19 Memory I Flashcards
What are the 3 key PROCESSES in memory?
Define each
Encoding - CODING of information
Storage
Retrieval - FINDING stored memories
What circumstances can cause memory to FAIL
Encoding error - no storage
Storage error - stored but LOST
Retrieval error - stored but CAN’T FIND
Example of RETRIEVAL failure
“Tip-of-tongue” phenomenon
Environmental stimuli are stored into WHAT type of memory first?
SENSORY memory (visual/auditory)
From SENSORY memory, memories can enter what type of memory?
HOW does it become committed to this memory?
ATTENTION can commit sensory memories to SHORT-TERM memory
Short-term memory is AKA
Working memory
How can we ACTIVELY keep things in SHORT-TERM memory
Rehearsal
Short-term memories can become….
HOW?
Consolidation can commit short-term memories to LONG-TERM
BOTH _____ and ______ memory FEEDS INTO ______ memory
Both SENSORY and LONG-TERM memory feeds into SHORT-TERM memory
Sensory memory (VISUAL) is AKA
“Iconic” memory
FUNCTION of VISUAL sensory memory
“SMOOTHS OUT” visual lives
Examples of how VISUAL sensory memory SMOOTHS OUT visual lives?
MOVIES
*must retain images to understand movie (CONTINUITY)
FINGER-WAGGING TEST
- see 2 fingers
- 1 image lingers after you move
How long is information RETAINED in sensory memory?
HOW MUCH of the information is retained?
ALL information BRIEFLY available (~1/2 sec)
What are the 2 BRANCHES of sensory memory?
Visual
Auditory
Sensory memory (AUDITORY) is AKA
“Echoic” memory
Function of AUDITORY sensory memory
SMOOTHS out auditory lives
Experiment that shows the function of AUDITORY sensory memory
Dichotic listening task
What does the Dichotic listening task prove about our AUDITORY sensory memories?
- Can attend to MULTIPLE auditory streams
- Can voluntarily SWITCH to one ear
- Can retain 2-3 sec from other ear
What happens to information from the ear you are ATTENDING to?
Committed to SHORT-TERM memory
What happens to information from the ear you are ΝΟΤ attending to?
Committed to ECHOIC memory
Function of STM (Working)?
MENTAL WORK is done here
- mental arithmetic
- mental time travel (pull info from PAST or invent FUTURE)
- general conversation (pulling on words)
- mental rotation
What are the 3 PARTS of STM?
- Visuospatial sketchpad
- CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
- Articulatory loop
Function of Articulatory loop?
Repeating phone number over and over to make a call
Type of rehearsal
Name 2 ways to ENHANCE working memory efficiency?
- ”Chunking”
* Rehearsal
What is the general item LIMIT of memory span?
~7 items
How does “chunking” work?
Memory span is ~7 items, but items can be “CHUNKED” into LARGER UNITS to commit MORE to working memory
Give an example of how CHUNKING improves working memory
We can recall 7 letters
We can recall 7 WORDS (32 letters)
(Words = “chunks” of letters)
Working memory can handle a CONSTANT number of ….
BUT we can ….. to commit more to working memory
Working memory can handle a CONSTANT number of CHUNKS
BUT we can make each chunk BIGGER to commit more to working memory
When working memory (STM) is committed to LTM, what PHYSICAL CHANGE happens?
∆STRUCTURE of synapses to create new long-term memory
Function of REHEARSAL
RETAIN things in working memory
2 types of REHEARSAL
- Maintenance rehearsal
2. Elaborative rehearsal
Compare functions of the 2 rehearsal types
Maintenance = simply HOLDING info for as long as you NEED it Elaborative = working DEEPER to find patterns, associations, form chunks
What does ELABORATIVE allow us to do with short-term memories?
Enhances transition to LTM
Deeper processing = better recall
Name the 3 LEVELS of processing from most shallow to deep
- VISUAL - “how many vowels”
- PHOENEMIC - “does it rhyme with crate?”
- SEMANTIC - “what does it do?”
When memorising a LIST of words, what EFFECT is seen?
Serial Position effect
What MEMORIES operate when memorising a LIST of words?
Both SHORT + LONG-term memories
Explain the Serial Position effect
EARLIER items held in LTM
LATER items held in STM
What EFFECTS occur with the early vs late words?
Early = PRIMACY effect Late = RECENCY effect
What can cause REDUCTION of the primacy / recency effects?
Primacy effect reduced by FAST presentation
(No time to release for LTM)
Recency effect reduced by DELAY
(STM fades)
People who have “supermemories” are called
Savants
Describe general characteristics of Savants
- May use “TRICKS”, may have GENETIC component
* Often have DEFECITS (brain abnormalities, Aspergers)
Name 3 Savants
- Solomon Shreshevskii
- Kim Peek
- Daniel Tammett
What was Solomon Shereshevskii’s TRICK to remember lists?
Method of LOCI
= imagine words in a familiar ENVIRO, then take a “MENTAL WALK” down the street
What was a LIMITATION to Shereshevskii’s memory?
Highly SPECIFIC memory = hard to learn general CONCEPTS
What “Syndrome” did Shereshevskii have?
Define it
Synaesthesia
= possibly GENETIC tendency to ATTACH 1 sensory quality to another
= forms VIVID images
(eg. colors for days of the week)
What did Kim Peek’s supermemory allow him to do?
Have a VAST knowledge of 9000 books, movies, music etc
LIMITATIONS of Kim Peek’s supermemory status?
- LOW IQ = 87
- Couldn’t button own clothes
- BRAIN abnormalities - macrocephaly, cerebellar malfunction
What did Daniel Tammett do with his memory?
- Learned Icelandic in 1 week
* Learned π to 22,514 places
What SYNDROME did Daniel Tammett have?
Synaesthesia
Saw π digits “ROLL BY”
What LIMITATION did Daniel Tammett have?
Asperger syndrome
