Chapter 6: Long-term memory

Question 1

Encoding

Answer 1

The procees of transforming a sensory stimulus into a memory trace.

Question 2

Decay

Answer 2

Memories fade away with the passage of time, regardless of other input.

Question 3

Interference

Answer 3

Memories are actively disrupted by the influence of some other input.

Question 4

Retrieval-Induced forgetting

Answer 4

The phenomenon whereby the successful retrieval of a memory trace inhibits the retrieval of rival memory traces. An inhibitory mechanism in the brain, which actively supress unretrieved memories.

Question 5

Schemas Theory

Answer 5

We perceive and encode information into our memories in terms of our past experience. Any input which does not match with the existing schemas will either be distorted to make is match the schemas or else it will not be retained at all. Bartlett’s experiments showed that we should never expect memory to be entirely accurate, since it will tend to reflect our own efforts to make sense of its content.

Question 6

Later schemas theoies

Answer 6

Something is more memorable if we can make use of our knowledge and experience to increase its meningfullness.

Question 7

Schemas script

Answer 7

A form of schema which combines a sequence of events might normally be expected in a particular situation.

Question 8

Mnemonic

Answer 8

Adding a meaning to an item or making associations. A techique or strategy used for improving the memorability of items.

Question 9

Levels of Processing

Answer 9

It suggests that the processing of new perceptual input involves the extraction of information as a series of levels of increasing depth of analysis, with more info being extracted at each new level. The revision of the model assumes that structural, acoustic and sematic processing take place simultaneously and in parallel rather than in sequence.

Question 10

Orienting tasks

Answer 10

A set of instructions used to influence the type of cognitive processing employed:

1. Structural orienting task: is word in block capitals?
2. Acoustic orienting task: does word rythm with bat?
3. Sematic orienting task: Does word fit the sentence ‘the cat sat on …..’

Question 11

Episodic Memory

Answer 11

Memory for specific episodes and events from personal experience - occuring in a particular context of place and time.

Question 12

Sematic Memory

Answer 12

Memory for general knowledge, without reference to any specific contextual episode.

Question 13

Familiarity

Answer 13

Deciding whether or not an item has ever be encountered before.

Question 14

Recollection

Answer 14

Remembering a specific event or occasion on which an item was previously encountered.

Question 15

The R-emeber & K-now Procedure

Answer 15

When an itam is familiar, or the can remember consciously.

Question 16

Explicit Memory

Answer 16

Memory which a subject as able to report consciously and deliberstely.

Question 17

Implicit Memory

Answer 17

Memory whose influence can be detected by some indirect test of task performance, but which the subject is unable to report deliberately and consciously.

Question 18

Testing effect

Answer 18

Actively testing a memory improves its subsequent retrievability.

Question 19

Reconsolidation

Answer 19

The reactivation of a memory makes it temporarily vulnerable t change.

Question 20

Direct forgetting

Answer 20

People are able to deliberately supress a memory if instructed to do so (effortfully and consciously).