Sunteți pe pagina 1din 21

C 57 Cortical Centers, Speech & Memory

By Prof. Dr. Abdul Majid MBBS, M.Phil, FCPS

Memories
Memories are the storage of sensory information in all parts of the brain especially in the synapses. It occurs due to facilitation or inhibition of the memory traces. Positive memory: For incoming information that causes important consequences such as pain or pleasure,

Cont:
the brain has automatic capability of enhancing and storing the memory traces. This is positive memory. It results from facilitation of the synaptic pathways, and process is called memory sensitization. Negative memory: The brain has the capability to ignore the information that is of no consequent. This occurs by inhibition of the synaptic transmission and the process is called habituation or negative memory.

Cont:
This occurs by inhibition of the synaptic transmission and the process is called habituation or negative memory. The role of limbic system: Special areas in the limbic regions of the brain determine whether information is important or unimportant and make the subconscious decision whether to store the thoughts as sensitized memory or to suppress it.

Cont:
Classification of the memories: According to the type of information that is stored. 1. Declarative memory: It includes all description regarding an event or incident. 2. Skill memory: It includes capability of a person after training that how he will play Tanis ball.

Cont:
Classification of the memories: According to the time for which they are remembered. 1. Short term memories. 2. Intermediate long term memories. 3. Long term memories.

Cont:
Short term memories: Includes memories that last for seconds to minutes unless they are converted into long term memories. It is typified by ones memory of 7 to 10 numerals in a telephone number (or 7 to 10 other discrete facts) for a few seconds to a few minutes at a time but lasting only as long as the person continues to think about the numbers or facts.

Cont:
Short term memory is caused by continual neural activity resulting from signals that travel around & around a temporary memory trace in a circuit of reverberatory neurons. Other possibility is that it may occur by presynaptic facilitation or inhibition.

Cont:
Intermediate long term memories: It may last for many days to weeks. They will eventually be lost unless the memories traces are activated enough to become more permanent. They result from temporary chemical or physical changes or both in either the presynaptic terminals or postsynaptic membrane.

Memory System that has been Discovered in the Snails Aplysia

Cont:
When the sensory terminal is stimulated repeatedly but without stimulation of the facilitated terminal, the signal transmission at first is greater, but it becomes less & less intense with repeated stimulation until transmission almost ceases. The neuronal circuit to lose its response to repeated events that are insignificant.

Cont:
Conversely, if the noxious stimulus excites the facilitated terminal at the same time that the sensory terminal is stimulated, then transmission of signal instead of becoming weaker & weaker becomes stronger & stronger, and it will remains stronger for days upto 3weeks even without further stimulation of facilitated terminal.

Cont:
Molecular basis of intermediate memory: Mechanism of habituation, it occurs due to progressive closure of calcium channels. Mechanism of facilitation: 1. Stimulation of facilitator presynaptic terminal releases serotonin. 2. Serotonin activates adenyl cyclase resulting in formation of cAMP.

Cont:
3. cAMP activates protein kinase that causes phosphorylation of a protein that itself is part of potassium channels in the sensory synaptic terminal membrane, this in turn blocks the channels for potassium conductance. (The blockage can last for minutes upto several weeks).

Cont:
4. Lack of potassium conductance causes greatly prolong AP in the synaptic terminal. 5. The prolonged AP causes prolonged activation of calcium channels which enter into the sensory terminal resulting in release of neuro transmitter.

Cont:
Long term memory: it is the type of memory, which, once stored, can be recalled upto years or even a life time later. It is believed to result from actual structural changes, instead of only chemical changes, at the synapses and these changes enhance or suppress the signal transmission.

Cont:
These physical structural changes will not occur if the drug is given that blocks DNA stimulation of protein replication in the presynaptic neuron physical structural changes include; Increased in vesicle release sites. Increased in the number of transmitter vesicles released.

Cont:
Increased in the number of presynaptic terminals. Changes in the structure of the dendritic spines that permit transmission of stronger signals. Consolidation of memory: For short term memory to be changed into long term memory it must be consolidated short term memory if activated repeatedly will initiate

Cont:
chemical physical and anatomical changes in the synapses that are responsible for long term memory. The process requires 5-10 minutes for minimal consolidation and 1 or more hours for strong consolidation e.g. if strong sensory impression is made on the brain but is immediately followed by;

Cont:
Electrical convulsions. Brain concussion. Sudden application of general anesthesia then consolidation is prevented. Rehearsal enhances the process of consolidation. Also a person who is wide awake can consolidate better than a person who is in a state of mental fatigue.

Cont:
Role hippocampi: Destruction of hippocampus can result in to anterograde amnesia (loss of short term memory) or some retrograde amnesia (loss of memory of the past) or both. Damage to certain areas of the thalamus certainly causes retrograde amnesia. Hippocampi are not essential for skill learning or reflexive learning.

S-ar putea să vă placă și