BIO SCI 38 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Basolateral Amygdala, Tegmentum, Amygdala
13 Jan 2020
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Document Summary
Memory is an adaptive mechanism for the animal. Therefore, experiences important to the animal should be encoded more strongly (i. e. , make stronger memories) than neutral experiences. Important information to the animal (or human animal): Details of encounter with a willing mate. Important social interactions that promote the greater welfare of the group. All of these things can drive memory modulatory systems in the body (adrenal glands) and in the brain (basolateral amygdala, locus coerulus, ventral tegmental area, etc) Memory modulatory system influences the synapses that store memory, but are not, by themselves, part of a memory storage system. Function of memory modulatory systems occurs during/just after learning. These hormonal and other neural systems are called memory modulators. They are not part of the storage system, but they can influence the synapses that store the memory. Memory modulators have a time-limited role and influence only the storage of very recently acquired memories.
