1. UNIT 3 THE CONSCIOUS SELF
AREA OF STUDY 2
MEMORY

2. ROLE OF THE NEURON IN MEMORY FORMATION
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3. ROLE OF THE NEURON IN MEMORY FORMATION
NEURON: A nerve cell that is specialised to receive, process and/or transmit information to other cells within the body
DENDRITES: Thin extensions of a neuron that receive information from other neurons and transmit it to the soma
SOMA: Integrates the neural information received from dendrites and sends it to the axon. Contains the nucleus
AXON: A single tube-like extension that carries neural information away from the soma towards other neurons
AXON TERMINAL: The terminal button is a small structure like a sac that stores and secretes neurotransmitter
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4. ROLE OF THE NEURON IN MEMORY FORMATION
MYELIN SHEATH: Serves a similar function as the insulation around electrical wire. Helps prevent interference from the activity of other nearby neurons
SYNAPTIC GAP: Tiny space between the pre-synaptic neuron and the post-synaptic neuron which the neurotransmitter travels across
NEUROTRANSMITTER: A chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles and organs. They attach themselves to receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron that are specialised to receive that specific neurotransmitter
Some neurotransmitters are excitatory, some are inhibitory
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5. Creating memories changes the structure and function of neurons
ROLE OF THE NEURON IN MEMORY FORMATION CHANGES IN FUNCTION & STRUCTURE OF NEURONS
Creating memories changes the structure and function of neurons
Changes in the function of neurons is evident in:
An increase in the amount of
neurotransmitter produced and released
by the pre-synaptic neuron
Greater effects of neurotransmitter
at its receptor sites on the
post-synaptic neurons
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6. DIFFERENT NEUROTRANSMITTERS HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES IN MEMORY FORMATION
ROLE OF THE NEURON IN MEMORY FORMATION CHANGES IN FUNCTION & STRUCTURE OF NEURONS
DIFFERENT NEUROTRANSMITTERS HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES IN MEMORY FORMATION
GLUTMATE (Glu): the main excitatory neurotransmitter. Makes post- synaptic neurons more likely to fire. Key role in structural change in growth and strengthening of synaptic connections. NMDA and AMPA receptors have to be present for glutamate to work. These are found in abundance in the hippocampus, a structure involved in the formation of LTM
DOPAMINE (DA): Has a role in attention, initiation of voluntary movement, the experience of pleasure and reward based learning. Contributes to the strengthening of synaptic connections in the brain. As dopamine increases or decreases, so can the functioning of working memory
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7. DIFFERENT NEUROTRANSMITTERS HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES IN MEMORY FORMATION
ROLE OF THE NEURON IN MEMORY FORMATION CHANGES IN FUNCTION & STRUCTURE OF NEURONS
DIFFERENT NEUROTRANSMITTERS HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES IN MEMORY FORMATION
ACETYLCHOLINE (ACh): Involved in learning, attention, sleeping, dreaming and motor control. Low level in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Drugs that inhibit the activity of Ach can cause temporary loss of memory
NOREPINEPHRINE (NE): Has a role in the encoding and retention of memories for emotionally significant experiences. Also called noradrenaline. Secreted automatically during times of heightened emotional arousal. Influences the activities of the amygdala and hippocampus
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8. Creating memories changes the structure and function of neurons
ROLE OF THE NEURON IN MEMORY FORMATION CHANGES IN FUNCTION & STRUCTURE OF NEURONS
Creating memories changes the structure and function of neurons
Changes in the structure of neurons is evident in:
Growth and strengthening of synaptic connections
Number of dendritic spines increases – dendrites become ‘bushier’
This increases the surface area of dendrites which allows for extra synapses
‘Synaptic growth’ allows for more synaptic connections between adjacent neurons in a memory circuit
LONG TERM POTENTIATION is the long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections of neurons, resulting in better communication between neurons and more responsive post-synaptic neurons
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9. HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.1 (pg.288) LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.2 (pg.288)
KK 1A – LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.1 (PAGE 288)
KK 1A – LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.2 (PAGE 288)

10. ROLE OF THE TEMPORAL LOBE IN MEMORY FORMATION
Research conducted on H.M. (Henry Molaison)
Had brain surgery to treat severe epilepsy
Split-brain treatment did not work
His medial temporal lobe was removed
This surgery was successful in stopping seizures
His personality was unchanged and all cognitive functions remained unaffected
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HM could not remember things that happened leading up to the surgery
Memory loss was ‘total’ in period of 2 years leading up to surgery
Memory loss was ‘partial’ in period of 10 years leading up to surgery
Short-term memory was relatively normal but…
He could not form new episodic or semantic memories
Procedural memory was relatively normal

11. ROLE OF THE TEMPORAL LOBE IN MEMORY FORMATION THE ROLE OF THE HIPPOCAMPUS
A medial temporal lobe structure that is crucial for long-term memory formation
Has a role in encoding new declarative explicit memories
Does not appear to have a role in forming or retrieving procedural memories
Believed that the hippocampus does not store long-term memories
Instead the hippocampus transfers memories to other cortical areas for long-term storage
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12. ROLE OF THE TEMPORAL LOBE IN MEMORY FORMATION THE ROLE OF THE HIPPOCAMPUS
A medial temporal lobe structure that is crucial for long-term memory formation
People with damage to the hippocampus also tend to have trouble remembering the location of objects
This indicates that the hippocampus is also important for spatial memory
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13. HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.4 (pg.291)
KK 1B – LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.4 (PAGE 291)

14. ROLE OF THE TEMPORAL LOBE IN MEMORY FORMATION THE ROLE OF THE AMYGDALA
A small structure located next to and interconnected with the hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe
Role in processing and regulating emotional reactions (fear & anger)
Involved in the encoding and storage of memories that have a significant emotional component
Amygdala contributes to the formation of explicit declarative memories ‘flashbulb memories’
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15. ROLE OF THE TEMPORAL LOBE IN MEMORY FORMATION THE ROLE OF THE AMYGDALA
A small structure located next to and interconnected with the hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe
Particularly important for the learning and memory of fear responses involving implicit memory
People with damage to the amygdala are unable to acquire a conditioned fear response
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16. HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.5 (pg.294)
KK 1B – LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.5 (PAGE 294)