Cognitive Approach: Information Consolodation Theory

Question 1

Name the cognitions (5)

Answer 1

Perception
Attention
Language
Memory
Thought

Question 2

I.C.T
(3)

Answer 2

Preparation - sleep prepares the brain for learning. MRI shows areas of recent neuron learning remain active when we sleep.
Saves - sleep is essential for ‘saving’ memories into LTM. File transfer - we can download into bigger database store - hippocampus to cortex (USB - Hard drive)
Association and accommodation - (schema) making connections (adding a new learned fruit into the fruit category)

Question 3

Strengths

Answer 3

Infants spend up to 50% of sleep in REM. This is at a time when they are learning rapidly and consolidating lots of info.
Horne showed sleeping can inoculate you against losing memories.

Question 4

Limitations

Answer 4

Verses suggested that the key factor in memory consolidation is rest time, rather than sleeping - consolidation effect occurs with the 4-6 hours away from task. Taking a break is as effective as learning.

Question 5

Analysis
(5)

Answer 5

This theory suggests that sleep is essential for LTM consolidation.
An implication of this would be that if individuals do not get enough sleep then memories will not be stored in LTM, as a result this can cause confusion and mistakes.
This links to problem solving theory which suggests that we are working things out when we sleep which could be linked to consolidation.
This links to Vertes 2005 study which implies that a key factor in memory consolidation is rest instead of sleep.
An application is that this shows the importance of sleep when trying to learn and consolidate.