BPM335 Final Review Questions (10% of the exam is from these, longer then midterm exam 30 (1 mark each)
– 30, mechanism question and novel question – involved reasoning)
Lecture 5
- What type of memory is most researched?
o Short Term Memory (STM)
- What two brain regions are implicated in the effects of meditation on memory?
o Hippocampus:
Role in memory consolidation, spatial navigation, emotion regulation
Case of H.M.: Removal of hippocampus led to anterograde amnesia, impairing
declarative LTM.
Meditation effects: Increased hippocampal size (improving memory consolidation and
emotional regulation), reduced age-related degeneration, regulation of cortisol levels
(reduced risk of stress-induced memory impairment); may also contribute improved long-
term memory, reduced anxiety and better psychological health
o Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC):
Critical for WM and executive functions like attention, planning, and reasoning
Contains cells that fire during memory tasks
Direct stimulation of the DLPFC has been shown to enhance memory performance
Meditation effects: Increased activation (improved cognitive control, attention, and task
performance), structural remodeling (better WM capacity, enhanced executive functions
such as problem-solving and multitasking), improved memory (thus reduced task-
unrelated thoughts [TUTs] and distractions), better stress regulation (helping maintain
cortisol levels and preventing stress-induced cognitive decline)
- Give the main false memory task used in most studies.
o The main task used to study false memories is the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) test, where
participants are shown a list of related words (e.g., "sweet, sugar, honey") but not the central
theme word (e.g., "sweet"). Later, they are asked to identify words from a second list that includes
similar but absent "lure words." Meditative practice has shown a curious effect on false memories
in several studies. While meditation often enhances cognitive functions, it has been linked to
increased susceptibility to false memories in the DRM test, with meditators more likely to recall
lure words as part of the original list. One study even found that while meditation heightened false
memories, it did not improve recall of true memories. However, these effects are not consistent
across studies, highlighting the variability in how meditation influences memory processes. This
suggests that meditation, while beneficial in many areas, might inadvertently increase memory
distortions.
Lecture 6
- Discuss the concept of telomeres, aging, and meditation
o Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent the loss of essential DNA
during cell division. As cells divide, telomeres shorten instead of the coding DNA. Telomeres
progressively shorten with age, eventually leading to cellular senescence (aging) when critical
length is reached. Telomerase is an enzyme that partially restores telomeres, but its activity
declines with age. Telomere length is associated with lifespan in some species. Shorter telomeres
are linked to increased risk for coronary disease, dementia (including AD), psychiatric disorders,
poor cancer prognosis. Chronic stress accelerates telomere shortening. Meditation may increase
telomerase activity, helping maintain telomere length. Meditation can reduce stress, thus is a key
mechanism, as chronic stress is a major factor in telomere shortening. Benefits are greater in
This study source was downloaded by 100000899194722 from CourseHero.com on 05-29-2025 09:16:09 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/246863988/BPM335-Final-Important-Questionsdocx/
– 30, mechanism question and novel question – involved reasoning)
Lecture 5
- What type of memory is most researched?
o Short Term Memory (STM)
- What two brain regions are implicated in the effects of meditation on memory?
o Hippocampus:
Role in memory consolidation, spatial navigation, emotion regulation
Case of H.M.: Removal of hippocampus led to anterograde amnesia, impairing
declarative LTM.
Meditation effects: Increased hippocampal size (improving memory consolidation and
emotional regulation), reduced age-related degeneration, regulation of cortisol levels
(reduced risk of stress-induced memory impairment); may also contribute improved long-
term memory, reduced anxiety and better psychological health
o Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC):
Critical for WM and executive functions like attention, planning, and reasoning
Contains cells that fire during memory tasks
Direct stimulation of the DLPFC has been shown to enhance memory performance
Meditation effects: Increased activation (improved cognitive control, attention, and task
performance), structural remodeling (better WM capacity, enhanced executive functions
such as problem-solving and multitasking), improved memory (thus reduced task-
unrelated thoughts [TUTs] and distractions), better stress regulation (helping maintain
cortisol levels and preventing stress-induced cognitive decline)
- Give the main false memory task used in most studies.
o The main task used to study false memories is the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) test, where
participants are shown a list of related words (e.g., "sweet, sugar, honey") but not the central
theme word (e.g., "sweet"). Later, they are asked to identify words from a second list that includes
similar but absent "lure words." Meditative practice has shown a curious effect on false memories
in several studies. While meditation often enhances cognitive functions, it has been linked to
increased susceptibility to false memories in the DRM test, with meditators more likely to recall
lure words as part of the original list. One study even found that while meditation heightened false
memories, it did not improve recall of true memories. However, these effects are not consistent
across studies, highlighting the variability in how meditation influences memory processes. This
suggests that meditation, while beneficial in many areas, might inadvertently increase memory
distortions.
Lecture 6
- Discuss the concept of telomeres, aging, and meditation
o Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent the loss of essential DNA
during cell division. As cells divide, telomeres shorten instead of the coding DNA. Telomeres
progressively shorten with age, eventually leading to cellular senescence (aging) when critical
length is reached. Telomerase is an enzyme that partially restores telomeres, but its activity
declines with age. Telomere length is associated with lifespan in some species. Shorter telomeres
are linked to increased risk for coronary disease, dementia (including AD), psychiatric disorders,
poor cancer prognosis. Chronic stress accelerates telomere shortening. Meditation may increase
telomerase activity, helping maintain telomere length. Meditation can reduce stress, thus is a key
mechanism, as chronic stress is a major factor in telomere shortening. Benefits are greater in
This study source was downloaded by 100000899194722 from CourseHero.com on 05-29-2025 09:16:09 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/246863988/BPM335-Final-Important-Questionsdocx/
