The psychobiological process of memory chap 6

• Memory: an information processing system that actively receives, organises, stores and recovers information
• Encoding: converting sensory information into a useable form that can be processed by the brain
• Storage: retaining information over time
• Retrieval: accessing information that has previously been stored
• Role: the function of a memory store
• Capacity: the amount of information held within a memory store
• duration: the length of time information is held within a memory store
• Sensory memory: a memory store that receives and stores an unlimited amount of incoming sensory information for a brief time
• Short-term memory: a memory store that has limited capacity of short duration, unless the information is renewed
• Displacement: adding new single items to short-term memory by pushing out old items
• Decay: the fading away of information in short-term memory when not maintained by rehearsal
• Rehearsal: the conscious manipulation of information to keep it in short-term memory for longer or to transfer it to long-term memory
• Long-term memory: memory that is relatively permanent and holds huge amounts of information for a long time, possibly lifelong
• Semantic: relating to meaning
• explicit memory: information that can be consciously retrieved and stated, such as ‘known facts’
• Declarative memory: an explicit long-term memory of specific facts and events, most of which can be stated or ‘declared’
• Semantic memory: the declarative memory of facts or knowledge about the world
• Episodic memory: the declarative memory of personally experienced events
• Implicit memory: memory not requiring conscious retrieval, such as ‘how to‘ skills
• Cerebral cortex: a thin, outer layer of the brain; involved in complex mental abilities, sensory processing, voluntary movements and storage of explicit memories
• Amygdala: a structure located deep in the temporal midbrain; involved in emotional reactions and formation of emotional memories particularly relating to fear
• Hippocampus: a structure in the temporal midbrain; involved in formation of long-term explicit memories and their transfer to the cerebral cortex for storage
• Consolidation: the process by which a temporary memory is transformed into a more stable, long-lasting form
• Neocortex: the top layer of the cerebral cortex that is involved in high-order mental processes such as language, attention and memory
• Basal ganglia: a group of structures deep within the cerebral hemispheres; involved in motor movement, procedural memory and learning
• Cerebellum: a cauliflower-shaped structure at the base of the brain; coordinates timing and fluency of movements; encodes and temporarily stores implicit memories of simple conditioned reflexes
• Autobiographical memory: a memory system consisting of episodes recollected from an individuals life, based on a combination of episodic and semantic memory
• Reconstruction: the combining of stored information with other available information to form what is believed to be a more coherent, complete or accurate memory
• Episodic future thinking: projecting yourself forwards in time to pre-experience an event that might happen in your personal future
• Mental time travel: the capacity to mentally reconstruct past personal events and imagine possible future scenarios
• Amnesia: a permanent or temporary, complete partial loss of memory
• Lesion: a damaged or abnormal area of the brain that may appear like a scar or wound
• amyloid and plaque: an abnormal build-up of beta-amyloid proteins between the synapses of neurons that interfere with communication
• Neurofibrillary tangle: an abnormal build-up of protein inside a neuron that is associated with cell death
• Brain atrophy: the loss of neurons within the brain
• Anterograde amnesia: the inability to form new explicit long-term memories after an amnesia-causing event
• Retrograde amnesia: the inability to retrieve previously stored memories after an amnesia-causing event
• Aphantasia: the inability to visualise imagery
• Visual cortex: the primary cortical region of the brain that receives, integrates and processes visual information relayed from the retinas
• Congenital: present from birth