Biopsychology Chapter 11 Final

Memory and Brain Structures

• Ice-cream cost from childhood illustrates prospective memory, relating to the ability to remember past experiences.
• Current grocery costs reference working memory, focused on present task performance.
• Damage to the bilateral medial temporal lobe may lead to severe memory impairments, particularly episodic memory issues.
• Episodic memory is also termed autobiographical memory, relating to personal experiences and specific events.
• Remembering classmates from 40 years ago exemplifies long-term declarative memory, particularly episodic.

H.M. Case Study Insights

• H.M. underwent lobectomy removing hippocampus and medial temporal lobes.
• Post-surgery, he experienced anterograde amnesia, being unable to form new memories after the procedure.
• Assessed for memory deficits with tests like the digit span task and mirror tracing.
• H.M. demonstrated unconscious memory through learning tasks despite lacking conscious awareness of learning them.

Brain Regions & Functions

• Figure 11.1 illustrates temporal lobes and potentially the hippocampus.
• Ability to recognize fragmented pictures indicated intact implicit memory and visual processing.
• The occipital lobe is known for complex visual functions.
• The hippocampus is essential for memory consolidation and retrieval.

Experimental Methods and Memory Studies

• The delayed nonmatching-to-sample test for monkeys assesses object recognition memory and working memory capacity.
• Electroconvulsive shocks can produce temporary anterograde amnesia affecting memory for recently acquired information.
• The medial temporal lobe comprises structures like the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus.
• The Mumby box is utilized in rat studies to understand object recognition and memory encoding.

Specialization and Memory Types

• The inferotemporal cortex is specialized in visual memory and processing.
• The cerebellum plays a role in coordination and the formation of procedural memories.
• Learning to ride a bicycle is largely associated with the cerebellum, crucial for motor control and skill acquisition.

Memory Mechanisms and Processes

• Hebbian theory postulates synaptic strengthening through synaptic plasticity, resulting in hypersensitivity of synapses.
• NMDA receptors are critical for the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), a neural basis for learning.
• The increase in the size and number of synapses during LTP is termed synaptic remodeling.

Effects of Brain Damage on Memory

• The amygdala influences emotional aspects of memory, impacting how trauma can enhance memory recall.
• Damage to the inferotemporal cortex can hinder the ability to recognize objects and enhance memory retrieval.
• A patient with prefrontal cortex damage would likely struggle with tasks requiring executive functioning and decision-making.

Memory Types and Brain Areas

• The striatum is implicated in the storage of procedural memory, essential for skills and habits.
• Large lesions in the prefrontal cortex can result in impaired working memory and difficulty in memory organization and retrieval.