The Secrets of Learning and Memory Dr Andrew P Mallon.

transcript

The Secrets of Learning and

Memory

http://learningandmemory.synthasite.com

Dr Andrew P Mallon

BRAIN FACTS

• Weighs 3 to 3.5 lbs

• Uses 20% of the body’s energy

• Needs 8 gallons of blood per hour

• Consumes 1/5 of the body’s oxygen

• 10% of the cells are neurons (100 billion)

• 30,000 neurons fit on the head of a pin

• Neurons make 1,000 to 20,000 connections

• Synaptic permutations

The Nervous System

• Nervous system—distributes and processes information. Central nervous system (CNS)—brain and

spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)—nerve fibers that connect CNS to rest of body

• Neurons—nerve fibers, collect and process incoming information.

The Visible Surface of the Human Brain

How Humans Acquire and Use Episodic and Semantic Memories

• Memory is better for information that relates to prior knowledge (memory in context). In study, participants remembered twice as many

story details if they saw a contextual sketch before hearing the story.

• *Application* Skim a textbook chapter for key points before you read its details.

If the balloons popped, the sound wouldn’t be able to carry, since everything would be too far away from the correct floor. A closed window would also prevent the sound from carrying, since most buildings tend to be well-insulated. Since the whole operation depends on electricity, a break in the middle of the wire would cause problems. Of course, the fellow could shout, but the human voice is not loud enough to carry that far. An additionalproblem is that a string could break on the instrument. Then there could be no accompaniment to the message. It is clear that the best situation would involve less distance. Then there would be fewer potential problems. With face-to-face contact, the least number of things could go wrong.

Effects of Organization on Memory

(a) Data from and (b) adapted from Bransford and Johnson, 1972.

If the balloons popped, the sound wouldn’t be able to carry, since everything would be too far away from the correct floor. A closed window would also prevent the sound from carrying, since most buildings tend to be well-insulated. Since the whole operation depends on electricity, a break in the middle of the wire would cause problems. Of course, the fellow could shout, but the human voice is not loud enough to carry that far. An additionalproblem is that a string could break on the instrument. Then there could be no accompaniment to the message. It is clear that the best situation would involve less distance. Then there would be fewer potential problems. With face-to-face contact, the least number of things could go wrong.

Effects of Organization on Memory

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Deeper Processing at Encoding Improves Recognition Later

• Depth of processing The more meaningfully you analyze information at

encoding, the stronger the retrieval.

FORNIX

Transfer-Appropriate Processing

• Transfer-appropriate processing—retrieval more likely if cues at encoding and recall are similar. Context may be a factor (e.g., words to words or

images to images).

Depth of processing at encoding helps when retrieval requires deep processing (e.g., requires knowledge of semantic meaning).

Transfer-Appropriate Processing: Research

• In study, divers studied some words underwater and others on the beach. Words learned underwater were best recalled

underwater.

Words learned on the beach were best recalled on the beach

When learning and recall environments were radically different, recall dropped about 40%.

Transfer-Appropriate Processing: Research

• But, in another study, college students took final exams in: The same room where the course was taught.

A novel classroom.

• Students’ exam performance was not affected by testing in a new classroom.

Learning and Memory in Everyday Life— Total Recall! The Truth about

Extraordinary Memorizers

• There is no scientific evidence that photographic memories exist.

• Eidetic imagery is the ability to store visual information. Usually fades

after a few seconds.

Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations

Copyright AMSP

Working Memory

Copyright AMSP

Lower limit

Copyright AMSP

Average Adult by 12-13 years

Copyright AMSP

Upper limit

Copyright AMSP

CHUNKING27

HOW DID THEY DO IT?

• Input: ….4 2 0 7 9 9 8 1 0 6 9 3 8….

• 420. “I said a flat mile, a good high school mile”

• 799 “I said 79 was an age, almost 80”

• 810 “And 8:10 was a 2-mile, and I said it was a really fast two mile”

• 6938 “Then this was a 10-mile, it was up there, a really slow 10-mile”.

Emotional Learning and

Memory

Autonomic Arousal and the Fight-or-Flight Response

• Arousal—bodily responses that prepare to face threat (fight-or-flight response).

• Responses include: Increased blood flow to muscles

Increased respiration

Depressed digestion

Depressed immune function

Fight or Flight Video

Autonomic Arousal and the Fight-or-Flight Response

• Bodily changes mediated by autonomic nervous system (ANS). Sympathetic division of ANS is switched ON for

activation (especially cardiovascular system).

• ANS sends signal to adrenal glands, which secrete stress hormones, including: Epinephrine (or adrenaline)

Quickly increases heart rate, blood pressure, respiration.

Glucocorticoids (including cortisol)

The Fight-or-Flight Response

Which Comes First: The Biological Response, or the Conscious Feeling?

(B) Modern emotional theory = see the bear, jump, interpret the bear as dangerous, then feel fear.

Pictures Illustrating Emotional and Neutral Stories

Photos courtesy of Larry Cahill, based on an original design from Heuer and Reisberg, 1990.

• Result: emotions strengthen explicit memories.

Emotion and Encoding of Memories

Graph of effect of emotion on story recall.

Emotion and Retrieval of Memories

• Mood-congruency of memory—it is easier to retrieve memories that match our current mood. e.g., patients diagnosed with clinical depression more

likely to recall sad events.

• In study, participants were asked to recall episodic memories elicited by neutral nouns (ship, street, etc.). Participants’ stories reflected their current mood

(happy or sad).

Mood Congruency of Memory

Data from Eich et al., 1994.

Anagram Experiment

Learned Helplessness

• Learned helplessness—exposure to uncontrollable punisher teaches expectation that response is ineffectual. Reduces avoidance motivation.

May be component of depression.

• In Seligman et. al. study: Dog received shock in an avoidance chamber.

If dog heard warning tone before shock, learned to jump barrier to safe chamber, avoiding shock.

Next, dogs learn CS (tone)–US (shock) association before placement in avoidance chamber. Prior US exposure gave some dogs learned helplessness.

Dogs never learned to jump the barrier to escape shock.

Instead, they ran around, then lay down and whimpered, enduring the shock.

• A person or animal perceives that they are unable to change a situation, even if the situation is changeable. This feeling of futility is thought to be caused by an individual's perception of events and their perception of a lack of ability to control these events. The state of helplessness is learned after an individual's attempts to correct situations failed, or were perceived to have failed. The feeling of helplessness is often expanded to future encounters with similar situations, or even vastly dissimilar situations.

• Torture, Depression, etc?...

Learning by Copying

• Observational learning—learning new behavior from watching another demonstrate the action (also, social learning). Copying = doing what one observes another doing.Video Copying

• In observational learning researchers cannot reliably predict learning outcome. Difficult to predict what is perceived.

Nothing compels observer to copy.

Learning by Copying

• True imitation—copying that reproduces motor actions.

• Emulation—copying that replicates an outcome (goal) without reproducing the specific motor actions used to achieve the outcome.

Bandura and Observational Learning

• Bandura and colleagues (1961): Will preschool children become more aggressive after observing aggressive adults? Adult acted aggressively toward Bobo doll.

Children imitated (modeled) what they saw.

Children were not rewarded for their actions or for their interactions with the Bobo doll.

Thus, similarities in actions did NOT result from instrumental conditioning.

Scenes from Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment

Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1961) Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models, Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575–582.

Bandura and Observational Learning

• In Bandura study, children were provoked; denied toy immediately before test. Children who were NOT provoked (but observed adult

aggression) were less likely to copy.Meaning, in some cases viewing can inhibit, rather

than increase, aggressive behavior.

• Findings: Viewing adult aggression strongly influences child

behavior, even without reward or punishment.

Leaning occurs during observation NOT imitation.

Social Learning Theory

• Social learning theory—an individual’s past reinforcements will determine how that individual will act in any given situation. Explains learning through observation.

Imitation reveals such learning.

Basic premise = behavior learned without direct reinforcement or punishment.

Acquisition is not the same as performance.

Social Learning Theory

• Bandura has identified four basic processes for observational learning: Attention to model.

Retention (memory of observation).

Ability to reproduce.

Motivation (imitation from vicarious reinforcement).Status of model

Similarity to model

Desirability of outcome or goal

Advertising

Social Transmission of Information

• Social transmission of information— process by which an observer learns from others’ experiences. Books, videos, television, phones, computers,

etc., facilitate transmission of knowledge and culture in complex ways.

Simple forms of information transfer in animals (e.g., rats) provide a model for the basic processes involved.

Learning through Social Conformity

• Social Conformity = tendency to adopt the behavior of the group. For example, rats learn food preferences from

smelling a demonstrator rat’s breath.

Fire alarm -20mins

Injured people in crowds

• How might your family or friends influence your preferences?

Social Transmission of Rats’ Food Preferences

Learning and Synaptic Plasticity

The Neuron

Biophoto Associates/Photo Researchers

The Neuron

• Dendrites—inputs; receive signals.

• Cell body (soma)—integrates dendrite signals.

• Axons—transmit information.

• Glia cells—give functional and structural support to neurons.

The Synapse: Where Neurons Connect

• Synapse—gap between neurons; pass chemical signals across (neurotransmitters)

• Presynaptic neuron—sending neuron

• Postsynaptic neuron—receiving neuron

• Receptors—molecules specialized to received specific neurotransmitters

The Synapse

Synaptic Plasticity

• Synaptic plasticity—ability of synapses to change with experience

• According to Donald Hebb, the connection between two contiguously firing neurons will strengthen.

Long-Term Potentiation

• Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)—synaptic transmission is sensitized by recent experience. Occurs in many brain regions of many organisms.

• What is the relationship of LTP to learning? Drugs that block LTP can impair learning.

Rats bred to produce more LTP are better learners.

Long-Term Potentiation

How is LTP Implemented in a Neuron?

• Postsynaptic receptors may become more responsive and fire more easily for hours.

• Presynaptic neurons may release more neurotransmitter for hours.

• Postsynaptic neurons may permanently change.

Long-Term Depression

• Long-Term Depression (LTD)—Neurons that do not fire together become disengaged.

• Possible reasons: Decrease in postsynaptic receptor responsiveness

Decrease in presynaptic neurotransmitter release

Long-term structural changes in neurons and synapses

Memory

CONSTRUCTING IMAGES

DEEP PROCESSINGDeeper processing,

better memory

REHEARSAL Consistent repetition ofinformation over time

ELABORATIONAdds to distinctiveness

ORGANIZATION

ENCODING

ATTENTIONConcentrate and Focus

Strategies for Improving Memory

• Pay attention

• Make sure you understand

• (Extensive) encoding

• Make associations (old & new)

• Impose organizations

• Involve all senses

• Practice and distribute learning (spread out practicing over days)

• Over-learn (episodic-semantic)• Get some sleep (no alcohol or caffeine after 7pm)

• Use verbal Mnemonics

• Use visual imagery

• Diet

• Avoid stress• Exercise (increases the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus and better

memory)

• Fasting (ghrelin)

• Routine

• Mental focus (remove distractions)

• Drugs

Experiment fasting

Experiment sleep

Mnemonic Devices

• Mnemonic (from the Greek for “memory”)—memory-improvement technique based on encoding items in a special wayMethod of loci—imagining the different pieces of

information as rooms within a house

Peg-word—rhyming words with position on a list (one in a bun, etc.)

Substitute word—i.e., occipital—ox sip it all

Word associations—i.e., Roy G. Biv, etc.

Principles for Remembering

• It is very important that you have an interest in what you learn.

• Pay attention or you won’t learn anything!

• Organize the information.

• Practice.

Memory Aids/Methods

There are many types of memory aids/

methods that help you remember things, e.g.:

1. Diary

2. Memos

3. Turning numbers into letters

4. Making notes

5. Rote rehearsal.

However, some are effective and some not.

Effective Less Effective

• Extensive recoding

• Link-word method

• Inductive, concept attainment method

• Method of Loci

• Simple rehearsal

• Rote method

• Tutoring & lecturing

Mnemonics

The following slides introduces some

mnemonics for enhancing remembering.

Mnemonics are:

• Techniques for helping us to remember.

• It is the connecting of two ideas, with the second one triggering yet another one, and so on.

• It is based on the idea of making information meaningful by relating it to what you know.

Method of Loci (Places)

Good for remembering events in a particular

order.

1. Construct a sentimental map of your home/

surrounding area.

3. Place the things in these loci.

4. Walk down the street to pick up the things.

5. No more than one item in one place.

6. Places should not be too much alike.

Acronym

• Remember words by forming one word to represent all of the words.

• Word formed on the basis of the first letters.

P – pegword

O – organizational scheme

L – loci

K – keyword

A – acronym

Acrostics

• Construct a sentence to remember a sequence of objects.

• First letter of each word represents the first letter of the object.

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto

Rhymes

Make a rhyme to remember information. E.g.

• Black & Yellow, Kill a Fellow

• Black & Red, Venom Lack

Ridiculous Association/Image Bizarreness

• This method is to remember things by associating objects with bizarre or ridiculous images.

• Association is enhanced if the image is vivid, ridiculous, impossible, or illogical.

• Make the associations interactive, such as

rule of substitution

out-of-proportion rule

rule of exaggeration

• e.g. The dog rode the bicycle down the street.

Imagery Representation

• Good readers respond to text by constructing images of the meanings conveyed by the text.

• This method requires making mental pictures of material.

• No intentional transformation of content is applied here.

e.g. “The king led the elves through the driving rain storm.” – form in your mind the actions and the scene of the sentence.

Memory Strategies

Other than mnemonics, there are memory strategies that are useful for remembering.

The slides below differentiate the strategies into 2 categories:

Elaboration

Organization

Memory Strategies

Elaboration

• Note taking

~ construct meaningful paraphrases of important ideas

~ integrate new & old information in personally meaningful way

• Story Grammar

Who is the main character?

Where and when did the story take place?

What did the main characters do?

How did the story end?

How did the main character feel?

• PQ4R

1. Preview. Survey headings.

2. Question. Ask yourself as you read.

3. Read. Read the material.

4. Reflect. Make connections to prior knowledge.

5. Recite. Test your memory of the text.

6. Review. Reread portions you don’t

understand or remember.

• Self-questioning

“How does this information relate to what the author discusses in the preceding section?”

~(synthesis)

“How can this be applied in a scholarly setting?”

~(application)

Organizing

• Classifying /Grouping

girl heart robin purple finger flute blue organ man hawk green lung eagle child piano

green man piano heart eagle

blue girl flute lung hawk

purple child organ finger robin

• Concept Mapping

~ Diagram concepts

relationships

~ Identify important concepts & specify their interrelationship

Ghrelin

Hormone released by fasted stomach and travels in the blood stream to the brain

Acts distantly in hippocampus on specific receptorspromotes long-term potentiation higher synaptic density in the CA1 region

ghrelin improved memory performance in a dose-dependent manner. Performance was improved 20–30% at the highest dose, effectively turning C-grade mice into straight-A students

Aged SAMP8 mice—a model for Alzheimer's disease—also showed improved memory performance with ghrelin dosing, and the authors propose ghrelin analogues as potential treatments for memory loss. Of course, over-eating and weight gain would be potential side effects.

memory enhancing drugs

• Companies compete to find ways to improve memoryincrease NMDA/AMPA for LTP

Ghrelin

Amphetamines, (ADHD)

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Chocolate (dopamine)

• If they discover them, should they be made available to the general public?

• Question: Is taking drugs to improve academic performance (through enhanced memory) any different than taking drugs to improve athletic performance?

Musician

• Speech, language. Memory, attention, IQ and empathy

• After 15months of piano lessons- young children had more highly developed auditory and motor areas.

• Professional musicians have increased grey matter volume. Routing info around the brain (motor, audition & visuo-spatial)

• Start <7yrs… thicker corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibres that shunts info between the brain halves.

• Musicians… better auditory memory and attention, children have larger vocab and higher reading ability.

• Increased IQ (early training)

• Better spatial acuity

• Increased plasticity

• Better at language learning

• More empathic… fine tune ability to recognize emotional nuance in speech

Bright Lights

• Light improves cognition and attention

• Bright light during the dayVisual searches

Logical reasoning

Reaction time

• MelanopsinAlertness hormone

Calm Energy Focus Normal

• BLUE light most potentMimics daylight best

• “School Vision” reading speed +35%

Error frequency -45%

• CalmFidgeting -78% in School vision, -10% control

• Blue light also amplifies emotions

• 'normal' setting is for day-to-day classroom activities,

• 'energy' gives an intense blue tint to the light to invigorate pupils when they need to be more active.

• 'Focus', which is an intense whiter light, is designed to help children concentrate during challenging tasks while

• ‘Calm', a warmer red tinted color, makes the room more relaxed and is designed to settle a class towards the end of the day, when disruptive behavior is most frequent

Brain Food

• Omega-3 fatty acidsOily fish, walnuts, green veg.

Little or no effect on memory

• FlavonoidsBlueberries, blackcurrants, cocoa, green tea, red wine.

Improved attention

Protect against neurodegeneration

Raise levels of BDNF, stimulates axon development

Lower BP

Increases blood vessel elasticity

Increase brain blood flowGood for mental performance

Possibly via hippocampal neurogenesis

• Magnesium-L-threonateIncreased Mg in brain

Increased spatial and associative memory in young and old rats

Increases plasticity and neurogenesis

Exercise

• Regular exercise increases brain blood flow… in rats at least

• Monkey…improved memory (hidden food)

Runners had greater blood vessel volume

• Humans… ?Moderate exercise slows age-related decline

Daily walking improved executive functions (planning/abstract thought) in younger adults.

• Exercise=neurogenesis, ↑BDNF and VEGF

• Excessive Exercise= decreased BDNF!

Brain Training Software

• Does NOT work!!

• You only get better at playing games

• 11,000 volunteers in the largest study showed no differences between brain trained vs control subjects.

CN2097

OH3C OHNH2

HN CO2H

OH3C CH3

4CN2097

OH2NOC-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg

Figure 1. Structure of CN2097.

Ardane Therapeutics

Sub-threshold LTP induction at the Schaffer Collateral-CA1 Synapse rescued by CN 2097.

Using a low intensity 1 second 100Hz (HFS) stimulation train that normally fails to induce LTP (white circles), we added 2uM CN 2097 and were then able to induce a significant LTP (black circles) that lasted for over 60 minutes (data not shown), p<0.05, n=7.

Angelman Syndrome

The Secrets of Learning and Memory Dr Andrew P Mallon.

Documents