Chapter 5 - Short Term Memory and Working Memory Flashcards
what are the three components in the modal model of memory?
-> sensory memory
-> short term memory
-> long term memory
what is the core principle of the modal model of memory?
-> memory is an integrated system, reliant on all parts to function properly
what are control processes?
-> active processes that can be controlled by the individual (e.g. attention strategies, memory strategies)
what does sensory memory do?
-> registers the information that hits sensory receptors
what is the iconic store vs. the echoic store?
iconic: registers visual information
echoic: registers auditory information
what are icons?
visual images that represent something
what happened to participants during the partial report task when the recall was delayed? (delayed partial report)
their performance declined rapidly
what information does short term memory receive?
-> information passed on from sensory memory AND information brought back from long term memory
what is required for information to move from sensory memory to short term memory?
attention (if you don’t pay attention, the information will be lost)
define articulatory suppression
the method of using alternative tasks to prevent someone from rehearsing information
how many units of information can a person hold in short term memory?
5-9 units
what is chunking?
recoding a large number of items into small meaningful groups
what determines how much information you can hold in short term memory?
the complexity of the items
what is the phonological similarity effect?
-> when there are mistakes in recall when words sound similar to one another
what is proactive vs retroactive interference?
proactive interference: when previous information interferes with learning new information
retroactive interference: when new information interferes with old information
-what is the main difference between short term memory and working memory?
working memory allows for manipulation of information as well as storage, whereas short term memory only stores information
what components are involved in the working memory model?
-> phonological loop
-> central executive
-> visuospatial sketchpad
what is the purpose of the phonological loop?
-> to sound out words, solving word problems, etc.
what is the word length effect?
-> memory is better for short words compared to long words
what is the purpose of the visuospatial sketchpad?
-> to process visual imagery, handle spatial information
what is more difficult, processing the SAME sort of information or DIFFERENT types of information?
the same sort of information is difficult for working memory to process
what is the purpose of the central executive?
-> to determine which information goes on for further processing and how it should be processed
-> an attention controller
what is the new element in the REVISED working memory model? what does it do?
-> the episodic buffer: is a backup store that holds information longer than the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad
-> allows us to evaluate previous episodic information to solve problems
what are the four methods for studying the brain?
- after damage
- single cell recordings
- measure activity
- ERP/EEG
what does the prefrontal cortex process?
visual and auditory information
