2.1 Forgetting

Question 1

Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve

Answer 1

Rapid initial forgetting, then slowed rate

Question 2

Theory for failure to encode

Answer 2

Consolidation theory

Question 3

Theory for failure to retrieve

Answer 3

Interference theory

Question 4

Synaptic Consolidation

Answer 4

Structural changes between synapses of neurons
- takes hours to days
- relies on biological processes

Question 5

Systemic Consolidation

Answer 5

Shift from reliance on hippocampus to cortex
- may take years
- depends on perseverative processes

Question 6

Consolidation theory

Answer 6

interfering with consolidation (in encoding) can lead to forgetting
- fostering consolidation reduces forgetting

Question 7

Spreading Activation Model

Answer 7

Internal activation level of memory determines its accessibility
- stronger w/ frequency and recency of exposure
- heightened activation for some time following initial presentation (accounts for priming, familiarity)
- from cue to target via associations
- amount of activation proportional to strength of associations
- frequent words = lower activation threshold = less activation needed = explains word frequency effect

Question 8

Law of disuse

Answer 8

retrieval of encoded memories can fail because traces decay over time

Question 9

Competition assumption

Answer 9

cue spreads activation to all associates, the more there are the more competition for retrieval
- explains cue overload principle

Question 10

retroactive interference

Answer 10

forgetting old because of new learning
- original info not “unlearned”

Question 11

proactive interference

Answer 11

forgetting new caused by previous learning
- interference builds over time
- release from proactive interference due to change in materials

Question 12

associative interference - fan effect

Answer 12

the more links “fanning” off a concept, the greater the interference from competing associations

Question 13

part-set cueing

Answer 13

cueing part of a target set reduces recall
- interferes w/ retrieval plans and generates inhibition
- can explain collaborative inhibition

Question 14

negative priming

Answer 14

items that were just repressed become difficult to activate

Question 15

retrieval induced forgetting (retrieval practice effect)

Answer 15

retrieval of things we already know can lead to forgetting of other things we know
- during retrieval, competition between exemplars, this potential interference is resolved by inhibition, which later leads to their more difficult retrieval