thinking about learning and memory Types of memory, CNS regions, memory impairments Learning? Models for learning

Memory Processing if attended

Short-term Memory (STM) Limited capacity (7 items) can use chunking Brief duration Can be lost without rehearsal or with interference

Memory Processing if attended

Short-term Memory (STM) Limited capacity (7 items) can use chunking Brief duration can be lost without rehearsal or with interference Long-term Memory (LTM) more permanent storage Consolidation - Process by which rehearsal of information in STM results in transfer to LTM

Memory Processing retrieval if attended

Amnesia Amnesia refers to a failure to remember Anterograde amnesia - difficulty in forming new memories for events that occur after a brain trauma Retrograde amnesia - inability to recall events that occurred prior to a trauma Amnesia can be temporary or permanent

Hippocampal Damage and Amnesia Severe anterograde amnesia follows bilateral damage to the hippocampus

H.M. medial temporal amnesia consequences: severe anterograde amnesia Surgery – 1953 for debilitating epilepsy bilateral removal of hippocampus consequences: severe anterograde amnesia short-term memory intact long term memory prior to surgery intact motor memories intact medial temporal amnesia

Memory Processes Declarative memory: memories available as facts, events, or specific stimuli Nondeclarative memory: stimulus-response and motor memories that control behaviors at an unconscious level

Hippocampal dependent

these can be true or false

Other CNS regions important for memory Prefrontal Cortex- memory deficits – planning, sequence of events Cerebellum motor memories

amygdala part of the limbic system; emotional memories

some other ways that memory can be affected Alzheimers disease Hippocampus has many cholinergic neurons basal forebrain – area specifically affected by AD Korsakoff’s syndrome

some other ways that memory can be affected Korsakoff’s syndrome severe anterograde amnesia with elements of confabulation consequence of chronic alcohol abuse lesions in a number of brain structures including

some other ways that memory can be affected ECS – electroconvulsive shock State dependent memories (and state dependent learning)