Case Studies - Memory

Question 1

Miller (1)

Answer 1

Digit Span (1956)
AIM: Test STM Capacity
RESULT: Capacity = 7+/-2

Question 2

Miller (2)

Answer 2

Chunking = Info grouped in meaningful sections
»> Increased STM Capacity

Question 3

Jacobs

Answer 3

Digit Span (1887)
RESULT: Digit = 9.3; Letters = 7.3

Question 4

Brown & Peterson

Answer 4

Trigrams - Test STM Duration
Procedure: Learn trigram; count backwards in 3s for 9,12,15 and 18 seconds; recall.
RESULT: Increased time = Worse recall

Question 5

Peterson & Peterson

Answer 5

Trigrams (1959)
AIM: Test STM Duration
RESULTS:
After 3 secs = 90% correct
After 18 secs = 10% correct
{Duration = 18-30 secs}

Question 6

Baddeley

Answer 6

Coding in STM & LTM (1966)
Procedure: 4 sets of words: semantically/acoustically similar/dissimilar.
RESULTS:
- STM codes acoustically
- LTM codes semantically

Question 7

Bahrick et al

Answer 7

Classmate Identification (1975)
AIM: Study LTM Duration
RESULTS: (recognition)
Name: 80% success after 48yrs
Photo: 40% success after 48 yrs
Free: 60% success after 15 yrs;
<30% success after 30 yrs
CONC: VLTM exists

Question 8

Anokhin

Answer 8

Neural Connection Estimation…
1 followed by 10.5km of 0s
RESULT:
LTM Capacity = unlimited
(no one has used full brain potential)

Question 9

Milner

Answer 9

HM - Severe Amnesia (1957)
- Removed hippocampi
- STM unaffected
- LTM memory failed
- STM to LTM transfer failed
CONC: Supports MSM - separate stores

Question 10

Clive Wearing

Answer 10

• LTM intact
• STM lasted less than 30 secs
• Still able to use old skills
  (e.g playing piano)
  CONC: LTM is not unitary

Question 11

Shallice & Warrington (1974)

Answer 11

Brain damaged patient, KF, was able to recall verbal but not visual info - supports WMM)