5 - Process Of Acquiring Memories Flashcards
Describe the steps in the modal memory model
Incoming information>sensory memory>short-term memory
Short-term memory could go to long-term memory/lost/maintenance via rehearsal
Long-term memory can go to short term memory via retrieval
What happens if you don’t rehearse info that goes into short term memory?
Can’t access anymore
What experiment shows that sensory memory exists?
George spurling
- showed 3 rows of letter for 50ms
1st condition: recall as many letters as you can (most could maximum 4 before representation disappeared from memory)
2nd condition: shown for 50 Ms, immediately after were told to tell the first row of letters/other rows (able to keep entire panel in memory but sensory memory disappeared quickly)
What should we call short term memory? Define it
Working memory: a dynamic form of short-term storage (more accurate language for what is happening in this processing stage)
- better understood as a status or activity rather than a place
Describe the features of working memory
Duration: temporary, fragile
Capacity + size: limited
Ease of entry: relatively easy
Ease of retrieval: relatively easy
Describe the features of long term memory
Duration: long lasting, enduring
Capacity and size: enormous
Ease of entry: effortful
Ease of retrieval: can be difficult, slow, and even unsuccessful
What 2 theories support the modal model?
Recency effect, primacy effect
*The serial position/learning curve of these is evidence
Describe the recency effect
Last few items are still in working memory at time of recall
- better memory for last set of words
Describe the primacy effect
Opportunity for memory rehearsal increased chances of transfer to long term memory
- not in working memory but rehearsed enough to make it to long term memory, don’t have a lot to memorize when you see them so they go long term
What happened to the recency effect when a 3 second delay was implemented before recall
Removes advantage for words at the end of the list, no recency effect
What happens when you change the interval of word presentation?
See generally more words recalled with slow presentation
- see general improvement in all words they had opportunities to rehearse but no effect on words stored in working memory
Where do we get neural activity with working memory?
Perirhinal cortex
Where do we get activity for long term memory?
Hippocampus
Working memory is used whenever _
Multiple elements/ideas are combined/compared in mind
*Engaging with info “working on your memory”
*Diff people have diff WM capacities
When given a series of digits and told to remember the order, most people can remember:
6-9
*7 plusminus 2 chunks (digit span task)
Describe the operation span task
Can access working memory capacity while it’s working (diff stages)
- focuses on what you can remember while doing a task
- more reflective and accurate, correlations with interesting metrics (SAT scores, reading comprehension, reasoning)
The two types of rehearsal for long-term storage
Maintenance rehearsal, rational/elaborative rehearsal
Describe maintenance rehearsal
Repetition, most basic form of rehearsal
Describe relational or elaborative rehearsal
Thinking about the meanings of the words
- trying to find connections between long term memories
- take info you just learned and working memory and connect with something that’s already in long-term memory, can quickly get the info stored with it
***Superior to maintenance
What 2 depths of processing do we have? Why are these important?
Shallow and deep processing
*The level at which you engage in processing info impacts how you store the info
Describe shallow processing
- superficial engagement with the material
- the analysis of a word focused on the physical characteristics (ie. Is a word in lowercase or capital letters?)
Describe deep processing
Requires thinking about the meaning of the material
- have to think about if something fits in a sentence based on meaning
** Leads to more words recalled
Does intention impact depth of processing?
No, if you tell people you will test them on something, your awareness of knowing you’ll be tested makes no difference (can’t just will yourself to remember something for later)
***This is paying attention + intention compared to paying attention
Deep processing leads to more connections which leads to
More pathways to a specific memory
*More connections being formed that exist in the mind! Can find info faster
Mnemonics are an example of deep or shallow processing?
Shallow
