The most common theme throughout each of this week’s readings was the emphasis placed by the authors on the vital importance of memory – not only for the ability to learn various facts and figures, but to survive – as memory is a critical link to the defense mechanisms of all animals in the presence of any and all perceived danger. The articles also explore structural components of the brain that facilitate these memory processes.
In Chapter 6 and 7 of "The Emotional Brain," LeDoux places a strong emphasis on the link between emotionally charged (and often frightening) experiences and our "...specific patterns of neural wiring..." that allow our bodies to react appropriately when similar events occur - and thus escape from the danger they could potentially bring (Le Doux 141). This fear conditioning allows humans and animals to respond to threatening situations through the development of physiological responses (such as freezing, heightened heart rate and blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones into the bloodstream) which can provide a life-saving escape route when one's life is in jeopardy. And, as LeDoux illustrates, these responses can be seen as much in wild animals escaping predators to a human's sweaty palms, increased heart rate, and dry mouth when she expects she is being followed by a stranger. LeDoux later goes on to explain how damage to the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped region in the forebrain, prevents these conditioned reactions from occuring. And in Chapter 7, it is shown that one of the most unique aspects of our emotional memory system is how it can (and often does) function with a lack of "...explicit conscious memory of the emotional learning experience...", creating an almost reflexive response to similar events that occur in the future (182).
In McGaugh's "Memory and Emotion," we are again shown the necessity of memory to survival. Described as the "...consequence of learning from an experience," McGaugh also addresses the brain's selectivity in remembering certain types of events more readily than others (McGaugh 7). But most importantly, McGaugh addresses why "...emotionally arousing experiences..." are the memories most favored (McGaugh 7). In this, McGaugh discusses the adaptive qualities in remembering our most emotional experiences - not only to protect ourselves from the dangers LeDoux describes - but to encourage personal progress by recalling our successes. And through McGaugh's thorough exploration of the emotional memory in animals, he simultaneously links the findings to how these same emotional systems operate in humans.
Lastly, in the study by Dolcos, LaBar, and Cabeza, we are again emotional memories are better remembered than neutral memories, as the amygdala and medial temporal lobe memory systems are most affective when used to recollect emotional experiences.
While it is clear that emotional memories have a distinct impact on the memory systems of the brain, I would be interested in further discussing how the brain selects which emotional experiences to store and discard, and how certain traumatic emotional experiences manage to be successfully forgotten (such as rape) while others are always present (such as 9/11). How do these memories, both conscious and repressed, function in PTSD patients? Also, I would be interested in understanding more how traumatic events from one's early life impact their adult years, even as they do not consciously recall what has occurred.
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The "Flashbulb Memory" that is referred to in the LeDoux is very interesting and it is easy to find examples of strong, emotionally charged memories in our own memory banks. So, remembering something like 9/11 is one of those that can be remembered whereas rape is forgotten. Could it be because 9/11 isn't as personal as rape is? Yes, as an American the September 11 attacks were devastating and scary, but it is not as tangible as being raped. Rape is something that is invading your physical being and personal space. So, that could be more traumatizing and scarring because it is so incredibly personal. Does that make rape something that would be easily blocked out (the block of the adrenaline release in the brain) in order to function in life as opposed to knowing where you were when 9/11 happened?
Like Sarah, I also am interested in discussing further the ideas of selective memory, especially within psychological disorders such as Post Tramatic Stress Disorder. What is not directly addressed in the reading, but which is something I think is key, is distinguishing between 'forgetting' tramatic experiences and denial. Repression is a process of denial, but forgetting is something else, something more...casual.
On a different note, I was interested in the patient H.M.'s story. Although the biological aspects of his surgery were interesting, I was left wondering what H.M.'s emotional state must have been like once his memory was impaired. How did he function in everyday life? Was he aware of his disability? How did he feel?
In Chapter Seven, Le Doux discusses the French doctor and his female brain damage patient. She had lost the ability to create new memories. However, the part of the brain associated with fear conditioning was still alert because after being pricked by the pin after shaking hands with her doctor, she refused to shake his hand the next time she saw him.
A similar association was discovered in H.M. In the NPR radio clip, H.M.'s psychologist who had been working with him for over 40 years mentioned, that H.M. did not know who she was. However, H.M.'s nurse mentioned that she had spoken with his psychologist and H.M. put together the psychologist's first name with her last name. Thus, some sort of recognition was taking place.
Are these two incident related? Are similar brain processes involved in both?
Selective memory is a fascinating topic that I would love to discuss further. Just as Tisch pointed out before me, the reading seems to neglect clarifying the difference between "forgetting" and "repressing." A repressed memory can be retrieved through hypnotherapy, for example, but so can something that has been forgotten right? Is the only difference due to the fact that repression seems to be a coping mechanism to deal with events we can't handle remembering?
Also, the NPR recording that Elizabeth sent us was incredibly fascinating to listen to. I really enjoyed getting to hear from both H.M. and those that were studying him. I was glad to hear that he's a happy man despite his inability to create new memories. The most fascinating moment, however, was when H.M. somehow recalled the psychologist's (who's been working with him for years) name even though he has no memory of working with her. What does this mean, exactly? Does the brain eventually find new ways of forming memories without a working hippocampus?
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