Capacity, Duration, and Coding in the LTM Flashcards
What is the capacity of LTM?
(Capacity of the LTM)
Potentially unlimited.
How many information be lost within LTM? Is this a result of capacity limitation?
(Capacity of the LTM)
Decay and interference.
These losses don’t occur due to limitation in capacity.
Outline Anokhin’s research from 1973.
(Supports the idea that LTM capacity is limitless)
(Capacity of the LTM)
Supports the idea that LTM capacity is limitless.
This is because they estimated the number of possible neuronal connections in the human brain is 1 followed by 10.5 million kilometres of noughts; stating ‘no human exists who can use all the potential of their brain’.
This suggests the capacity of LTM is extremely large.
Outline Wagenaar’s research from 1986.
(Supports the idea that LTM capacity is extremely large)
(Capacity of the LTM)
Supports the idea that LTM capacity is extremely large.
This is because they created a diary of 2,400 events over 6 years, testing themselves on recall of events rather than dates, finding they too had excellent recall.
This suggest the capacity of LTM is large.
However, diary studies are a type of case study and therefore not representative of the general population and there could also be an element of bias as people are testing themselves.
What is the duration of LTM?
(Duration of the LTM)
Depends on an individual’s lifespan, as memories can last for a lifetime.
E.g. many elderly people have detailed childhood memories.
How can items in LTM obtain longer durations?
(Duration of the LTM)
If they were originally coded well.
Does LTM information need to be rehearsed?
(Duration of the LTM)
No, information in LTM doesn’t have to be continually rehearsed to be retained.
When did Bahrick et al conduct his LTM/ VLTM study?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
1975
What was the aim of Bahrick’s study?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
Investigate the duration of the LTM and VLTM.
What was the procedure of Bahrick’s study?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
Showed 400 participants aged between 17 and 74 years a set of photos and a list of names, some of which were ex-school friends, asked them to identify ex-school friends.
How was VLTM assessed in Bahrick’s study?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
VLTM was assessed because the time since leaving high school was up to 48 years ago.
How was participant accuracy assessed in Bahrick’s study?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
Participants accuracy was assessed by comparing their responses with high-school yearbooks.
What testing methods were used in Bahrick’s study?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
Tested in a number of ways: free recall, photo recognition tests, name recognition tests and name and photo-matching tests.
What was found about PPs who’d left high school in the last 15 years?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
They identified 90% of faces and names.
What was found about PPs who’d left high school in the last 48 years?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
They identified 80% of names and 70% of faces.
What was found about participant accuracy during free recall?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
Free recall was less accurate.
(60% after 15 years, and only 30% after 48 years).
What was concluded from Bahrick’s study?
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
VLTM exists.
LTM is very long, possibly forever.
Recognition is better than recall: suggests memory for faces is long lasting.
Give 2 evaluative points for Bahrick’s study.
(Bahrick et al, 1975)
(Duration of the LTM)
Has mundane realism, as real life memory was tested: this is a more representative of a natural behaviour (high external validity).
Bahrick pioneered VLTM research, as no one had tested the duration of VLTM.
Name and faces are a particular type of information; they might have emotional significance, and there will have been more opportunity for lots of rehearsal, given daily contact with peers.
What is coding like in LTM?
(Coding in the LTM)
Information is shaped into memory representations.
How can coding within LTM be stronger (and thus the memory more retrievable)?
(Coding in the LTM)
By deepening the level of processing a stimulus receives while it is being experienced.
How is information coded in the LTM?
(Coding in the LTM)
With verbal material, coding in LTM is mainly semantic.
However, coding occurs in other forms too, research indicating a visual and an acoustic code.
Outline Frost’s study from 1972.
(Supports the idea that coding in the LTM is visual and semantic)
(Coding in the LTM)
Supports the idea that coding in the LTM is visual and semantic.
Gave participants 16 drawings in 4 categories of animals, clothing, vehicles and furniture, differing in visual orientation, like angle of viewing perspective.
The order of recall of items suggested participants used visual and semantic coding.
