Ch 8: How does memory work

Question 1

Declarative (explicit) memory

Answer 1

all the memories that can be consciously evoked and verbalised

• episodic
  semantic

Question 2

Non-declarative (implicit) memory

Answer 2

all the memories that cannot be verbalised but that do affect behaviour
test performance 
(riding a bike = implicit/non-declarative memory) 

• classical conditioning
• operant conditioning
• learning of skills
• priming

Question 3

Baddeleys working memory model

Answer 3

• central executive: controls the execution and coordination of the operations within the modality-specific buffers
• two buffers: visual-spatial sketchpad, phonological loop
• episodic buffer added later –> link between STM & LTM

Question 4

LTM: elaboration

Answer 4

consciously making as many associations as possible with the information that has to be learned –> depth of processing

Question 5

3 factors determining how well the information can be remembered later

Answer 5

1. how well the information is stored during learning
2. the retention interval (time between encoding and testing)
3. type of test

Question 6

retroactive interference

Answer 6

during a retention interval other info may be learned that disrupts the retrieval of the previous information

Question 7

proactive interference

Answer 7

old info disrupts the retrieval of new info

Question 8

Non-declarative long-term memory

Answer 8

insensitive to forgetting (except priming)
retained in case of an amnestic syndrome
test: serial reaction time task (SRTT)

Question 9

anterograde amnesia

Answer 9

impairment that affects the learning of new info

Question 10

retrograde amnesia

Answer 10

memory impairment that affects the recall of knowledge that has already been stored in memory

Question 11

Amnestic syndrome

Answer 11

anterograde & retrograde amnesia
relative preservation of working memory & other cognitive/intellectual possibilities

primary problem in storage
possibly: abnormally quick forgetting
recognition is often intact

Question 12

Korsakoff’s syndrom

Answer 12

anterograde & retrograde amnesia very serious

Question 13

Law of Ribot (retrograde amnesia)

Answer 13

most recent memories are the worst retained, oldest memories best retained

Question 14

Causes of memory impairments (4)

Answer 14

• herpes simplex encephalitis
• Korsakoff’s syndrome
• traumatic brain injury
• brain tumors

(temporal/diencephalon)

Question 15

Transient global amnesia (TGA)

Answer 15

men > women 
middle-aged
amnesia for minutes to hours 
confused but personal identity is retained
gaps in memory

Question 16

Psychogenic amnesia (fugue)

Answer 16

memory disorder based on a psychological cause

• prior: persistent stress/depressed
• TGA –> higher risk of fugue

Question 17

Location working memory

Answer 17

dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Question 18

Location episodic memory

Answer 18

almost entire brain

• searching for memory: frontal cortex, cerebellum parietal lobe
• sensory content: sensory cortices
• storing new memories: medial-temporal, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyris

Question 19

Location non-declarative long-term memory

Answer 19

many parts of the brain
basal ganglia & cerebellum
anxiety: amygdala