This episode of the Brain Science Podcast is a discussion of memory based on the book, Memory: From Mind to Molecules (2000), by Larry R. Squire, and Eric R. Kandel.
The Brain Science Podcast feed is available here.
Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email
Show Notes
I highly recommend you get this book for yourself if you want to read the details of the experiments. The book contains excellent illustrations.
Some of the experimental animals mentioned in this episode include Aplysia (giant sea snails), Drosophila (fruit flies), and mice.
Mechanisms of memory formation and storage seem to be shared from the simplest non-vertebrates up through humans.
Types of Memory: declarative and non-declarative. Non-declarative memory is generally NOT subject to conscious awareness or control.
There are many different types of non-declarative memory including:
- motor skills
- habituation and sensitization
- classical and operant conditioning
- priming
- perceptual skills
Declarative memory, which seems to be unique to animals that have a hippocampus and cerebral cortex, includes short-term (immediate and working memory) and long-term memory. Much research has been devoted to discovering how and where long-term memory occurs. The answer may surprise you.
This episode includes a discussion of some of the unanswered questions in memory research.
Filed under: Neuroscience, Podcast Show Notes, brain science
Hey,
great topic, definitely something for more than one podcast. Short commentary follows.
1) I think the new logo should be a zombie in a labcoat.
2) What I missed – and this might come up in another show – was how the general public’s understanding of concepts like “eidetic memory” or “repressed memories” compare to the scientific understanding.
3) Very important to note that memories are not as reliable as we think they are. Perhaps that, too, might be a separate show?
4) What I liked this time was how intuitive a lot of the findings are. I mean, when I learn something, for example for an exam (“What is this cramming that you are speaking of?”
), I usually try to write things down, perhaps draw a sketch or a chart, speak it aloud, try to find examples, in order to form as many connections as I can.
5) another topic might be concentration, or focusing on things. I notice that while I am listening, a certain point will occupy my mind. I then try to rephrase the point, perhaps also look for an example, so I don’t forget the gist of it, but then a few seconds have passed and I may have missed the next point. Or when I’m sitting in a lecture and the professor is talking for 90 minutes straight, my concentration sort of wafts in and out.
Have a nice weekend!
Great Feedback as usual Patrick!
Do you see the Zombie carrying a brain perhaps?
On the subject of repressed memories, I think I will have to emphasize more clearly on another episode that current evidence is almost the opposite Freud’s ideas. This is important because a lot of “therapy” still seems to be based on the idea that recovering “repressed” memories is the key to mental health and happiness.
I think it came up in your previous episode where you commented on trauma victims not getting better by talking about it, but actually only wallowing in the bad emotions/memories – in and of itself very interesting –, that you made an off-hand comment on Freud.
In Germany, I think Freud has a somewhat better standing (we’re woo-woo land, anyway. Not religiously fanatic, but homeopathy and its ilk).
But also, the “repressed memory” is a common film thrope (along with the loss of memory from an accident or something), and even if neurologists know better, I think a lot of people would still think traumatic episodes are likely to be repressed.
So, misconceptions about memory or something might actually make for a well-filled podcast.
I know that since you mentioned it in the last podcast, I have actually questioned my 9/11-memories. Where I was, what I did, etc. I’ve come to the conclusion that at the very least I’ve streamlined the story and ironed out the kinks, so that it makes for a better narrative. Now much of it I just took from other people talking about it? I don’t know. But since my memory is not all that spectacular – just happening upon it on TV, calling my friends and family and staring incredulously – I don’t see a lot of possibilities for edits. Though I’m not sure I set up a conference call with two friends of mine, or whether I just called them and hung up again. Since I’d be hard pressed to name which two stayed on the line, I’m guessing the latter.
Oh, and the zombie carrying/handling/examining a brain? Duh. It’s a zombie
Patrick,
I think you are going to be a star on the Brain Science Forum once I get it going!
I appreciate all your thoughtful comments.
It is very helpful to learn about the German perspective on Freud. In the States he has been largely discredited for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is recent evidence that he may have fabricated some of his case studies.
I spent several years studying Jung but Freud always seemed to obsessed with sex for my tastes.
Karl Popper wrote very convincingly about why both Freud and Jung’s thought should be regarded as pseudo-science. I don’t know what is available in German, but I liked Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge .
Your thoughts about 9/11 were intriguing. I think we all have strange memory lapses/gaps that make us wonder about the whole process.
I look forward to exploring the area further in the future.
Freud – obsessed with sex? No way!
Really enjoyed this episode! I agree with Patrick that you could have several ’spin-off’ podcasts from this one. I especially enjoyed hearing someone else admit to not being able to cram. I never could, I used to give up about a week before the exams – my friends all thought I was mad. Also, on memory malleability, my sister and I used to have endless arguements about our childhood memories of the same events, and I now realise that my version was as legitimate as hers! I can remember being called in to see 9/11 on a colleagues computer, several of us stood in shocked silence and then all started saying at once this can’t be happening. That day is still very clear in my memory. Look forward to the next episode.