chap 5- the psychobiological process of memory Flashcards
what is encoding
converting info into a useable form
what is storage
retaining info in memory
what is retrieval
info recovered from memory when needed
what is sensory memory
the entry area of memory where all stimuli from our senses are retained in their original form for a very brief time in memory sub-systems called sensory registers
duration of sensory memory
very brief
capacity of sensory memory
unlimited
what is iconic memory
visual sensory memory. although brief it is long enough for the identification of the stimulus to begin
duration of iconic memory
about 0.3 seconds
what is echoic memory
auditory sensory memory
duration of echoic memory
stores for 3-4 seconds
example of echoic memory
when you say “what” but then answer the question before it is repeated
what does STM stand for
Short term memory
what is short term memory
a memory system that helps store info while you work on it
another name for STM
working memory
duration of STM
18-20 seconds (max 30 seconds)
capacity of STM
5-9 bits of info with an average of 7.
how is info in the STM lost
through decay (fading) or displacement (pushed out )
what does chunking do?
helps to increase capacity of STM
what is chunking
the grouping of bits of info into larger bits or units that can be remembered as single units. it expands STM
example of chunking
chunking telephone numbers from the ten individual bits to 3 bits: 0405 879 345
how can you increase the duration of STM
rehearsal (maintenance and elaborative)
what is rehearsal
the process of doing something so that info can be retained in memory and then retrieved when required.
Can be verbal, non-verbal, mental imagery etc
what is maintenance rehearsal
involves simple, role repetition of info being remembered can be retained (in STM)
Going over and over it.
what is important in maintenance rehearsal
it needs to be attended to consciously, not just meaningless repetition.
what is elaborative rehearsal
involves the process of linking new info in a meaningful way with info already stored in. Long-term memory. More active and more effective. ensures that info is encoded well. includes self-referencing whereas new info is made personal and meaningful to you
what types of long term memory are there
implicit and explicit
what are implicit memories
(procedural)- memory of how to do something. actions and skills; can be physical or intellectual (knowing how), learned by conditioning and practice.
what are the types of explicit memories
declarative, episodice, semantic
what are declarative explicit memories
memory of specific facts/ events (knowing that)
what are episodic explicit memories
memory of life events, autobiographical (episodes)
what are semantic explicit memories
info we have about the word. areas of expertise, academic knowledge, important places, meaning of words, famous people or events etc. facts that don’t rely on specific time or place.
duration of LTM
potentially forever
capacity of LTM
potentially unlimited
what does LTM stand for
Long term Memory
what is the serial position effect
recall tends to be best for items at the end and the beginning and worst for those in the middle
what is the primary effect
superior recall for items at the beginning of a list
what is the recency effect
superior recall for items at the end of a list.
explanation of the serial position effect
items at the end are still in STM, so remembered well, items at start have been transferred to LTM. middle is too late to be in STM and to early to be in LTM without rehearsal
what brain regions encode, store and retrieve explicit memories
hippocampus, amygdala and neocortec\x
where is the hippocampus located
deep in the temporal lobe in the allocortex
what involvement does the hippocampus have with retrieval of episodic memories
it has two-way communication with the neocortex. binds and consolidates episodic memories in the neocortex
what involvement does the amygdala have with memory
it processes emotional info. implicit emotional info is integrated with explicit memories by communicating with the hippocampus
where is the amygdala located
in the front of the hippocampus
what is the neocortex
outermost surface area of the cerebral cortex
how is the neocortex involved in memory
coordinates attention, thought & language during the encoding of memories (prefrontal cortex)
Processes sensory info during perception & action, stores semantic & episodic memories.
also stores semantic knowledge that as been generalized from episodic memories in semantic hubs
allows for imagining perceptual features of words and concepts
what are the basal ganglia and cerebellum involved in
encoding, storing, retrieving implicit memories.
these regions function independently of the hippocampus
how is the basal ganglia involved in memory
coordinates smooth performance of sequence of actions involved in procedural memory
what does loss of dopamine producing cells cause
problems with initiating movement and inhibiting unwanted movement, such as the motor symptoms seen in Parkinson’s Disease
how is the cerebellum involved in memory
coordinates fine motor movements and balance when performing skilled actions. also plays a role in procedural memory of cognitive skills such as reading
where is the cerebellum located
in the hindbrain
What does ABM stand for
Autobiographical memory
What is the ABM
the part of explicit memory that stores knowledge of personally experienced events and self knowledge
What does ABM include
episodic and semantic
what is episodic autobiographical memory
EAM- the first person experiental component
what is semantic autobiographical memory
SAM. self knowledge component. SAM provides an organizing scaffold or structure for EAM’s
What is mental imagery
perception-like experiences in the absence of relevant sensory input.
People who generate vivid mental imagery of objects, people and scenes also experience more vivid first-person EAM during ABM retrieval
What is aphantasia
the lifelong absence of voluntary mental imagery.
people with aphantasia also report having severely deficient ABM and are unable to imagine themselves in the future.
what is alzheimers disease
a progressive an fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes symptoms of dementia, especially explicit memory loss.
were does alzheimers usually begin
with damage to the hippocampus, which affects the binding and consolidation of explicit memories.
what are the first symptoms of alzheimers
anterograde amnesia for episodic-autobiographical memories and semantic knowledge
early symptoms also include difficulty with episodic future thinking and generating voluntary mental imagery
what do people usually experience as alzheimers progresses
retrograde amnesia
advantages of maintenance rehearsal
allows info to be stored in STM for longer than the usual 18-20 seconds
good for remembering meaningless info
disadvantages of maintenance rehearsal
easily interuppted by info entering STM from sensory memory of LTM
doesnt add to understanding
restricts entry of new info into STM
limited effectiveness in transferring info from STM to LTM
advantages of elaborative rehearsal
increases understanding because it requires deep processing
adds more detail, which increases retrieval chances
increases the possibility of long-term retention because it organizes new info according to meaning
makes info more accessible because it creates more potential retrieval cues
limitations of elaborative rehearsal
takes longer than maintenance rehearsal
is difficult to practice in situation where info entering STM is rapidly changing
relies on the ability to retrieve info previously stored in LTM
requires more conscious effort than maintenance rehearsal
what are mnemonic devices
methods or strategies for improving the encoding, storage and retrieval of explicit long-term memories
what types of mnemonics are there
acrostics, acronyms, method of loci
what are acrostics
word association for items to be remembered, construct phrases using first letters of words to be remembered
what are acronyms
pronounceable words formed from the first letters of a sequence of words
what is the method of loci
uses sequences of locations on a familiar route as cues for memory,
when memorising the info, the items of info to be remembered are placed at landmarks along a well-known route so that when retrieving the info, you mentally ‘walk’ or travel the route and ‘pick up’ the info at each landmark you pass.
definition of songlines
navigational route through country thats connected to a song, story or dance that shares vital knowledge.
