Cognitive theories of memory: L13 Flashcards
- Matlin definition of memory
2. Ashcroft definition
- maintaining information over time
2. the mental processes of acquiring and retaining information for later retrieval
define procedural memory
- storage of skills and procedures
- important in motor performance
- supported by memory systems that are independent of hippocampal formation
define declarative memory
- accumulation of facts/data from learning experiences
- processed by various systems, feeding into hippocampal formation
- its relational (new information about e.g. cats combines with previously acquired information)
- activation of declarative memory = activation of related memories
- memory activation can be independent of environment
whats the job of the hippocampal formation
create relationships between 2 pieces of information e.g. 2 concepts, an emotion + event experienced
serial memory model:
1. Atkinson-shiffrin model :
3 components
- sequential order over time
1. sensory memory
2. working memory
3. long term memory
Atkinson-shiffrin model, whats needed for each step?
- attention needed for sensory
- attention + rehearsal for working
- first 2 steps-> for long term
memories that exist in long term represent?
individuals perception of events, affected by interpretation and mental state
Serial model: levels of processing -
Craik and Lockhart
- information retained according to level of processing it has undergone:
1. shallow-deep
2. maintenance (regurgitation) vs elaborative (imbedded in semantic framework) rehearsal
Serial model:
Tulving’s model of memory
Long term memory:
- procedural
- episodic (declarative = recall events)
- semantic (declarative = knowledge/facts)
Parallel model:
Parallel distributed processing
- memory is activation of connections in different areas
- strength between different nodes represents the memory itself
- learning = strength of connections between relevant sites is changed
- emphasis on the connection between the elements & strength of these connections
comparison of models of memory
- not one model accounts for all data that exists
- serial models are most useful for studying amnesia
Episodic memory definition
- “time travel”
Tulving’s conceptualisation of episodic memory
- episodic memory works by…
-allowing an individual to re-experience previous experiences
define autonoetic awareness
reexperiencing oneself in the autobiographical past
episodic memory: what do operations depend on?
- semantic and other forms of memory
- shares neural mechanisms & cognitive processes with other systems
- also subserved by specific mechanisms not involved in other systems
Define semantic memory
- ‘knowledge memory’
- system that makes acquisition, retention and use of factual information possible
- not purely concerned with language
- no autonoetic awareness of the personal past
how independent are episodic and semantic memory systems?
- parallel with declarative memory (Squire & Zola)
- not parallel (Tulving)
Squire & Zola: declarative memory - dependent on -damage = -> evidence
- dependent on the hippocampal system
- damage results in equal impairment to episodic and semantic memories
- > Amnesic patients have equal difficulties with ‘event’ and ‘fact’ memory
Tulving:
declarative memory - serial parallel independent (SPI) hypothesis
- encoding into episodic memory relies on semantic system (& the other way too)
- episodic memory is a ‘unique’ extension of semantic memory
- retrieval is independent, can be supported by either system or both
Tulving SPI model flow chart
In -> PRS -> semantic -> episodic
PRS -> identify objects -> out
semantic -> know the present -> out
episodic -> remember the past -> out
Dissociations:
1. no dissociation
- damage X = affects A & B equally. Damage Y =affects A & B equally
- single dissociation
- > example
- damage X = affects A, not B. Damage Y = affects A & B equally
- double dissociation
- damage X = affects A, not B. Damage Y = affects B not A
Vargha-Khadem study
- what did it examine
- seminal study, group of children
- 3 patients suffered early bilateral medial temporal lobe injury
Vargha-Khadem study
-Neuropathology (2)
- assessed with MRI and spectroscopy
- all 3 cases had:
- abnormally small bilateral hippocampi
- intact extra-hippocampal temporal lobes
Vargha-Khadem study
- memory
- 3 cases: impaired memory function relative to intellectual capacity
- memory assessed with standard clinical measures of memory (tests of episodic memory)
Vargha-Khadem study
-memory deficits included
- spatial memory
- temporal memory
- episodic memory
Vargha-Khadem study
- what remained “normal”
- academic achievements
- factual knowledge = normal range -> extensive semantic information
Vargha-Khadem study
- conclusions
- intact semantic memory
-impaired episodic memory
= episodic memory relies on hippocampal circuit
Vargha-Khadem’s study & Tulving’s model…
- fit together
- i.e. episodic memory function relies on semantic memory
- semantic memory function does NOT rely on intact episodic memory
Episodic - semantic dissociation + Vargha-Khadem’s study & Tulving’s model…
evidence exists suggesting these results to not necessarily be true -> double dissociation also exists in the literature
= interaction between these two systems isn’t clearly understood
Episodic memory relies on what?
the hippocampal circuit
