • If rats remember locations of rewards, it indicates declarative memory (dependent on the hippocampus).

    • If relying solely on routine turns within the maze, it highlights procedural memory (basis in basal ganglia).

Attention and Memory Interaction

The Role of Attention in Memory Formation

  • Greater attention to an event increases the likelihood of forming a long-term memory.

  • Emotional significance plays a crucial role in enhancing memory encoding.

Donald Hebb’s Concept of the Engram

  • An engram represents a memory by linking a group of neurons.

    • Cells fire in close temporal proximity to strengthen their connections.

    • This leads to the association and recall of memories based on stimulus recognition.

Factors Influencing Memory Encoding

  • Emotional importance can enhance memory; e.g., comfort during emotional distress.

  • Repetition aids memory retention.

  • Specific emotional states (too stressed or anxious) can adversely affect memory recall.

Flashbulb Memories

  • Definition of flashbulb memory: a highly detailed, vivid snapshot of a momentous event marked by strong emotional engagement.

    • Example: September 11 attacks.

    • Insights from Liz Loftus on the unreliability of these types of memories.

Memory Processing in the Brain

Interaction of Different Brain Regions

  • Different brain regions process sensory experiences:

    • Auditory cortex: processes sound information.

    • Visual cortex: processes sight-related data.

    • Somatosensory cortex: deals with touch information.

  • The Prefrontal Cortex integrates these experiences into coherent memories.

  • The role of the Hippocampus: critical for binding different sensory data into a comprehensive memory.

Cell Assembly Theory vs. Specific Neural Encoding

  • Exploration of the competition between Hebb’s cell assembly theory and specific neuron activation in memory formation.

    • Cells in the inferior temporal cortex fire for specific stimuli (e.g. faces) versus broader patterns of neuronal firing representing comprehensive memory (engram).

Prosopagnosia

  • Definition: a disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces based on facial features.

  • Adaptive strategies often used by those affected include focusing on non-facial cues (e.g., clothing).

  • Discussion prompts reiterated about personal experiences with recognizing faces.