6: Memory 1

Question 1

Definition

Answer 1

“Refers to processes used to acquire, store, retain and retrieve information.”

Question 2

Processes Vs Architecture

Answer 2

Processes- acquire, retain, retrieve.

Architecture- sensory, short term, long term stores.
Explain how different types of information are processed; memory processes operate within the architectures.

Question 3

Early accounts

Answer 3

Early models:

• Discrete steps; each with its own purpose.
• Flow charts.
• Early theories- Waugh & Norman (1965); Atkinson & Shiffrin multistore model (1968).

Question 4

Sensory memory

Answer 4

Atkinson & Shiffrin multistore:

• Initial 200-500 milliseconds after information is perceived.
• Perception operates on contents of iconic memory; information decays rapidly.

Echoic memory: sensory store for sounds; relatively unprocessed input;; can play back what you’ve heard.
Duration- 2-4 seconds (Treisman).

Question 5

Short term memory

Answer 5

Information currently in use; readily accessible.
Capacity- 7 +/- 2 items (Miller).
Duration- 15-30 seconds (Peterson & Peterson).
Information decays rapidly unless rehearsed.
Rehearsal allows info to pass to a more stable state within LTM.

Question 6

Long term memory

Answer 6

Storage vault of information not currently in use.
Info is dormant until retrieved into STM.
Search can be slow and effortful.
Duration- up to a lifetime.
Capacity- potentially unlimited.
Encoding- semantic.

Question 7

Distinguishing between STM and LTM

Answer 7

Serial position curves- participants presented with words; free recall assessed.

Glanzer & Cunitz- average of 12-15 words remembered; primacy/recency effect.
When added interpolated task (counting backwards)- eliminated recency effect because last items held in STM and vulnerable to interference.

Enhancing STM:
Sumby (1963)- presented items more slowly; allow more time for rehearsal; improved primacy but not recency.

Talami, Grady, Goshen-Gottstein, Moscovitch (2005)- fMRI relates regions activated by primacy and recency.
Primacy- areas in hippocampus; implicated in LTM.
Recency- didn’t rely on these regions.

Question 8

Evaluating multistore model

Answer 8

Positive:
- Captures distinction between STM and LTM.
- Ideas of rehearsal supported.
Limitations:
- Concept of STM doesn’t capture range of abilities.
- Only assumes information is transferred through rehearsal.

Question 9

Working memory model (Baddeley & Hitch)

Answer 9

Central executive: attentional component; regulates complex tasks; controls and co-ordinates use of STM and LTM.

Phonological loop: processes sound information.
Phonological store- auditory info that decays quickly.
Articulatory rehearsal component- refreshes contents of phonological store.
Evidence- word length effect.

Visuo-spatial sketchpad: temporarily stores and manipulates visual and spatial information; helps planning spatial info.
Visual cache- stores information about form and colour.
Inner scribe- deals with spatial movement information.

Episodic buffer: added 20+ years later; Baddeley- temporary store for integrated information.