7.1 Memory systems Flashcards
Memory
a collection of several systems that store information in diff forms for differing amounts of time
Stores
retain info in memory without using it for any specific purpose
Control processes
shift info from one memory store to another
Attention
selects which info will be passed on to STM
Encoding
the process of storing info in the LTM system
Retrieval
brings info from LTM back into STM
Sensory memory
memory store that accurately holds perceptual info for a very brief amount of time
Ionic memory
the visual form of sensory memory
Echoic memory
the auditory form of sensory memory
Short term memory
a memory store with limited capacity and duration - 30 sec, 7 +- 2
Chunking
organizing smaller units of info into larger, more meaningful units
Long term memory
holds info for extended periods of time, if not permanently
Tip of the tongue phenomenon
when you are able to retrieve similar sounding words or words that start with the same letter but can’t quite retrieve the word you actually want
Serial position effect
in general, most people will recall the first few items from a list and the last few items, but only an item or two from the middle
Proactive interference
a process in which the first info learned occupies memory, leaving fewer resources left to remember the newer info
Retroactive interference
the most recently learned info overshadows some older memories that have not yet made it into long-term memory
Rehearsal
repeating info until you do not need to remember it anymore
Working memory
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
Phonological loop
storage component of working memory that relies on rehearsal and that stores info as sounds, or as an auditory code
Word-length effect
people remember more one-syllable words than four-or five-syllable words in a short-term memory task
Visuospatial sketchpad
a storage component of working memory that maintains visual images and spatial layouts in a visuospatial code
Feature binding
the process of combining visual features into a single unit
Episodic buffer
a storage component of working memory that combines the images and sounds from other two components into coherent, story-like episodes
Central executive
the control centre of working memory; it coordinates attention and the exchange of info among the three storage components
Declarative memories
memories that we are consciously aware of and that can be verbalized, including facts about the world and our own personal experiences
Episodic memories
declarative memories for personal experiences that seem to be organized around “episodes” and are recalled from a first-person perspective
Semantic memories
declarative memories that include facts about the world
Non-declarative memories
include actions or behaviours that you can remember and perform without awareness
Procedural memory
Aka muscle memory - learned patterns of muscle movements
Long-term potentiation
demonstrated that there is an enduring increase in connectivity and transmission of neural signals between nerve cells that fire together
Consolidation
the process of converting short-term memories into long-term memories in the brain
Amnesia
a profound loss of at least one form of memory
Anterograde amnesia
the inability to form new memories for events occurring after brain injury
Storage
refers to the time and manner in which info is retained between encoding and retrieval
Reconsolidation
the hippocampus functions to update, strengthen or modify existing long-term memories
Cross-cortical storage
a phenomenon in which long-term declarative memories are distributed throughout the cortex of the brain, rather than being localized in one region
Retrograde amnesia
a condition in which memory for the events preceding trauma or injury is lost
