Biology of Memory

• Changes happen at the cellular level when learning occurs

Long-Term Potentiation

• Increased efficiency in the synapse when repeatedly stimulated

• The neuron will need less activation

• More connections are made and so the memory is easier to access

• Can last from hours to weeks

Explicit Memory

• Memory for experiences and facts

• Associated with the hippocampus and the frontal lobe

  • The hippocampus is the hub through which complex neural memory networks are made

Implicit Memory

• Memory for procedures, conditioning, timing

• The cerebellum is associated with this type of memory

  • Also associated with classical conditioning

• The basal ganglia in the deep brain are associated with procedural motor skills like walking

Emotional Memory

• The limbic system is the center of emotion in the brain

• Including the hippocampus and amygdala

Flashbulb Memories

• Extremely vivid and emotionally potent memories

• Typically of a personal, impactful experience

  • For many American adults, the moment they heard about 9/11 is a flashbulb memory

  • So vivid, you can often recall the smells, the temperature, the weather, and other small details

• Not immune to distortion

• Thought to occur because of the immense emotional meaning

  • The limbic system kicks in and recognizes this as a very important event

  • Because of that, every detail is encoded