Unit 1: Introduction to the Brain

Student Guide Lesson 8

1. What are the objectives of today’s lesson?

● define memory
● identify the stages of memory
● differentiate between the types of memory
● list a few memory disorders
● identify tips to improve memory

2. Review the triad:

● Executive Function; Cortex

● Reward; Nucleus Accumbens
● Threat; Amygdala

3. What is memory?

● A memory is the reactivation of a specific group of neurons

● Memory involves the process of encoding, storing, and retrieving experiences and
knowledge
● During the retrieval process (remembering), neurons that were involved in the original
experience fire in the same pattern they did when the information was first stored

4. Describe the stages of memory and what your brain does:

● Encode (initial learning) – your brain determines whether to “store” information

● Store (maintaining information over time) – If it is important, your brain places that
information in “memory files”
● Retrieve (recall) – the ability to access the information when you need it. Think of the
memory file as “on the fly” files

5. How are memories formed?

● Memory is the reactivation of a specific group of neurons

● Synaptic Plasticity describes the persistent changes in the strength of connections (called
synapses) between brain cells
● These connections can be made stronger or weaker depending on when and how often they
have been activated in the past
● Active connections tend to get stronger, whereas those that are not used get weaker and can
eventually disappear entirely

U1L6 Student Guide 1

 ● Changing the strength of existing synapses or even adding new ones or removing old ones, is
critical to memory formation

6. What is the difference between declarative and nondeclarative memories?

● Declarative (explicit) – knowing the “what” – memories of knowledge and facets

- For example: remembering the times table
● Nondeclarative (implicit) – unconscious
- For example: using motor memories to move tongue and lips to talk

7. What is memory consolidation and when does it occur?

● Memory consolidation is the storage from working to long term

● Occurs during sleep
● While we sleep, the hippocampus replays recent events
● The same neurons in the hippocampus during an experience become activated again during
deep sleep
● This occurs repeatedly, helping to update the neocortex about what needs to be stored
● Replay occurs during sleep, so if you are not getting enough sleep, you are not letting your
brain consolidate memories

8. What is a working memory and how is it similar to being the “brain’s post-it notes”?
● The ability to process and remember information at the same time
● Holds a small amount of information
● Necessary step towards long term memory

9. Where are memories formed and stored?

● Memories are not stored in just one part of the brain
● Different types are stored across different interconnected brain regions
- explicit memories (conscious) – hippocampus, neocortex, and amygdala
- implicit memories (unconscious) – basal ganglia and cerebellum
- working memory- prefrontal cortex

10. Which parts of the brain are involved with memory?

● Working memory; prefrontal cortex
● Long term memory
- Declarative ; hippocampus, neocortex, amygdala
- Nondeclarative; basal ganglia, cerebellum

U1L6 Student Guide 2

 11. Take a few notes on the Living Lesson video
● memory is in the hippocampus
● it showed the difference between long and short term memory
● special proteins strengthen the synapse connections in the hippocampus
● prefrontal cortex is where the long term memories go.
● procedural memory depended on basal ganglia
● unable to permanently store new information

12. Who is Henry Molaison (HM)?

● His hippocampus was surgically removed during an operation to treat his epilepsy
● After the surgery he was only able to form episodic memories that lasted a matter of
minutes
● Unable to permanently store new information
● He was still able to improve performance on various motor tasks, even though no memory of
ever encountering or practicing them
● Study proved that the hippocampus is crucial for laying down memories, it is not the site of
permanent memory storage and is not needed for motor memories
● The study also showed that multiple types of memory existed, and that implicit motor
learning occurs in other brain areas – the basal ganglia and cerebellum

13. What is the hippocampus responsible for in relevance to memory?

● Consolidating new memories for facts and events
● Navigation
● Spatial orientation
● long term storage of information
● It records information; involves plasticity or physical changes in different areas
● Moves information from working memory storage to long term storage

14. What role does fear play in forming memories?

● The amygdala plays a key role in forming new memories specifically related to fear
● fearful memories can be formed after one incident or only a few repetitions
● Understanding how the amygdala processes fear is important

15. Describe the difference between progressive and immediate memory disorders:

● Progressive
- degenerative ultimately fatal brain disease
- inability to acquire new memories
- Difficulty recalling recent facts
- Example: Alzheimer’s

U1L6 Student Guide 3

 ● Immediate
- Damage to the brain caused by an outside force
- Potential for amnesia
- Can be associated with memory impairment
- disrupts normal brain functioning
- Example: Traumatic Brain Injury

16. Tips to Improve Memory

● Sleep

● Participate actively

● practice and test yourself

● Eat a healthy diet

● Exercise

17. Motivation and Memory

● You remember what is interactive to you

● Why do teachers attempt to make content more interesting with songs or acronyms?

- It helps you memorize it more efficiently

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18. Memory Take-Away

● You remember what you care about, what you are interested in and what you are emotional
about… because all of those things are largely involved in the brain’s making of memories

U1L6 Student Guide 4