ENTRIES A–Z
Philip Winn in Dictionary of Biological Psychology, 2003
Spatial memory refers to the ENCODING, storage and retrieval of information regarding the characteristics of SPACE in an organism's environment. Spatial memory is crucial for a number of adaptive behaviours, such as FORAGING, ESCAPE and EXPLORATION. There are different memory systems that process different types of spatial relationships among environmental stimuli. For example, egocentric spatial memory (see EGOCENTRIC SPACE) refers to information about spatial relationships relative to ones body. Remembering whether a goal is situated to the left or right of ones current position is an example of egocentric spatial memory. In contrast, allo-centric spatial memory (see ALLOCENTRIC SPACE; EGOCENTRIC SPACE) refers to information about the significance of specific external stimuli that are available in an environment. Using a landmark to navigate towards a goal, or beacon homing, is an example of allocentric spatial memory. Another form of spatial memory requires the consultation of a COGNITIVE MAP: an organism using a cognitive map is able to navigate towards a goal even when the goal is not directly perceptible to the animal, or take novel routes to reach the goal. Locating a hidden platform in the WATER MAZE requires the use of a cognitive map to reach a goal that is not directly visible.
Application of the neuropsychological evaluation in vocational planning after brain injury
Robert T. Fraser, David C. Clemmons in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, 2017
There is also a distinction between verbal and visual-spatial memory. Verbal memory refers to information that is either read or heard. Reading information in this text (assuming you are wide-awake and concentrating) is employing your verbal short-term memory ability. Remembering the figures in this book may be a combination of both verbal and spatial memory because some of the information is written and other parts pictorial. Spatial memory also refers to recalling information that is seen in a three-dimensional space. When cabinetmakers look at a kitchen for remodeling purposes, they are imagining certain cabinets fitting into a certain space. The space involves three dimensions: height, width, and depth. If this person eyeballs a microwave oven fitting into a certain space, he or she is employing spatial memory by recalling the size of a space and matching it with the visualization of the microwave oven. Verbal and spatial memory are not independent functions but work as a part of a system involving sensory input, attentional skills, problem-solving, and memory ability. Other useful distinctions can involve memory with a context (e.g., an informational paragraph) and random items (e.g., a list of unassociated words). Depending upon a job goal, different effects of memory concerns can have significant vocational implications.
The Exercise Effect on Mental Health in Older Adults
Henning Budde, Mirko Wegner in The Exercise Effect on Mental Health, 2018
Most of the studies dealing with the positive effects of PA and exercise on MCI/dementia investigated the effect of aerobic exercise (e.g. Baker et al. 2010; Eggermont, Swaab, Hol, & Scherder 2009; Bherer et al. 2013; Ahlskog et al. 2011 for a review). Other studies examined the effects of other types of exercise on MCI/dementia. For instance, Lam et al. (2011) assessed the cognitive impact of a Tai-Chi intervention in comparison to stretching and toning. Their results demonstrated that both groups improved in global cognitive function, delayed recall, and subjective cognitive complaints. However, improvements in Clinical Dementia Rating scores were observed only in the Tai-Chi group. Similarly, in their systematic review and meta-analysis, Wayne and colleagues (2014) concluded that Tai Chi training was effective in improving global cognitive functions in cognitively intact but also cognitively impaired older adults. Nagamatsu et al. (2013) compared the effect of aerobic and strength exercise with a sedentary control group in older adults with possible MCI. The results showed that both experimental groups improved in spatial memory performance in comparison to the control group. However, only the aerobic training group exhibited a significant correlation between spatial memory performance and overall physical capacity after the intervention. The meta-analysis by Heyn, Johnsons, and Kramer (2008) confirmed the results by Nagamatsu and colleagues (2013) revealing no differences in effect sizes of RCTs between strength or aerobic training or a combination of both in cognitively impaired individuals.
Finding a place and leaving a mark in memory formation
Published in Journal of Neurogenetics, 2020
Divya Sitaraman, Holly LaFerriere
Vision plays a critical role in directed navigation and the use of visual cues and past experiences is central to navigational strategies in invertebrates and vertebrates. Spatial navigation has been studied extensively from the ethological perspectives, particularly in social insects like bees, desert ants and wasps revealing key strategies used by insects in finding ideal spots for feeding, mating and laying eggs (Collett, 1996; Collett & Collett, 2002; Collett & Graham, 2004; Collett, Chittka, & Collett, 2013; Collett, Graham, & Collett, 2017; Collett, Philippides, & Hempel de Ibarra, 2016; Gould, 2009; Labhart & Meyer, 2002; Srinivasan, Poteser, & Kral, 1999; Webb & Wystrach, 2016; Wolf, 2011). Most studies conducted in these insects have focused on visual cues and the role of non-visual environmental information like temperature has received far less attention. Consequently, the neural basis of these non-visual navigational strategies remains largely unexplored. Here, we will highlight key studies conducted in Drosophila melanogaster, as an experimental system to explore the genetic, neural and behavioral basis of non-visual place learning. Many of the studies described in this review article highlight the work done in the laboratory of Dr. Troy Zars at the University of Missouri where he and his research team pioneered the studies on learning and memory formation using high temperature as a negative reinforcer in a spatial operant learning paradigm. We will discuss these results in the context of navigational strategies and general mechanisms of spatial memory.
Laterality in functional and metabolic state of the bulbectomised rat brain detected by ASL and 1H MRS: A pilot study
Published in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 2023
Iveta Pavlova, Eva Drazanova, Lucie Kratka, Petra Amchova, Ondrej Macicek, Jana Starcukova, Zenon Starcuk, Jana Ruda-Kucerova
Hippocampus is the brain structure responsible for memory formation, spatial memory and navigation, and the transfer of long-term memories (Guy-Evans 2021). In addition, it is related to the olfactory response as the memory of odours (Guy-Evans 2021); thus, differences in the metabolic state of the hippocampus in the OBX model were expected. In the right hippocampus of the OBX rats, we found significantly lower Cho/NAA and Cho/tCr levels than in the SHAM. Still, no difference in the left hippocampus was found, confirming Ende et al. (2000) MDD clinical study result and Hong et al. (2009) preclinical forced swimming test study outcome, but reportedly in the opposite hemisphere. We assume that this result may reflect the role of choline in acetylcholine production and release, thus a lower ability of memory storage in OBX rats (Harkin et al. 2003; Song and Leonard 2005); which is in agreement with the MDD studies reporting memory deficit (Xi et al. 2011).
Possible effects of different doses of 2.1 GHz electromagnetic radiation on learning, and hippocampal levels of cholinergic biomarkers in Wistar rats
Published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 2021
Çiğdem Gökçek-Saraç, Güven Akçay, Serdar Karakurt, Kayhan Ateş, Şükrü Özen, Narin Derin
The hippocampus is associated primarily with cognition, spatial memory, and learning processes in the mammalian brain (Lisman et al. 2017; Voss et al. 2017). In rodents, RF-EMR exposure might affect the activity (Cho et al. 2012; Gokcek-Sarac et al. 2017; Kim et al. 2018b), morphology (Hao et al. 2013; Salford et al. 2003), and chemistry (Cuccurazzu et al. 2010; Kim et al. 2018a) of the hippocampus in addition to effects on behavioural performances in the hippocampal-dependent tasks (Gokcek-Sarac and Er 2017; Hao et al. 2013; Narayanan et al. 2010). For instance, the Morris water maze (MWM) and the radial-arm maze tests showed impaired hippocampus-dependent learning and memory functions in rats exposed for 4 weeks to 900/1800 MHz RF-EMR (Narayanan et al. 2009) and for 10 days to 2450 MHz EMF (0.6 W/kg SAR) (Wang and Lai 2000). Similarly, reduce excitatory synaptic activity in cultured hippocampal neurons has been detected by 1800 MHz (2.40 W/kg SAR) exposure for 8 days (Xu et al. 2006).
Related Knowledge Centers
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Short-Term Memory
- Long-Term Memory
- Learning
- Sensory Nervous System
- Working Memory
- Baddeley'S Model of Working Memory
- Executive Functions
- Articulatory Suppression