6. Basic Memory Systems: Short-Term

Question 1

modal model of memory

Answer 1

• multiple sensory registers (auditory, visual, haptic)
• short term store for rehearsal
• long-term store that associates information
• model has been shown to be problematic, but it’s simplicity helps communicate basic findings of memory research

Question 2

modal model of memory: flow chart

Answer 2

env. sitmulus
sensory memory
STM
LTM
refer to notebook page 34

Question 3

sensory memory (vision)

Answer 3

has bee postulated to have (traditionally) iconic memory (infinite memory)
1. large capacity
2. short duration (250ms)
3. non-interpretable representations (rapid decay)
memory is a reconstruction

Question 4

visual persistence

Answer 4

• “after images” = straightforward way to understand sensory memory for visual info
• neurons continue to be active AFTER events have ceased to occur in outside world
• continued activation = memory

Question 5

full-report paradigm

Answer 5

• if sensory info is only available for a brief period, how can we measure it? make it about sensation, but not perception
• found that nb of recalled letters (immediate memory span) is constant for each participant
• qty of info initially acquired cannot be asses because the nb of letters presented exceeds capacity of immediate memory span

Question 6

What is the benefit of having less Qs on a test, regarding STM

Answer 6

when we increase the nb of Qs, we increase the task difficulty by creating more inteference

Question 7

partial report paradigm

Answer 7

goal: to determine if participants can register more info than they can recall using the full report procedure
- found that once experimental error has been considered, the results sow that all the briefly presented material is initially registered in memory
- thus, iconic memory has large info storage capacity

Question 8

What does the partial report paradigm suggest when we are looking at an image briefly

Answer 8

suggests that EVERYTHING is encoded briefly, because we don’t know which row we will be asked to recall

Question 9

duration of iconic memory

Answer 9

• in a follow up experiment, Sperling used a partial report paradigm
• refer to slides 21-25
• info remains in iconic memory for about 250ms
• pattern of activation becomes desynchronized

Question 10

issues with the partial report

Answer 10

• if we have access to categorical info, what might we predict would happen with recall performance
• if performance in categorical partial report is better than full report, then iconinc mental representations are interpreted
• if performance in catgeorial partial report is the same as full report, then inconic mental representations are NOT interpreted

Question 11

categorical partial report

Answer 11

refer to slides 28-29

Question 12

role of uncertainty

Answer 12

• full report = easier than partial report
• refer to small diagram on page 35 of notebook

Question 13

delayed recall paradigm

Answer 13

• refer to slides 31-32
• when task difficult is equated across conditions, categorical partial report is better than full report
• some categorical info appears to be available

Question 14

iconic memory conclusions

Answer 14

• empirical phenomenon = robust
• visible persistence is not informational persistence
• no evidence for a unitary sensory register
• visual persistence might reflect enduring stimulus-related activity in the visual cortex

Question 15

working memory characteristics

Answer 15

• short term limited store that maintains info until it is required or decays
• capacity is estimated at 4 items
• refer to diagram on page 35 of notebook

Question 16

specialized buffers

Answer 16

retain info acquired from modalities

Question 17

levels of activation in LTM items

Answer 17

• all items in lTM have a resting activation, those items in STM are just more active
• items in attention are the most active

Question 18

central executive

Answer 18

• can only hold 1 item at a time
• coordinates info within subsystems (all have limited capacity and represent info temporarily)
• focus, division and switching of attention
• LTM utilization

Question 19

central executive and phonological loop evidence example

Answer 19

AFDCB(AEBB)DACB
AFDCBA(EBBD)ACB

Question 20

STM: modal buffers

Answer 20

1. phonological loop (PL)
   - modality - audition
   - uses lanugae and phonological info
2. visuospatial sketchpad (VSS)
   - modality - vision
   - uses visual representations and imagery
3. episodic buffer
   - modality - integration through association of modal information
   - used to move info both to and from episodic LTM
   refer to notebook page 36 for evidence for these concepts

Question 21

STM model: modern approach

Answer 21

• later additions to working memory model proposed noth active and passive components
• inner scribe (VSS) andinner speech (PL) actively manipulate info
• this info = stored in passive units of phonological store and visual cache
• refer to diagram on page 36 of notebook

Question 22

STM model: neurological evidence

Answer 22

• frontal lobes have been singled out as having particularly important role in working memory
• also , dlPFC plays integral role in monitoring and controlling alternative course of action
  NOTE: relationship between this model and the motion of controlled and automatic processes

Question 23

role of LTM

Answer 23

• acts as permanent store
• practically unlimited capacity
• associations with items in working memory enhances storage capacity

Question 24

item and order info

Answer 24

generally, there is a robust distinction between intem and order info in short term recall tasks
- e.g. I know that I brought the milk in the firdge, but I can’t remember when I bought it
item info
- concerns association one has with external stimulus to other items in memory
- perceptual info: what does it look/sound like
- freq info: how often does this occur in the environment