Question

A patient who has recently been in a car accident no longer remembers how to tie his shoes or ride a bicycle. Which memory circuit was affected by the accident? Give two regions of his brain that have possibly been damaged as a result of this accident.

Answer 1

The neocortex-cerebellum memory circuit is the most important circuit which helps with preserving and forming the procedural memories that involves motor skills. The network in the brain helps in creating the episodic memory and hence it preserves memories and information from past events. Motor movements like tying the shoes laces or riding bicycles are skills which are remembered through the past events and hence it is with help of this memory circuit which helps in retaining the memory. When the patient is no longer able to remember tying shoes or riding a bicycle, it impacts this memory circuit and wipes out the episodic memories.

Two part of the brain which are likely to be damaged due to the accidents are:-

1. Cortex – This is the part of the brain which is responsible for creating motor memories and developing the motor skills. It is the outermost layer of the brain and it helps with the planning, control as well as execution of the voluntary movement. The motor cortex is the main region within the cerebral cortex which helps with motor function and since this area is damaged, the patient forgot basic movements like tying shoes or riding a bicycle.
2. Cerebellum – This part of the brain is located behind top part of brain and it helps with the regulation of the motor movements. It helps in controlling and regulating the voluntary movements and helps in even learning various motor behavior. The damage to this area has led to forgetting the basic motor movements.