7.1 Memory Systems

Question 1

Memory

Answer 1

a collection of several systems that store info in different forms for differing amounts of time

Question 2

Stores

Answer 2

retain information in memory without using it for any specific purpose [like a computer hard drive]

Question 3

Short term memory (STM)

Answer 3

memory store with limited capacity and duration [30 seconds]

Question 4

Long term memory (LTM)

Answer 4

holds info for extended periods of time, if not, permanently [no capacity limit]

Question 5

control processes

Answer 5

shift information from one memory store to another

Question 6

attention

Answer 6

selects which info will be passed from sensory memory to STM

Question 7

encoding

Answer 7

narrowing down our STM through the process of stocking info in the LTM systems

Question 8

retrieveal

Answer 8

brings info in from LTM back into STM- becoming aware of existing memories [what you ate last week]

Question 9

sensory memory

Answer 9

a memory store that accurately holds perceptual info for a very brief amount of time

Question 10

Sensory memory: iconic memory

Answer 10

the visual form of sensory memory (held 1/2 - 1 second)

Question 11

Sensory memory: echoic memory

Answer 11

the auditory form of sensory memory (5-10 seconds) [longer]

Question 12

chunking

Answer 12

organizing smaller units of info into longer, more meaningful units [CBCHBOCTVCNN] - (CBC HBO CTV CNN)

Question 13

Tip-of–the-tounge (TOT)

Answer 13

phenomenon when you are able to retrieve smaller sounding words, or words that start with the same letter… but can’t quite retrieve the word you actually want

Question 14

serial position effect

Answer 14

in general, most people will recall the first few items from a list and the last few items, but only 1 or 2 from the middle [super bowl ads]

Question 15

proactive interference

Answer 15

process in which the first information learned (list of words) occupies memory, leaving fewer resources left to remember to newer information

Question 16

Retroactive inerference

Answer 16

opposite of proactive: the most recently learned information overshadow some older memories that have not yet made it into long-term memory

Question 17

rehearsal

Answer 17

repeating info until you do not need to remember it anymore

Question 18

working memory

Answer 18

a model of short-term remembering that includes a combination of memory components that can temporarily store small amounts of info for a short period of time

Question 19

word-length-effect

Answer 19

people remember more one-syllabus words (sum, pay, bar) than four or five syllabus words (helicopter, university, alligator)

Question 20

the phonological loop

Answer 20

a storage component of working memory that relies on rehearsal and that stores info, or sounds, or as an auditory sound

Question 21

visuospatial sketch pad

Answer 21

a storage component of working memory that maintains visual images and spatial layouts in a visuospatial code [where you intend to go]

Question 22

feature binding

Answer 22

the process of combining visual features into a single unit

Question 23

episodic buffer

Answer 23

a storage component of working memory that combines the images and sounds from the other two components into coherent, story-line episodes (ex: I was driving home when Taylor swift came on) [holds 7-10 pieces of info]

Question 24

central experience

Answer 24

the control centre of working memory: it coordinates attention and the exchange of info among the three storage components

Question 25

declarative (explicit) memories

Answer 25

memories that we are consciously aware of and that can be verbalized, including facts about the world and our own personal experiences (things we declare)

Question 26

non-declarative (implicit) memories

Answer 26

include actions or behaviours that you can remember and perform without awareness (thinking of it) [cannot declare]

Question 27

what are the two types of declarative memories?

Answer 27

1) episodic
2) senotic

Question 28

episodic memories

Answer 28

for personal experience that seem to be organized around “episodes” (first person p.o.v) [first day @univeristy]

Question 29

senotic memories

Answer 29

incudes facts about the world [what is university]

Question 30

long term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 30

demonstrated that there is an enduring increase in connectivity and transmission of neural signals between nerve cells that fire together

Question 31

consolidation

Answer 31

the process of converting short-term memories into long-term memories in the brain

Question 32

amnesia

Answer 32

a profound loss of at least one form of memory

Question 33

anterograde amnesia

Answer 33

the inability to form new memories for events occurring after a brain injury

Question 34

memory [storage]

Answer 34

refers to the time and manner in which info is retained between encoding and retrieval [active process]

Question 35

reconsolidation

Answer 35

the hippocampus functions to update, strengthen, or modify existing long-term memories [being reminded of info you learned as a kid]

Question 36

cross-cortied storage

Answer 36

a phenomenon where long-term declarative memories are distributed throughout the cortex of the brain, rather than being localized in one brain

Question 37

retrograde amnesia

Answer 37

a condition in which memory for the events proceeding prior trauma or injury is lost