Chapter 5 Flashcards
long term memory
Memory held in permanent storage, available for retrieval at some time in the future (contrasts with short-term memory).
short-term memory
Memory held in conscious awareness, and which is currently receiving attention (contrasts with longterm memory).
dual-store theory of memory
we have two distinct kinds of memory, a short-term and a long-term memory
Distinction first made by William James
the dual-store model of memory
input to the STM gets (1) immediately forgotten, (2) rehearsed, (3) consolidated into LTM. From the LTM, information can be retrieved by the STM
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
clinical evidence for STM/LTM distinction
both kinds of memory can be seperately impaired, while the other one can stay intact
–> double dissociation
recency effect
items presented at the end of a list are well remembered because they are recent. This effect disappears when delay is introduced between learning a word list and recalling it. This further supports the dual-store theory, showing that the last items of a list are held in STM
Brown-Peterson task
three letters are presented, then the person must count back in threes, thereby preventing the rehearsal of the initial three letters. In this task, most items are forgotten after 5-10 seconds
duration of short term memory
items need rehearsal to keep them in conscious attention, when this is prevented, items are lost very quickly. It takes 5-10 seconds in the brown-peterson task (Brown-Peterson) and 3-4 seconds in a task where the target does not expect to be tested and thereby does not rehearse (Muter)
immediate memory span
you read a row of digits and immediately write them down. On average, people can write down seven digits (plus minus 2) without a mistake
capacity of the STM
it is thought that the immediate memory span task overestimates the capacity because of chunking and other use of LTM. Based on the recency effect, we can make an estimate of three or four items. Using the running memory task, we arrive at the same number (about 4) which is seen as a more accurate estimate
running memory task
listening to a sequence of digits which is suddenly ended, at which point the participant must recall as many numbers as possible. people normally remember 4 items
working memory
A hypothetical shortterm memory system which serves as a mental workspace in which a variety of processing operations are carried out on both new input and retrieved memories. a workspace where analysis and processing of information would take place
storage memory
the same as long-term memory, but in the working memory model. The function of the memory is emphasized instead of the duration
Baddeley and Hitch (1974)
dual-task paradigm
a subject has to carry out two working memory tasks at the same time. When these two tasks use the same kind of working memory they interfere with each other. It has been found that a task that involves auditory input does not interfere with one which uses visual input. This thing is super important and is used for all kinds of differentiation
the two short-terms stores of working memory
phonological loop and visual sketchpad. The central executive is served by these two short-term stores
central executive
A hypothetical mechanism which is believed to be in overall control of the working memory. It is assumed to control a variety of tasks, such as decision-making, problem-solving and selective attention
phonological loop
A hypothetical component of working memory, which is assumed to provide brief storage for verbally presented items.
visuo-spatial sketchpad
hypothetical component of working memory, which is assumed to provide brief storage for visually presented items
articulatory suppression
A task used to occupy the articulatory control process of the working memory, normally involving the repetition of a sound (such as “the”) which requires articulation but little processing. Used as task in testing the dual-task paradigm
word-length effect
The finding that word span in immediate recall is greater for short words than for long words. It is not about the number of items but about the time it takes to speak them. The average length of the phonological loop is two seconds
Baddeley (1975)
sub-components of the phonological loop
phonological store and articulatory control process. During articulatory suppression people were still able to make phonological judgements, suggesting to separate systems
phonological storage
stores auditory information. Auditory word input directly enters the phonological storage
articulatory control process
sub-vocal rehearsal of information. During articulatory suppression, reading is more difficult. This means that the articulatory control process is used to transfer visual word input into the phonological store
irrelevant speech effect
listening to spoken material disrupts the retrieval of visually represented words. This is because the irrelevant speech uses some of our articulatory control process resources, so that reading (which uses the same resource) is more difficult
