The Neuroscience of Learning Memory

the study of the nervous system, especially the brain (the brain is the seat of learning and memory)

the system that distributes and processes information; made of two parts

the brain and the spinal cord

nerve fibers that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

nerve fibers that collect and process incoming information

the brain matter found on the top and sides of the brain; made of four parts

plans and performs action

important for vision

handles sensory information

important for hearing

sits behind the cortex and coordinates movement

connects the brain to the spinal cord and regulates automatic functions, like breathing

receives sensory information and relays it to the brain

involved in learning skilled movements

linked to learning new facts and memory

linked to emotion

primary sensory cortices are first stage of cortical sensory processing; more advanced processing occurs in adjacent cortical regions

primary motor cortex gets input from frontal lobes, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and brainstem (brainstem-->spinal cord-->motor fibers)

studies the relationship of brain function to behavior

conducted brain lesions and found that there is not a specific engram that causes memory problems; the size of the removal is what matters

theory that says that the brain acts a whole to store memories; there is no single area

shows the activity or function of the living brain

reflects local blood oxygenation; works because highly active areas use more oxygen

reflects blood flow or glucose utilization; works because highly active areas use more oxygen, it require more blood flow

electrodes on the scalp that measure roar of axons firing in brain areas form two-dimensional "brain wave"

an average EEGs from a repeated event that can measure changes in brain activity during learning and memory tasks

1. Behavior 2. Neural System 3. Cellular/Synaptic Mechanisms 4.

Molecular Mechanisms

a method used to study learning and memory; that views behavior

a method used to study learning and memory; that studies the cause and effect of areas/neurons with organs/behavior

a method used to study learning and memory; that infers function from dysfunction and hyperfunction

a method used to study learning and memory; activation of effector organ or behavior by stimulating molecular entities or neurons

the potential for synapses to be modified

a long-lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons that results from stimulating them synchronously

cells that fire together, are wired together

when things are related, they are easier to recall, just how when something is activated, the adjacent cells are easier to fire.