Human Memory

Jonathan Hawley
B.A. Biology Baylor University (2007)
B.S. Neuroscience Baylor University (2010)
D.D.S. Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry
(2017)

EDHP 503 Micro-Teaching Presentation

Lecture Objectives
Be familiar with terminology used when
discussing memory
Identify the anatomic structures and
basic physiology of the brain involved
with memory
Identify common deficits, diseases, and
disorders of memory
Obtain skills to increase memory
Increase patient compliance

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

What Is Memory?
Process in which information is
encoded, stored, and retrieved
Sum of what we have learned and
remember
Aids in adaptation to future
experiences

Everyday Examples of
Memory
Phone number of significant other or
family
Address from childhood
First pet that died
Flashbulb memory

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Major Memory Divisions

Sensory Memory
Short-Term Memory
Long-term Memory

Sensory Memory
Brief lingering of stimulus after it is
removed
Five senses snapshot
Acts as filter
Duration less than 1second
Passed to short-term memory

Short-Term Memory
Temporary storage of stimuli
Often referred to as working memory
Function codes sensory memory for longer
storage
Duration 20seconds (w/o rehearsal)
Capacity 7 2 span
Span
Chunking
1776198514922004
1776 1985 1492 2004

Passed on to long-term memory

Long-Term Memory
Duration unlimited*
Capacity unlimited
Function extended storage of
stimuli

Types of Long-Term Memory

Explicit (Declarative) Memory
What it is
Recalled and declared
Example: atomic number of Carbon is 6
Two types:
Episodic Memory
Experiences, events
Autobiographical events
Flashbulb events

Semantic Memory
Facts, meanings, concepts, knowledge

Types of Long-Term Memory (cont.)

Implicit (Procedural) Memory
Skills, procedures, orders
How to do it
Example: drill movement while using
indirect vision

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Memory Mechanisms
Coding
Storage
Consolidation

Retrieval
Recall
Recognition

Coding

How a memory is stored

Perception
Focused awareness
Different types of Coding:
Auditory
Main mechanism for STM

Semantic
Main mechanism for LTM

Visual
Tactile

Consolidation

Conversion of STM to LTM

Concreting new memory traces
Sleep plays vital role in consolidation
Two types:
Synaptic Consolidation
Biological changes hours to days

Systemic Consolidation
Shift from hippocampus to cortex weeks to years

Rehearsal
Repetition of stimuli
Reintroduction of information into STM

Retrieval
Recognition
Shallow level of processing
Identification of something previously
encountered
Examples: multiple choice exams, faces,

Recall
Deep level of processing
Retrieval of an encoded and consolidated fact,
event, object, etc. from LTM
Examples: remembering the name of your first
kiss, essay or short answer exams

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Anatomical Structures
STM
Prefrontal cortex
Frontal cortex
Parietal lobes

LTM
More widespread
throughout brain
Temporal cortex
Explicit memory

Cerebellum
Implicit memory

Other important
structures for memory:
Hippocampus*
Culminating site for
senses combined as one
experience
Essential for consolidation
from STM to LTM
Involved with spatial
memory

Dentate Gyrus
Amygdala
Emotion enhanced
attention

Physiology of Memory
Biochemical alteration of synapses through
hormones, neurotransmitters, proteins, etc.
Long-term potentiation
Simultaneous activation of two neurons enhances
and lengthens duration of signal transmission
Discovered in hippocampus
Working out for the brain strengthens
synapses
Currently considered major factor of brain
plasticity

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Class Activity Memory

Loop
Using the terminology presented in
the first half of the lecture, draw a
concept sketch of the human memory.
It can be as simple or as complex as
you, the student, desire. You are able
to work with your neighbor, but
encouraged to try it alone first.
Remember, this is a learning tool to
help solidify concepts presented
before we progress to disease or
damaged states.
While drawing your concept sketch,
try to think of common diseases that
affect the population and which areas
of the process may be interrupted by
each.
We will take 2-3 minutes during class
to complete the exercise

Memory Loop

Memory Loop

Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968) Information Processing Model

Other Resources for

Investigation
Brief presentation
Pick a topic of interest
Explain it to a friend or family member

Websites
Luminosity (www.luminosity.com)
Memrise (www.memrise.com)
Cognitive Fun (www.cognitivefun.com)
Cambridge Brain Science (
www.cambridgebrainsciences.com)

Lecture Overview

What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Forgetting
What do we forget?
Autobiographical memory
Skills

Mechanisms of forgetting
Failure of consolidation
Failure of retrieval
Decay
Interference

Repression

What Do We Remember
Well?

Faces
Language
Some skills
Emotional events

Common Deficits, Disorders,

Diseases
Alcohol
Mostly effects retrieval of declarative
memory
Impairs encoding of episodic memory

Korsakoffs Syndrome
Thiamine deficiency
Often associated with alcoholism

Age
Mostly effects retrieval of episodic memory

Common Deficits, Disorders, Diseases

(cont.)
Alzheimers Disease

Progressively degenerating brain disease

Dementia
Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
Episodic STM semantic LTM

Common Deficits, Disorders, Diseases

(cont.)
Amnesia
Retrograde unable to recall before event
(i.e. old memories)
Anterograde unable tor recall after event
(i.e. new memories)
Psychogenic severe stress or
psychological trauma; no physical brain
damage (i.e. PTSD)
Post-Traumatic after an accident; may be
retrograde or anterograde

Super Memory
Chase & Ericsson (1981) S.F. digit
span
Hyperthymestic Syndrome
AJ - CBS 60 Minutes

Eidetics
Savants
Memory contest winners

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Memory Palace (Method of

Loci)
Simonides (c.556c.468 B.C.E.)
Cicero (106-43 B.C.E.)
Banquet in Thessaly

Lecture Overview
What is Memory?
Major Memory Divisions & Other
Terminology
Memory Mechanisms
Anatomy & Physiology
Class Activity & Other Resources
Forgetting, Deficits, Disorders, Diseases
Memory Palace
Application: Increasing Memory

Application:
Spatial Memory to Enhance Memory

Application:
Tips & Tricks
Chunking
Must make sense

Elaboration
Link stimulus to other information while
encoding

Minimize interference
Organization
Manipulate the recency effect

Application:
Increasing Patient Compliance
Use joint effort wording adherence
vs. compliance, we vs. you, etc.
SIMPLE
S Simplifying regimen characteristics
I Imparting knowledge
M Modifying patient beliefs
P Patient communication
L Leaving the bias
E Evaluating adherence

Application:
Everyday Use

Physical cues
Uniqueness
Repeat back in own words
Doctor follow up
Set alarms

Summary
Multiple terminology relating to memory
Extremely complicated and exciting
focus of research
Forgetting, diseases, and deficits are
common in todays society
There are many ways to enhance
memory
Today vs. yesterday

Questions?

Bibliography

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http://www.human-memory.net/index.html
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