How Biological Factors May How Biological Factors May Affect MemoryAffect Memory

By Mr Daniel HanssonBy Mr Daniel Hansson

Question for DiscussionQuestion for Discussion

1.1. Identify factors that affect the body and may Identify factors that affect the body and may indirectly have a negative effect on memory indirectly have a negative effect on memory

2.2. How much sleep per night do you think a How much sleep per night do you think a teenager need on average?teenager need on average?

3.3. Calculate how much you sleep on average per Calculate how much you sleep on average per night on a regular weeknight on a regular week

4.4. What can you do to prevent memory What can you do to prevent memory impairment?impairment?

5.5. What can you do to improve your memory?What can you do to improve your memory?

Important ConceptsImportant Concepts

Dementia:Dementia: A gradual decline in A gradual decline in cognitive functcognitive functionion due to damage or due to damage or diseasedisease in the body in the body beyond what might be expected from normal beyond what might be expected from normal agingaging

Amnesia: Amnesia: Partial or total loss of memoryPartial or total loss of memory

What is the main difference between dementia What is the main difference between dementia and amnesia?and amnesia?

Biological factors That May Impair Biological factors That May Impair MemoryMemory

Alzheimers´ diseaseAlzheimers´ disease Brain damageBrain damage Sleep deprivationSleep deprivation

Important Concepts: Alzheimers Important Concepts: Alzheimers DiseaseDisease

Semantic memory: Semantic memory: Memory for meaning, Memory for meaning, facts, words, knowledgefacts, words, knowledge

Procedural memory: Procedural memory: Memory for skillsMemory for skills

Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity: The ability of the brain to The ability of the brain to change with learning. This ability is believed change with learning. This ability is believed to decrease with age.to decrease with age.

Alzheimers DiseaseAlzheimers Disease

A brain disease that A brain disease that starts with amnesia starts with amnesia and gradually leads to and gradually leads to dementiadementia

The brain activity is The brain activity is initially lowered in the initially lowered in the back part of the brain back part of the brain ((important for forming important for forming procedural memoriesprocedural memories), ), before it gradually before it gradually moves forwardmoves forward

Alzheimers’ diseaseAlzheimers’ disease

In the In the early stagesearly stages, the , the most commonly most commonly recognized symptom is recognized symptom is partial loss of the semantic partial loss of the semantic memorymemory

In the In the middle stagesmiddle stages, the , the individual has problems individual has problems with her short term with her short term memorymemory

In the In the later stageslater stages, the , the individuals’ long term individuals’ long term memory is severely memory is severely impairedimpaired

Possible Cause of Alzheimers?:Possible Cause of Alzheimers?:Attack of the Cholesterol Metabolism Attack of the Cholesterol Metabolism

on Neuroplastic Processeson Neuroplastic Processes Cholesterol Cholesterol

metabolism may metabolism may lead to amyloidosislead to amyloidosis

AmyloidosisAmyloidosis

The amyloid protein is The amyloid protein is accumulated in the accumulated in the brain and impairs brain and impairs communication communication between brain cellsbetween brain cells

Destabilization of Brain Cells by the Destabilization of Brain Cells by the Tau ProteinTau Protein

Once a critical point Once a critical point of amyloidosis is of amyloidosis is reached, invidual reached, invidual brain cells are brain cells are destabilized by the destabilized by the Tau proteinTau protein

AcetylcholineAcetylcholine

Acetylcholine, a Acetylcholine, a chemical substance chemical substance ((neurotransmitterneurotransmitter) in ) in the brain that the brain that encourages learning encourages learning may inhibit the attack may inhibit the attack on the brain’s on the brain’s neuroplastic processesneuroplastic processes

Other possible factors on Alzheimers Other possible factors on Alzheimers diseasedisease

Positive emotionsPositive emotions Language abilityLanguage ability Sleep deprivationSleep deprivation Genetic factorsGenetic factors StrokesStrokes

Important Concepts: Brain DamageImportant Concepts: Brain Damage

Localization of function in the brain: Localization of function in the brain: The idea thatThe idea that ddifferent parts in the brain carry out different ifferent parts in the brain carry out different functionsfunctions

Hippocampus:Hippocampus: Is found in the limbic system of the Is found in the limbic system of the brain. Is important for long term memory, short brain. Is important for long term memory, short term memory and spatial orientationterm memory and spatial orientation

Anterograde amnesia:Anterograde amnesia: Inability to form new Inability to form new memoriesmemories

Retrograde amnesia:Retrograde amnesia: Inability to remember past Inability to remember past eventsevents

Amnesia through Brain Damage: Amnesia through Brain Damage: What Type(s) of Amnesia?What Type(s) of Amnesia?

H.M.:H.M.: Had two thirds of Had two thirds of his hippocampus his hippocampus removed due to removed due to surgery. He lost 11 surgery. He lost 11 years of his past years of his past memories prior to the memories prior to the surgery. Was unable to surgery. Was unable to form new memoriesform new memories

Amnesia through Brain Damage: Amnesia through Brain Damage: What Type of Amnesia?What Type of Amnesia?

Clive Wearing:Clive Wearing: Contracted a virus Contracted a virus ((Herpes simplex Herpes simplex encephalitisencephalitis) that ) that attacked his brain. He attacked his brain. He has lost most of his has lost most of his past memories and is past memories and is unable to form new unable to form new memories.memories.

Sleep DeprivationSleep Deprivation

The average adult requires 8 hours of sleep The average adult requires 8 hours of sleep per night. If she has less, she may suffer per night. If she has less, she may suffer from sleep deprivationfrom sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation may lead to impaired Sleep deprivation may lead to impaired learning, memory loss and an increased risk learning, memory loss and an increased risk of developing Alzheimers disease (e.g. of developing Alzheimers disease (e.g. Kang et al. 2009; Holzman et al. 2009)Kang et al. 2009; Holzman et al. 2009)

It is possible to catch up on lost sleep (sleep It is possible to catch up on lost sleep (sleep debt), but if severe it can take monthsdebt), but if severe it can take months

Sleep and memory consolidationSleep and memory consolidation

The younger you are, the more sleep you The younger you are, the more sleep you need. The average teenager requires 9.5 need. The average teenager requires 9.5 hours of sleep per nighthours of sleep per night

Procedural skills (e.g. talking, driving, Procedural skills (e.g. talking, driving, playing music) are improved by sleepplaying music) are improved by sleep

Studies on rats demonstrate that memory Studies on rats demonstrate that memory consolidation is most important within five consolidation is most important within five hours of learninghours of learning

TaskTask

Find and summarize one study that demonstrates Find and summarize one study that demonstrates the effect of biological factors on memory. the effect of biological factors on memory.

Use the study summary worksheet and Use the study summary worksheet and Summarize aim, research method, procedure, Summarize aim, research method, procedure, findings and conclusionfindings and conclusion

Examples of biological factors include sleep, Examples of biological factors include sleep, Alzheimers disease, insulin, hormonesAlzheimers disease, insulin, hormones

Brain damage or the H.M. case study is not Brain damage or the H.M. case study is not allowedallowed

Links to Suggested StudiesLinks to Suggested Studies

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/06/050629070337.htm2005/06/050629070337.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/07/030709064042.htm2003/07/030709064042.htm

httphttp://://wwwwww..nytimesnytimes..comcom//2001/05/072001/05/07//healthhealth//07NUNS07NUNS..html?pagewantedhtml?pagewanted==allall