Chapter 6: Acquisition of Memories and the Working-Memory System Flashcards
acquisition
process of gaining information and placing it into memory
storage
the state in which memory, once acquired, remains until retrieved
memories in storage may be integrated with new knowledge
retrieval
the process of locating information in the memory and activating said information for use
what are the three main steps memory takes?
acquisition
storage
retrieval
modal model
conception of the “architecture” of memory
working memory is the storage and the loading dock for the long-term memory
sensory memory
holds onto just-seen or just-heard info in raw sensory form
short-term memory
the place where you hold information while you’re working on it
now called working memory
working memory
formerly known as short-term memory
the place where you hold information while you’re working on it
uses active processes
long-term memory (LTM)
storage system in which we hold all of our knowledge and all of our memories
contains memories that are not currently activated
(those that are activated are represented in working memory
free recall procedure
method used for testing what research participants remember
participants are given a broad cue (“what happened yesterday?”) and then try to name relevant items
flexibility in order (they don’t need to be chronological)
primacy effect
advantage in remembering early-presented materials within a sequence of materials
at the beginning of a sequence, you don’t have to divide attention between items
recency effect
tendency to remember items that occurred late in a series
they are still in working memory
serial position
data pattern summarizing the relationship between some performance measure and the order in which items are presented
because of recency and primacy it tends to be “U” shaped
memory rehearsal
any activity that has the effect of maintaining information in working memory
two types: maintenance and relational
digit-span task
task used for measuring the working memory storage capacity
the length of the longest list someone can recall is their digit span
eg. “1252” then “18372” then “048292” and so on
7 plus-or-minus 2
estimate for the capacity of working memory
chunks
hypothetical storage unit in working memory
“7 plus-or-minus 2” chunks
unspecified amount of info can be held in a chunk
operation span
measure of working memory’s capacity
predictive of performance in many tasks, presumably because such tasks rely on working memory
modern replacement for the digit-span task
working-memory capacity (WMC)
measure of working memory derived from operation span tasks
measure of one’s ability to store some materials while simultaneously working with others
working-memory system
system of mental resources for holding info in an easily accessible form
the central executive is at the heart of the system
executive relies on a number of low-level assistants, including the visuospatial buffer and the articulately rehearsal loop
articulatory rehearsal loop
one of the low-level assistants hypothesized as being part of the working-memory system
this loop draws on subvocalized speech, which serves to create a record in the phonological buffer
materials in this buffer then fade, but they can be refreshed by another cycle of covert speech
subvocalization
covert speech in which one goes through the motions of speaking, or perhaps forms a detailed motor plan for speech movements, but without making any sound
phonological buffer
a passive storage system used for holding a representation of recently heard or self produced sounds
concurrent articulation task
the speaking or mimicking of speech while doing some other task
these procedures occupy the muscle control mechanisms needed for speech, so they prevent the person from using these resources for subvocalization
maintenance rehearsal
a rote, mechanical process in which items are continually cycled through working memory, merely by being repeated over and over
contrast with relational rehearsal
relational rehearsal
form of mental processing in which one thinks about the relations or connections among ideas
the connections created in this way will later guide memory search
intentional learning
acquisition of memories in a setting in which people know that their memory for the information will be tested later
contrast with incidental learning
incidental learning
learning that takes place in the absence of any intention to learn and, correspondingly, in the absence of a memory test
contrast with intentional learning
shallow processing
mode of thinking about material in which one pays attention only to appearances and other superficial aspects of the material
shallow processing typically leads to poor memory retention
contrast with deep processing
deep processing
mode of thinking in which a person pays attention to the meaning and implications of the material
typically leads to excellent retention
contrast with shallow processing
level of processing
assessment of how “deeply” newly materials are engaged
retrieval paths
connection or series of connections that can lead to a sought-after memory in long-term storage
mnemonic strategies
techniques designed to improve memory accuracy and to make learning easier
help memory by imposing an organization onto the materials learned
peg-word system
type of mnemonic strategy using words or locations as pegs on which to hang the materials to be remembered
