Ch8 - Remembering Complex Events Flashcards
Highly Superior Autobiographical Recall (HSAM)
when individuals can remember their life experiences in great detail
does not extend to memory in other areas (eg: academic)
Amsterdam Cargo plane crash study
description + results
A cargo plane crashed into a building in amsterdam, a video of it was never taken but 10 months later, people were asked if they saw the news broadcast of the crash that day
- more than half of participants said they saw the video
- another study asked participants about details of the crash, 2/3 said they’d seen the video and provided details instead of stating they didn’t know the answer
many other similar studies for major events that weren’t filmed produce similar results
Transplant errors
definition + example
when two or more memories become so closely associated (knitted) that information from one bleeds into another - when information from one context gets transplanted into another context
eg: “remembering” that you were in California for summer camp because you associate it with childhood memories, even though the summer camp was in another state
Intrusion errors
definition + example
errors in which other knowledge influences the remembered event
eg: thinking an “evil” character in a book killed another character when it was only implied, never written (the knowledge that they’re evil influences your memory of the writing)
The DRM Paradigm
description + results
participants presented a list related to a theme (eg: bed, rest, night, tired, dream)
these words are easier to remember
but 50% of participants misremember “sleep” being part of the list
context of memory
Schema
definition
knowledge of what is typical given the context
eg: you typically look at a physical menu before ordering at a sit down restaurant
planting false memories
study description + results
participants all shown the same car crash, but asked how fast the car was going with different key words (see image)
- more harsh words like “smashed” led participants to report a higher speed
it’s easier to plant plausible memories and additional details rather than implausible memories or replacements for memories
misinformation effect
errors in memory caused by misleading information given after an experience
Retention interval
what is it
the period of time between learning and retrieving
best predictor of forgetting, as retention interval increases, so does forgetting
decay theory of forgetting
description
memories fade or erode with time
interference theory
description
new learning interferes with old learning and this new learning will impact old memories
retrieval failure
description
the “forgotten” memory is still in long term storage but the person is unable to retrieve it
3 theories of forgetting
list + which is valid
- decay theory
- interference theory
- retrieval failure
all 3 are correct
TOT phenomenon
people trying to recall a word will often remember the starting letter and approximately what it sounds like
eg: secant –> sextant
Ways to prevent forgetting
- reinstate the context (eg: it was rainy at the football game)
- diversify retrieval cues (eg: what did you do last tuesday? what did you do with your friends last week?)
- repeated retrieval and testing the TESTING EFFECT (eg: tell others about the event, journal, think about it…)
How is self relevant information remembered relative to general information?
what is different + why + errors
self relevant information is better remembered
might be due to increased activity in the MPFC that is unique to autobiographical memory
still subject to errors, especially bias towards consistency and positive traits
Medial PreFrontal Cortex
How does emotion impact memory?
- consolidation is improved as brain areas for emotion are activated (amygdala increases hippocampus activity)
- ## emotion narrows attention which helps encode memories
memory
consolidation
definition
process of biologically cementing memories in the brain
eg: activation of more brain areas can lead to a more cemented memory
flashbulb memories
memories with very high clarity, typically highly emotional events that are retained even after many years
