Memory And Brain : The Physical

Aspects of Memory

BY FARAH HAZWANIE SUHAIMI

NUR ASMA LAILI SHAHABUDIN
AIDI AMIZUL RASIDI
6.1 How and where are memories
formed in the brain
 The physical change that takes place in the
brain when a memory is full called the
engram.
 Proved that specific areas of the brain may be
the place in which engrams are formed and
these areas are different for different types of
memory.
Neural Activity and Structure in Memory
Formation

 Several studies offered evidence that the engram

is not simply one physical change but many.
 These change that take place as an engram is
forming called consilidation.
 Consolidation- consists of the physical changes in
neutrons that take place during the formation of
the memory.
 Although people learn quickly, the memory of
what has been learned take some time to be form
quickly.
The Hippocampus and Memory

 A part of limbic system, it was identified as the

part of the brain that is responsible for the
formation of new long-term memories.
 As with most amnesiacs of type (refer with
H.M’s case although was quite severe), his
procedural memory was still intact.
 Appears to be responsible for the storage of
new long-term memories. If it is removed, the
ability to store anything new is completely lost.
When Memory Fails:
Organic Amnesia

 Retrograde Amnesia- loss of memory

from the pain of some injury or
trauma backwards, or loss of memory
for the past.
6.12 What is Alzheimer’s disease?

 Two forms of severe loss of memory

disorders caused by problems in the
functioning of the memory areas of the
brain.
 These problems is called brain injuries
which can cause trauma and alcoholism
(Korsakoff Syndrome).
 For example- You are working on your
computer, trying to finish a history paper that
is due tomorrow. Your computer saves the
document every 10 minutes, then the power
goes out. When the power comes back on,
you find that while all the files you had
already saved to your disk are still intact.
 All memories that were in the process of
being stored but not yet permanent are lost.
One of the therapies for severe
despression:-

ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy)- *refer chptr 15

 Can disrupt consolidation and cause
retrograde amnesia.
 Consists of applying an electric shock to one
or both side of the head.
 The result is rapid improvement in mood-
(most effective) but not respond to
medication.
Anterograde Amnesia

 Memory for anything new become impossible

although old memories may still be
retrievable.
 People with this kind of amnesia have
difficulty remembering anything new.
 They also most often seen in people with
senile dementia- the primary symptoms such
as severe forgetfulness, mental confusion and
mood swings.
 For example- You can read data that already
in hard drive but you can’t store any new info.
As long as are looking at the data in
computer, you can access it but as soon as
you close the window, the info is lost then it
was never transfer to hard drive because the
hard drive has become defective.
 Meaning that your long-term memory
physically weak.
Infantile Amnesia

 Most people cannot remember events

that occurred before age 2-3.
 It is most likely due to the implicit
nature of infant memory.
Autobiographical Memory

 The memory for events and facts related

to one’s personal life story.
 Also gives credit to the social relationships
that small children have with others. (by
Katherine Nelson, 1993)