chap 8 Flashcards
what is memory?
recalling past events and learning through encoding, storage and retrieval
encoding?
getting info into memory
storage
retaining memories for future use
retrieval
recapturing memories when we used them
info processing model
info passes through 3 memory stores during encoding retrieval, and storage
-memory similar to computer
-brain retains sensory memory for less than a sec
-sensory memories: iconic/ echoic (what we see/hear)
-paying attention info enters working memory for 30 secs ; capacity is 5-9 items and encoded enters long term memory –> stores info forever
parallel distributed processing model
info is represented in brain as a pattern of activation across neural networks
how do we encode info to memory?
PAY ATTENTION AND ENCODE
automatic processing?
remembering w/o conscious effort or awareness
effortful processing?
remembering something w/ careful attention and conscious effort
sensory memory?
involving detailed, brief sensory images or sounds retained for a brief period of time:
-photo viewed for a brief moment
-brief glance at a passing car
-random letters examined for less than a sec (sperling’s test of sensory memory
what is long term memory?
all info we gather that is available for use
-ex. skills, ppl we know, past feelings
what is spaced practiced effect?
moving working memories into long term memory by rehearsing over time
phonological encoding
encoding based on sound
visual encoding
encoding based on how info looks
-ppl with photographic memory have good visual encoding skillz
semantic encoding>?
encoding based on meaning of info
methods of effortful encoding?
understand
elaborate
use of mnemonic devices
chunking
PQRST (preview, question, read, self recitation, test)
schemas –> new info according to categories of prev exp and learning
storage limits of memory?
can only be helf for a limited period of time and this kind of memory is either passed to long term memory or lost
what is a memory span?
max # of items that can be recalled in the correct order
explicit memory?
-long term memory
-memory that a person can bring consciously to mind (home address, birthday)
implicit memory?
long term
memory that a person is not consciously aware of –> learned motor behavs, skills and habits (riding a bike)
semantic memory?
explicit memory
memory of general knowledge of the world
episodic memory?
explicit memory
memory of personal events or episodes from one’s life
types of long term memory? how does it break down?
explicit (conscious)–> semantic, episodic
implicit (subconscious)–> procedural, classically conditioned, priming
how do we retrieve memory?
-mentally search and if found, brought back to working memory
serial position effect?
-memory depends on position of info in a sequence
-we are more likely to remember the first and last items in a list better than the middle
what helps retrieval?
-retrieval cues, context effects, encoding specificity principle
what are retrieval cues?
-words, sights or other stimuli that remind us of info we need to retrieve from memory
-helps w/ retrieval
context effects?
-helps with retrieval
-we can remember things better where we first learned them
encoding specificity principle
original context, mood, state in which we learn material is loaded w/ retrieval cues –> memories of original event
MIX OF RETRIEVAL CUES AND CONTEXT EFFECTS
priming?
-helps w/ retrieval
-one piece of info helps us retrieve other related memories
recog and recall? + priming
-recog is easier than recall due to priming
state dependent memory
you remember things better when you are in the same state of mind you were in when you first learned it
emotional arousal and memory
Increases in emotional arousal = likelihood that items will be remembered
flashbulb memories?
detailed and near permanent memories of an emotionally significant event surrounding the moment we learn about the event
forgetting?
;inability to recall info that was prev encoded into memory
may be due to failure of attention or lack of retrieval cues
reasons for retrieval failure>? (3)
decay theory
interference theory
motivated forgetting
what is decay theory?
memory traces fade over time if they are not used
what is the forgetting curve?
forgetting levels off and amount of info we retain stabilizes
interference theory? (2)
influenced by what happens to ppl before or after they take info in
proactive–> competing info that is learned before forgotten material and prevents subsequent recall (old memories make it harder to learn new things)
ex. getting a new phone number but can only remember the old one
retroactive interference –> learning new info disrupts access to prev recalled info (new makes you forget old memories)’
ex. studying a diff language and forgetting the old language
motivated forgetting?
forgetting info that is unpleasant, embarrassing or painful
repression?
process in which we unconsciously prevent some traumatic events from entering our awareness so that we do not have to exp the anxiety or blows to our self concept that the memories would bring
source misattributions?
remembering info but not the source –> may remember info from unreliable sources as true
(misinfo and imagination)
3 factors that contribute to memory distortions?
source misattributions, imagination, misinfo
what is imagination?
memories distorted by false info from our imaginations
misinformation?
exposure to new info–> misinfo distorts false memories
-inaccurate eyewitness testimony
-hypnosis can distort memories when its supposed to rediscover them
brain and memory?
-prefrontal cortex: working memory
-hippocampus : transfers memories to long term
memory consolidation?
memories stabilize in the brain
potentiation? (AP)
synchronous networks of cells firing tgt
long term potentiation
repeated stimulation of certain nerve cells in brain greatly increases likelihood that cells will respond strongly to future stimulation
infantile amnesia?
memories of faces, places, and skills but not memories of life before 4
-hippocampus develops slowly
-most early episodic memories are emotional
prospective memory?
ability to remember content in future
retrospective memory
ability to remember content from the past
amnesic disorders?
-anterograde (cant form new memories)
-retrograde amnesia (cant remember things before amnesia inducing event)
ex. car accident, tbi, stroke –> can prevent memories that occurred before the event
dementia?
severe memory problems combined w/ losses in at least one other cog function: abstract thinking or lang
alzhiemers?
-most common form of dementia, affects memory and cognitive function
-most common features are plaques (disrupts cell communication and causes inflammation) and tangles (leads to structural collapse and cell death)
