CH 5 - memory

Question 1

what is sensory memory comprised of?

Answer 1

iconic memory
- visuall
- duration: .2-.4s

echoic memory
- auitory
- 3-4s

Question 2

what is the duration of short term memory?

Answer 2

18-30s

Question 3

what is the capacity of sensory memory

Answer 3

unlimited

Question 4

what is the capacity of stm?

Answer 4

5-9 items

Question 5

how can we increase the capacity of stm?

Answer 5

• chunking
• mnemonics
• maintenance rehearsal

Question 6

what is stm also known as?

Answer 6

working memory, because it applies to tasks that require the management of information in things like learning, reading and reasoning.

Question 7

what types of memory are comprised as Long term memory?

Answer 7

Explicit:
(memory with awareness)
- episodic, personal experiences
- semantic, general facts and knowledge

Implicit:
(memory wihtout awareness)
- Classically conditioned memory, behaviour learnt through conditioning
- Procedural memory, knowing how to do something

Question 8

what is the duration of LTM?

Answer 8

relatively permenant

Question 9

what is the capacity of LTM?

Answer 9

potentially unlimited

Question 10

what is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 10

• essential for forming explicit memories. These memories include both episodic memories (autobiographical memories from specific events, like meeting a friend for coffee) and semantic memories (general facts and information).
• The hippocampus indexes episodic memories for later access.
• temporary storage of memory

Question 11

what is the function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 11

a group of structures (nueron cell bodies) deep within the brain, involved in the generation of voluntary movements and long-term implicit memories involving motor skills.

• long term explicit memories
• voluntary movement

Question 12

what is the function of the neocortex?

Answer 12

• the largest part of the cerebral cortex,
• responsible for higher functions such as sensory perception, motor commands, spatial reasoning, and language.
• Over time, information from temporary memories stored in the hippocampus is transferred to the neocortex as general knowledge.
  (transfer from the hippocampus to the neocortex is thought to occur during sleep.)

Question 13

what is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 13

• balance
• coordination of muscles
• encoding and temporary storage of implicit processes, crucial for motor learning .
• forms and stores implicit memories of simple reflexes.

Question 14

what is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 14

• located in the brain’s temporal lobe, attaches emotional significance to memories.
• Strong emotional memories (associated with feelings like joy, love, grief, fear or shame) are difficult to forget due to the amygdala’s involvement.

Question 15

what is the role of the Prefrontal Cortex?

Answer 15

• crucial for STM
• allows us to temporarily hold information
• perform tasks like mental arithmetic or rmeember a phone number.

Question 16

what are the weaknesses of the Atkinson-shiffron model?

Answer 16

• Model distinguishes between the differing stores involve in memory
• Outlines that each memory store has a different capacity and duration
• Provides a good understanding of the structure and process of memory
• Findings from memory studies support the distinction between the STM and LTM.
  Can explain why amnesia patients may have difficulty retrieving memories from LTM or encoding info from STM to LTM.

Question 17

what are the weaknesses of the Atkinson-Shiffron model?

Answer 17

• May be considered to be an over-simplication of memory.
• STM is more complex. It is proposed that it encompasses different components within it.
• Ignores factors like motivation and strategy
• Initially, model suggests that rehearsal is required for LTM, when studies show that info can turn into LTM without rehearsal.
• Does not account for individual differences in memory processes, storage duration, and capacity.

Question 18

what is memory?

Answer 18

the process of encoding, storage and retrieval of information acquired from learning.

Question 19

what is an autobiographical event, and what type of memory does it involve?

Answer 19

a personally lived experience, involving both episodic and semantic memory.

Question 20

what is mental time travel?

Answer 20

to ‘relive’ the past, and use that information to imagine the future.

- i.e. Possible imagined future of planning what to wear to semi-formal party on a 30 degree day

Question 20

what is alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 20

a neurodegenerative disease under the branch of Dementia.
- gradual, widespread degeneration of neurons
- personality changes
- progressive decline in memories
- deterioration of cognitive and social skills
- death (late stage)

the brain will become atrophied (shrinks)
- neurons become damages, they die off and the brain tissue skrinks.

Question 20

what causes alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 20

AMYLOID PLAQUES
- when beta-amyloid proteins build up abnormally. This build up plaques between the synapses of neurons, and so interfere with communication.

NEURPOFIBRILLARY TANGLES
- when proteins build up inside the neuron and are associated with cell death. This interferes with the flow of information travels between the cell and neurons, disrupting communication.

LACK OF THE NEUROTRANSMITTER ACETYLCHOLINE
- an important memory Neurotransmitter
—> Alzheimer’s disease systematically destroys acetylcholine.

Question 21

what are some solutions for Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 21

there is currently no indefinite cure to Alzheimer’s disease, however, there are control methods which slow down the impact of the neurodegenerative disease.
- Acetycholine therapy: reducing their breakdown
- vaccines: for the body to attack beta-amyloid plaques before they clump

Question 21

how is memory flawed?

Answer 21

• we may misperceive things, bias
• information affects the creation, storage or retrieval of memory.
• impact of strong emotions

unreliable for things like profiling, seen in many legaql cases - and yet, human witnesses are still heavily depended on for the outcome of many trials.

Question 21

what is aphantasia, and what causes it?

Answer 21

a phenomenom categorised by the absence of the ability to visualise imager.
= affects 2-5% of the population
–if asked, individiuals struggle to produce a mental image to accompamny a concept

- Struggling to remember or 'relieve' autobiographical events
- Having difficulty imagining future or hypothetical events
- Having difficulty with factual memory
- Dreaming less
- Decreases imagery involving other senses like sound or touch
- Trouble with facial recognition
- No preconception before drawing

Question 22

how is Alzheimer’s disease confirmed

Answer 22

only by an autopsy

Question 23

what causes Aphantasia?

Answer 23

• (scientists are unsure), however, the areas involved in visual imagery, like the visual cortex may be underactive.
• Aphantasia can be congenital (present from birth) or can be acquired (due to significant brain injury or psychological event).

Question 24

consolidation

Answer 24

the neurobiological process of making a newly formed memory stable and enduring following a learning experience

Question 25

dementia

Answer 25

general term for symptoms like decline in memory, reasoning or other thinking skills

Question 26

encoding

Answer 26

in relation to memory, conversion of information into a usable form so that it can be neurologically represented and stored in memory

Question 27

imagined future

Answer 27

imagining what might occur in the future