1. UNIT 3 THE CONSCIOUS SELF
AREA OF STUDY 2
MEMORY

2. CONSOLIDATION THEORY
Proposes that structural changes occur in brain neurons when something new is learned, and immediately after learning
These neuronal changes require a period after learning takes place to ‘consolidate’
If memory formation is disrupted during consolidation, information may not be embedded in LTM and may be lost
The information being remembered is vulnerable to disruption for at least 30 minutes
It is believed that the hippocampus plays a crucial role in consolidation
KK 1C – PAGE

3. CONSOLIDATION THEORY RESEARCH ON CONSOLIDATION THEORY
We can conduct research on people who have experienced brain trauma or have received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to provide evidence of consolidation theory
These people are frequently unable to report any memory of events immediately before the accident or treatment
In many instances they cannot remember anything that occurred during a period of 30 minutes before the brain trauma (Squire & Kandel 1999)
HUDSPETH, McGAUGH & THOMSON (1964) – RAT MAZE
KK 1C – PAGE 295
GROUP
CONDITION
RESULT A
ECT administered immediately
No memory of learning B
ECT administered 20 seconds after learning
Partial retention of maze C
ECT administered 30 minutes after learning D
ECT administered 60 minutes after learning
Full retention of maze

4. CONSOLIDATION THEORY RECONSOLIDATION
After memory is activated and retrieved from LTM, it needs to be consolidated again in order to be stored back in LTM
GAZZANIGA & HEATHERTON (2006)
Rats injected with drugs that interfere with memory storage after a memory has been activated
Rats were unable to reliably or accurately recall information that was once stored in LTM
This suggests that newly reconsolidated memories may differ from their original versions
KK 1C – PAGE 295

5. HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.6 (pg.296)
KK 1C – LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.6 (PAGE 296)

6. AMNESIA
Refers to the loss of memory, either partial or complete, temporary or permanent
Anterograde amnesia
Retrograde amnesia
KK 1E – PAGE

7. AMNESIA
Brain trauma caused by an inflicted or acquired head injury commonly results in some kind of amnesia
Severity of injury determines type of amnesia
Typically a temporary loss of consciousness followed by a period of confusion
The period forgotten generally decreases over time, often leaving some ‘residual’ amnesia of only a few seconds to a minute for events preceding the injury
The duration of amnesia can vary:
(KOLB & WHISHAW 1996)
KK 1E – PAGE
10%
Less than one week
30%
Duration 2-3 weeks
60%
Duration 3+ weeks

8. AMNESIA There are many different kinds of amnesia:
People can become amnesic for the meaning of nouns, but not verbs (and vice versa)
People can become amnesic for animals but not humans
People can become amnesic for human faces but not objects
Sometimes only STM is affected
Some people have difficulty learning new information
People have difficulty accessing information from LTM
KK 1E – PAGE

9. AMNESIA ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA
Occurs when brain trauma causes loss of memory for information or events after the trauma occurs
Memories of information or events experienced prior to the trauma still remain
People with anterograde amnesia lose the ability to form or store new memories
KORSAKOFF’S SYNDROME
A neurodegenerative disease involving severe memory disorders associated with brain damage, deep within the middle of the brain where the thalamus is located
Mainly occurs in people who are chronic alcoholics
They have relatively normal IQ, are alert and attentive, appear motivated
KK 1E – PAGE

10. AMNESIA RETROGRADE AMNESIA
Occurs when brain trauma causes loss of memory for information or events before the trauma occurs
The memory loss may extend back a few moments, days, weeks or sometimes years
Usually temporary in nature and often caused by a blow to the head
READ EXAMPLE OF RITCHIE RUSSELL (pg.299)
People who experience retrograde amnesia typically find that their inability to remember information and events leading up to the brain trauma gradually disappears
They find the period right before the trauma is never recovered
KK 1E – PAGE

11. HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.7 (pg.300)
KK 1E – LEARNING ACTIVITY 7.7 (PAGE 300)