Structure & Functions of the Brain (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

Neurological damage & memory

• Cognitive psychologists study how different parts of the brain contribute to memory formation, storage, and retrieval

• Brain damage from injury, disease, or illness can result in amnesia, affecting different types of memory depending on which brain area is damaged

  • Hippocampus damage can lead to anterograde amnesia (can’t form new memories)

  • Frontal lobe damage can lead to retrograde amnesia (can’t recall memories)

  • Cerebellum damage can lead to procedural memory problems (difficulty with skills and coordination)

Anterograde amnesia & retrograde amnesia

The role of the hippocampus

• The hippocampus, located in the temporal lobe, plays a key role in forming new memories

• It is responsible for processing semantic (facts and knowledge) and autobiographical memories (personal experiences)

• The hippocampus is part of the limbic system, which links emotions and memory

• New information must pass through the hippocampus before it is transferred to long-term memory

Hippocampus and anterograde amnesia

• Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new long-term memories after brain damage

• It occurs when information cannot pass from short-term memory to long-term memory due to hippocampal damage

• People with this condition can hold a short conversation, but once distracted, they forget it

• Classic examples show that while these individuals cannot form new declarative memories, they can still form new procedural memories, suggesting other brain areas (like the cerebellum) are involved

The role of the frontal lobe

• The frontal lobe acts as the brain’s “control centre”, managing planning, organisation, and decision-making

• It is also involved in retrieving stored memories

Frontal lobe and retrograde amnesia

• Retrograde amnesia is the loss of memories from before an injury or illness

• Damage to the frontal lobe disrupts access to long-term memories — people cannot recall past events or experiences

• Research (e.g. Mayes, 1986) found that damage to this area is linked with retrograde amnesia, especially in Alzheimer’s disease patients

• This shows that the frontal lobe is crucial for the retrieval rather than the storage of information

The role of the cerebellum

• The cerebellum, located at the back of the skull

  • It coordinates movement and balance and is vital for procedural memory

• Procedural memory involves skills and habits such as riding a bike, playing an instrument, or knitting

• The cerebellum helps time and coordinate complex movements, supporting the learning and refinement of motor skills

Cerebellum and procedural memory

• Damage to the cerebellum can disrupt motor coordination and make it difficult to learn or perform skilled tasks

• E.g. someone with cerebellar damage may struggle to learn to knit or play piano, even if other types of memory remain intact