Chapter 9 Flashcards
Memory
refers to persistence of learning over time, through storage and retrieval of information and skills
Behaviors that show memory is functioning
Recall
Recognition
Relearning
Recall
analogous to “fill-in-the-blank” retrieve info previously learned and unconsciously stored
Recognition
form of “multiple choice”
identify which stimuli match stored information
Relearning
Measure of how much less work it takes you to learn information you’d studied before, even if you don’t recall having seen the information before
How does memory work?
3 steps
Encoding, storage, retrieval
Encoding
information gets into our brains in a way that allows it to be stored
Storage
information held in a way that allows it to later be retrieved
Retrieval
Reactivating and recalling the information producing in similar form to what was encoded
Models of memory formation
Atkinson-Shiffrin Model
- Stimuli recorded in senses and birefly held in sensory memory
- Some information processed into short term memory and encoded through rehearsal
- information then moves to long term memory where it can be retrieved later
From stimuli to short term memory
some stimuli picked up by senses and processed by sensory organs; generates info which enters sensory mem.
Before info vanishes from sensory mem. we select details to pau attention to and send info into working mem./other processing
Phonological loop
Contains auditory information; tend to repeat info over and over
component of working memory
Visuospatial sketchpad
Holds visual impressions
component of working memory
Episodic buffer
Contains more integrated info, spanning across the senses
component of working memory
Explicit memories
“declarative”
facts and experiences consciously known/recalled
acquire info through effortful processing
studying, rehearsing, etc.
Implicit memories
not fully aware so don’t “declare” or talk about
formed through automatic processing
without awareness of building memory
procedural memory
(automatic processing)
how to ride a bike
well-practiced knowledge such as word meanings
Conditioned associations
(automatic processing)
smell that triggers thoughts of favorite place
Info abt space, time, frequency
(automatic processing)
picture where things are, retrace sequence of events, “i just noticed this is the 3rd time today”
Sensory memory
immediate, very brief recording of sensory info
Echoic memory
auditory sensory memory
memory can occur after someone says “what did I just say?”
can retrieve about last 8 words
Information held in short term memory
can hold 7 +/- 2 information bits
Semantic processing
recall more/differently
hear word -> encode meaning
Working memory
uses rehearsal, focus, linking, etc.
has greater capacity than short term memory
Effortful processing stratedgy
a way to encode info into memory and keep from decaying/make easier to retrieve
studying
Primary effect
first few words in list
Recency effect
last few words in list (most recent)
Serial position effect
People tend to remember first and last things in list
“muddy middle”
Storage occurs in the brain
by changing how neurons link to each other to make well-used networks easier to activate together
Explicit memory processing
facts, stories, meaning
directed by the frontal lobe
facilitated by the hippocampus, events and facts held there for a couple days before consolidating
Consolidating
moving to other parts of brain for long term storage
much occurs during sleep
Implicit memory processing
include skills, procedures, conditioned associations
Cerebellum forms and stores conditioned responses
Basal Ganglia controls movement, forms and stores procedural memory and motor skills
Flashbulb memories
emotionally intense events that become “burned in” as a vivid-seeming memories
strong emotions can strengthen memory formation
Long term memory
LTM
the ability to store and retrieve information over a long period of time
Memory retrieval
Recall, recognition, relearning
retrieval cues
stores as web of associations
context-dependent memory
part of web of associations
retrieve memories more easily when in the same context as when we first formed the memory
State-dependent memory
memories can be tied to emotional state when we formed the memory
mood-congruent memory
tendency to selectively recall details consistent with ones current mood
why forgetting can be good
could not prioritize important memories
may have difficulty abstractly and making connections if brain devoted to compiling info
Retrograde amnesia
inability to retrieve memory of the past
caused by head injury/emotional trauma
can be caused by more severe brain damage; may include anterograde amnesia
Anterograde amnesia
Inability to form new long-term declarative/explicit memories
Storage decay
Material encoded into long term memory will decay if never used, recalled, and restored
unused connections and networks wither
decay tends to level off after rapid decay
what hasn’t decayed quickly tends to stay intact in the long term
Retrieval failure
“tip of the tongue”
associations and links that help us find our way to the memory decay
Positive transfer
Old info makes it easier to learn new info
algebra -> calculus
Proactive interference
past info interferes ( in a forward acting way) with learning new info
had to change password but keep using the old one and forgetting the new one
Retroactive interference
new stimuli/learning interferes with old learning
learning new password makes it difficult to remember the old one
sleep can help protect memories from retroactive interference
Constructed memory
imagined, selected, changed, rebuilt
Memories altered
memories altered (actually reconstruct) every time we “recall”
altered again when we reconsolidate memory
later info alters earlier memory
the misinformation effect
incorporating misleading information into ones memory of an event
Imagination inflation
picturing an event can make it seem real
once we have an inaccurate memory we tend to add more imagined details
visualizing and actually seeing activate similar parts of the brain
Implanted memories
false memories created by giving people false information about their lives
Source amnesia
forgetting where the story came from and attributing the source to your own experience
seven “sins” of memory
blocking
absentmindedness
transience
bias
leading question
misattribution
persistence
Blocking
Inability to retrieve fact you know you know, but the memory seems blocked
Absentmindedness
Lapses of attention or forgetting to do things
Transience
fading memories
Bias
distorting old memories to fit current beliefs or knowledge
Leading question
retrieved memories vulnerable to suggestion, like when incorporating misinformation presenting in a leading question
Misattribution
attributing remembered detail to the wrong source
Persistence
unpleasant memories linger and intrude into our thoughts
Sin of omission
failure to perform (remember)
Sin of commission
act done intentionally or unintentionally (altering memories)
