7 Memory and Its Neural Basis Free Online FlashCards

What are the three core processes involved in memory?

Memory is the ability to encode information, retain it, and retrieve it later.

What is working memory, and which cortical regions support it?

Working memory briefly holds and manipulates information for an ongoing task. It relies on attention and a distributed network that includes prefrontal and parietal cortex.

What does episodic memory represent?

Episodic memory concerns personal events in their context, including where and when they occurred.

What is the hippocampus especially important for in episodic memory?

The hippocampus and nearby medial temporal lobe structures are especially important for forming new episodic memories and binding details into coherent events.

How can familiarity differ from contextual recollection in the medial temporal lobe?

Familiarity for an item can rely more on surrounding medial temporal lobe cortex, while the hippocampus is particularly important for recollecting relationships and context.

How is nondeclarative memory typically expressed?

Nondeclarative memory is expressed through learned performance or responses, often without conscious recollection.

Which neural circuits support habit and action-sequence learning?

Basal-ganglia circuits support learning habits and action sequences.

What kinds of learning does the cerebellum contribute to?

The cerebellum contributes to motor adaptation and some forms of conditioned response.

What role does the amygdala play in emotional learning?

The amygdala helps learn and express associations involving emotional significance, such as fear.

How does the prefrontal cortex support memory?

The prefrontal cortex helps organize information during learning, guide retrieval, select relevant memories, and monitor whether recalled details fit the context.

What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a lasting increase in the effectiveness of communication at some synapses. It is a useful model of circuit change, not a complete explanation of memory.

How do synaptic and systems consolidation differ?

Synaptic consolidation stabilizes changes at the cellular and synaptic level; systems consolidation describes longer-term changes in how brain regions support a memory.