Chapter 7 Flashcards
Memory
Collection of several systems that store information in different forms for different amounts of times
Stores
Retain information in memory without using it for any specific purpose
Control processes
Shift information from one memory store to another
The Atkinson-Shiffrin model
Includes three memory stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory
Sensory memory
Memory store that accurately holds perceptual information for a very brief amount of time
Short-term memory (STM)
Memory store with limited capacity induration (approx 30 s)
Chunking
Organizing smaller units of information into larger, more meaningful units
Ex) phone numbers
2045559876 --> 204 555 9876
Long- term memory (LTM)
Holds information for extended periods of time, sometimes permanently
Retrieval
Accessing memorized information (LTM) and returning it to short-term memory
Serial position effect
People are generally able to recall the first few items from a list and the last few items, but not the middle items
Working memory
A model of short term remembering that includes a combination of memory components that contemporarily store small amounts of information for a short period of time (3 storage components)
Phonological loop
Storage component that relies on rehearsal.
Stores information as sounds, or an auditory code.
Visuospatial sketchpad
Store component that maintains visual images and spatial layouts in a visualspatial code.
Episodic buffer
Storage component that combines the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad and combines the sounds in images into a coherent story-like episode.
Central executive
Coordinates attention and exchange of information among the three storage components.
Focuses attention on components that are most relevant to a persons goals, interest, and prior knowledge
Declarative memories
Memories we are consciously aware of and can speak about.
1. Semantic memory - facts about the world.
2. Episodic memory - personal experiences organized as episodes
Nondeclarative memories
Unconscious behaviours
- Procedural memory - Learned patterns of muscle movements
- Classical conditioning - Potentially unconscious learned associations between two paired events
Long-term potentiation
Increase in connectivity and communication between nerve cells that fire together
Consolidation
Converting short-term memories to long-term memories in the brain
Amnesia
Significant loss of at least one form of memory
Anterograde - Inability to form new memories after a brain injury
Retrograde - Memory for events before brain injury is lost
Reconsolidation
Hippocampus functions to update, strengthen, or modify existing long-term memories
Cross-cortical storage
Long-term declarative memories are distributed throughout the cortex, rather than localized to one brain region
Rehearsal
Repeating information
Maintenance rehearsal - simply repeating information
Elaborative rehearsal - Thinking about the meaning of information 
Recognition
Identifying a stimulus or piece of information when it is presented to you.
Ex) multiple choice 
