Altius Pschology 1 Flashcards
Retrieval cues
Definition
Example
You are bringing old information out of long term memory into working memory and can then be manipulated and used further.
There are methods/processes that can be used to help with pulling out permanent information from LTM
Primers are related words/ideas that help to increase recognition
Priming Effect
Definition
Example
Able to increase recall/verification by presenting a related word first to spark retrieval
More likely to think NURSE if presented with DOCTOR first
Typicality Effect
Definition
Example
Retrieval is faster/more efficient if you use an example that is more well known versus something less typical
A pigeon is an animal is verified faster than would a penguin is an animal.
Familiarity Effect
Definition
Example
By increasing the level of familiarity with a concept or example this will increase recall and verification rates
A dog is a mammal is verified faster than an armadillo is an mammal simply because you are more familiar/exposed to dogs
True-False Effect
General idea that true statements are verified faster than false statements
Category Size Effect
Definition
Example
Recall and verification rates increase if there are less members in a category and will decrease as members increase.
dogs versus mammals
Serial Position Effect
Definition
Prediction of recall via primacy effect
Prediction of recall via recency effect
The way in which a list of items is presented affects how you recall these items
Predicts that the first few items are more likely to be remembered at a higher rate
Predicts the last few items of a list are more likely to be recalled at a higher rate
Interference Effect
A very similar memory can make it difficult to recall a new memory secondary to interference
Proactive Interference
Definition
Example
Can occur when old memories interfere with forming new ones
You experience a more difficult time remembering your new phone number and keep reverting to your previous number
Retroactive Interference
Definition
Example
Will occur when a new memory interferes with recalling an old memory
Attempting to memorize a list of words: you may be able to remember some of the words but adding on new words makes it much more difficult to recall these words
Automatic Spreading Activation
Definition
Example
Occurs when the primer is a category name and the target is an example within that category
For instance, subjects respond faster to the word “doctor” when it is preceded by “nurse” than when it is preceded by an unrelated word like “carrot”.
Emotion and Memory
Heightened emotional state
Positive versus negative memories
State dependent learning
Memories coded during heightened emotional states are remembered more easily.
- heightened emotions with respect to one memory can increase the strength of this memory in LTM and can simultaneously decrease the strength for a memory immediately before or at the same time as the emotional event.
Positive memories are more likely to be remembered easier and with more details than negative memories.
- people with depression remember both negative and positive memories equally
Recall of a memory in the same state in which it was learned enhances recall includes mood and emotions presents
Forgetting:
Why does this occur
Insufficient repetition and attention
Methods to combat forgetting
Repetition
Spaced repetition creates stronger LTM traces
Without rehearsal, short term memory lasts for how long
15 to 30 seconds
LTM is constantly decaying
The more semantic memories and connections you make to the memory and the more interconnections with existing memories, the less likely decay is to occur
Hermann Ebbinghaus
Curve of forgetting
Episodic Memory Loss
related to age
As you age, you can experience memory loss where you no longer recall or have difficulty with remembering autobiographical information such as what did I eat for dinner last week or where was I when 9/11 happened.
Source Memory Loss
related to age
As you age, you can experience difficulty or no longer recall autobiographical information such as Where did I read that or who told me about 9/11?
Alzheimer’s Disease
Characteristics of the disease
Physiological characteristics of the disease
Normally diagnosed around age 65. Starts with memory loss, impaired cognition and language deterioration. With time, the disease progresses where judgement is lost; changes in mood and personality; confusion.
B-amyloid (peptides) plaques form outside of CNS neurons and Tau proteins involved in structure will aggregate into tangles within the cell. Brain and hippocampus will decrease. Ventricles increase.
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
General characteristics
How
Brain disorder caused from a severe deficiency in thiamine or B1 from chronic alcohol abuse.
Alcohol inhibits the conversion of thiamine to active form TPP (thiamine pyrophosphate)
In addition, alcoholics can experience malabsorption of vitamins secondary to GI being chronically inflamed
May involve confabulation of memories
Wernicke’s Encephalopathy
Milder version of Korsakoff’s syndrome and treated by IV vitamins and alcohol cessation
Confabulation
Fabricate/recall false memories that are vivid and detailed to fill in gaps in a coherent story/memory
seen in patients with Alzheimer’s and Korsakoff’s
Misinformation Effect
If you are presented false information or details, these details can alter a memory or have you inaccurately recall the memory
Watching a video of a car at a stop sign, told by witness that the car did not stop yet you yourself saw that they did in fact stop but your memory is altered
Source Monitoring Errors
source amnesia
Occurs when the source of the memory is incorrect and was likely not encoded when storing the memory.
In response to source amnesia, you may use heuristic judgement to
Unconsciously determine the source of a memory by using clues or short cuts associated with the memory
In response to source amnesia, you may use systematic judgments to
Consciously determining the source of a memory based on logical evaluation of the details you do recall
Neural Plasticity
Your brain and neurons can physically change in response to stimuli
Synapses, dendrites and glial cells can all change
Neural Plasticity
Adult versus infant brains
Infant brains contain the same number of neurons, more synapses and fewer glial cells which are support cells like oligodendrocytes
Synaptic Pruning
Some synapses are destroyed when they are weak and not frequently used
Others are strengthened when they are strong and frequently used
