Chapter 6 - the psychobiological process of memory

Question 1

Sensory Memory

Answer 1

Entry point for new information from our senses

Function: receive sensory info from the environment
Capacity: potentially unlimited
Duration: 0.2-4 seconds

Question 2

Short Term Memory

Answer 2

Does not hold an exact replica of info
Allows us to actively manipulate or ‘work on’ information

Function: stores a limited amount of information for a short period of time, so it can be used or manipulated
Capacity: 7+- 2 items
Duration: 18-30 seconds (without rehearsal)

Question 3

Long Term Memory

Answer 3

Relatively permanent store that can hold vast amounts of information for long periods of time
- Inactive
- Info is encoded

Function: information storage for a later period of time
Capacity: virtually unlimited
Duration: relatively permanent

Question 4

Strengths of Atkinson-Shiffrin Multi Store Model

Answer 4

• highlights different stores and distinguishes between them
• provides a clear structure and process for how memory function, and explains forgetting
• supported by evidence of the distinction b/w stm and ltm

Question 5

Limitations of Atkinson-Shiffrin Multi Store Model

Answer 5

• may be oversimplified, e.g. STM is more complex than the model suggests
• ignores other psychological factors (e.g. motivation)
• studies show that transferring info to LTM can occur without rehearsal
• doesn’t account for individual differences

Question 6

Explicit (declarative) memory

Answer 6

memory that is consciously recalled
expressed in words

Question 7

Semantic memory

Answer 7

facts or general knowledge

Question 8

Episodic memory

Answer 8

personal experiences

Question 9

Implicit (non-declarative) memory

Answer 9

memory that is unconsciously recalled
demonstrated through changes in behaviour

Question 10

Procedural memory

Answer 10

Motor skills and actions

Question 11

Classically conditioned memory

Answer 11

involuntary responses (motor or emotional)

Question 12

Hippocampus

Answer 12

located within the medial temporal lobes
- encodes explicit memories
- transfers new LTMs into the neocortex for permanent long term storage
- plays a role in spatial learning and memory

Question 13

Neocortex

Answer 13

The outer layer of neural tissue, part of the cerebral cortex which includes the 4 lobes
- Stores explicit memories in the area that they were first processed in
- when required, the separate parts are reconstructed into a single memory and are brought into conscious awareness
- LTP occurs every time the neural network is activated

Question 14

Amygdala

Answer 14

almond shaped ball of neurons, attatched to the hippocampus
- encodes emotion component of explicit LTMs
- encodes memory of implicit, classically conditioned emotional respones

Question 15

Basal ganglia

Answer 15

lies deep within the brain
- encodes, stores and retrieves implicit, procedural LTMs and simple CC motor responses
- coordinates smooth movement
- works with motor and prefrontal cortices to initiate or inhibit movements. (parkinsons patients often have damage to basal ganglia)
- forming implicit procedural memories associated w/ habits by associating movements w/ rewards or reinforcement

Question 16

Cerebellum

Answer 16

Located at the base and rear of the brain
- encodes, stores and retrieves implicit, procedural LTMs and simple CC motor responses
- coordinates fine motor movements and balance

Question 17

Autobiographical memories

Answer 17

A memory system involving ‘episodes’ from a person’s life, based on a mix of episodic and semantic memory
- episodic provides first-person experiential component
- semantic provides self knowledge including general event knowledge or personal facts without context

Question 18

Possible imagined futures / episodic future thinking

Answer 18

projecting yourself forwards in time to pre-experience an event that might happen in your personal future
- ‘trying out’ different scenarios can guide future actions

Question 19

The role of episodic and semantic memories in possible imagined futures

Answer 19

episodic provides episodic elements used to recombine and construct future events or scenarios
semantic provides a context or framework for constructing and organising future thinking

Question 20

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 20

a type of neurogenerative disease characterised by gradual widespread degeneration of brain neurons, progressively causing memory decline, deterioration of cognitive and social skills and personality changes

Question 21

Alzheimer’s - memory loss progression

Answer 21

• trouble forming new episodic and semantic memories (due to hippocampus damage)
• trouble retrieving old episodic LTMs
• trouble retrieving old semantic LTMs
• loss of procedural LTMs

Question 22

Amyloid Plaques

Answer 22

protein clusters form clumps OUTSIDE the neurons, inhibiting communication between neurons

Question 23

Neurofibrillary tangles

Answer 23

protein build-up INSIDE neurons, inhibit transportation of essenial substances and results in neurons dying

Question 24

Alzheimer’s changes in the brain

Answer 24

Reduced levels of NT: acetycholine (related to memory)
cortical shrinkage - as neurons become damaged and brain tissue shrinks and eventually dies (especially hippocampus)

Question 25

Aphantasia

Answer 25

A phenomenon in which people are unable to visualise imagery
- would be able to state what an experience or event would involve, however unable to conceptualise it in their mind
- trouble retrieving autobiographical memory and episodic future thinking