WHS AP Psychology

Unit 2: Memory (Cognition)

Essential Task 2-3: Describe the physiological systems of memory with specific attention to long-term potentiation and the brain regions where memories are stored.

Information Processing Model 1. Encoding 2. Storage 3. Retrieval

gone All the rest External Stimuli Sensory Registers Long Term Memory

Retrieval

Short Term Memory

Essential Task 2-:

Outline

• Physiology of Memory – Process:

•

long-term potentiation

•

Stress hormones

– Where: Brain Structures

•

Hippocampus

• Where the memories are processed

How are the Memories Stored?

Synaptic Changes Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) A long-lasting change in the structure or function of a synapse that increase the efficiency of neural transmission.

Stress Hormones & Memory   Heightened emotions (stress-related or otherwise) make for stronger memories. Hormones such as Epinephrine act on brain centers in the brain   Extreme stress undermines learning and later recall How does this apply to an exam?

Brain structures

• Hippocampus: turns STM into LTM • The hippocampus (named after its resemblance to the

seahorse

, from the Greek hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning "sea monster")

Where Are Memories Stored?

Biological Forgetting Factors

• Damage to the Hippocampus – Difficulty forming new memories – Diminished in Alzheimer’s patients • Neurotransmitters play a role – Acetylcholine – Alzheimer’s patients show low levels of this • Decay theory – Memories deteriorate because of the passage of time – Distractor Studies – information fades from STM