Glossary





Immediate memory:

A type of very short-term memory used to maintain information "online" during an experience. Immediate memory occurs over time scales of a second and less.




Working memory:

The short-duration, limited-capacity memory system that simultaneously stores and manipulates information in order to accomplish a task; also called "scratch-pad" memory.




Long-term memory:

A type of memory that lasts from a few hours to many years.




Declarative memory:

Memory for semantic information that can be consciously (and verbally) recalled.




Nondeclarative memory:

A type of memory that cannot be verbally recalled, also called procedural memory. For example, catching a baseball or riding a bicycle.




Amnesia:

A cognitive disorder involving memory loss, typically as a result of a traumatic injury or a degenerative brain condition.




Reinforcement:

The use of reward, encouragement, and repetition to promote learning and memory.




Prefrontal Lobes:

The front part of the brain, associated with complex decision-making, behavioral inhibition, and judgement.




Mnemonic:

A mental procedure used to assist recollection. For example, making up a rhyme to remember an address, or a bizarre image to remember a name.




Hippocampus:

A cortical structure near the center of the brain which plays an important role in memory. The hippocampus is named for its seahorse-like shape in cross section.




Consolidation:

A stage of memory formation during which long-term memories are created.




Cerebral Cortex:

The outer, highly convoluted layer of the cerebral hemispheres. Responsible for perception, emotion, thought and planning.




Limbic System:

A group of brain structures that work to regulate emotions, memory and certain aspects of movement. Includes the amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, septum and basal ganglia.




Temporal Lobe:

Primarily responsible for hearing and memory/learning. Separated from the frontal lobe by the lateral sulcus.




Alzheimer's disease:

A degenerative, age-related form of dementia.




Epilepsy:

A neurological disorder caused by uncontrolled electrical activity that spreads throughout the brain, causing seizures that can last from seconds to several minutes.




Entorhinal cortex:

Evolutionary older cortex in the temporal lobes, located near the hippocampus; may be involved in learning and memory.




Perirhinal cortex:

Evolutionary older cortex in the temporal lobes, located near the hippocampus; may be involved in learning and memory.




Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1