episodic memory Flashcards
episodic memory is made up off…
contextual info
relations: (Associations) of details
details
encoding
the process of adding events into memory - forming memories
episodic memory in the lab
study phase: encoding new ‘events’
shown photos on diff corner of screen, with diff coloured borders
test phase: retrieving these ‘events’
what was the image of?
where was it on the screen?
what colour was the border?
–> tests to see if it was actually encided
dividing attention and memory
- dividing attention during encoding markedly impairs memory
- i.e. if you do something else at the same time you will not learn as much
attention and memory
study phase: encode events
some trials: colour of events
other trials: location of events
test phase: retrieve these events > what colour? what location?
when people succeeded in encoding fMRI lights up in hippocampal region
hippocampus is essential for binding info into memory
picture superiority effect
- pictures easier to remember than words
- mentally imaginable words are also easier to remember
Paivio’s Dual Code theory
an image plus a verbal code produces a richer memory trace
distinctiveness theory
an item that pops out will be better remembered
- must be the only one to pop out
The Von Restorff isolation effect
a memory boost from processing a difference in the context of similarity
processing something different amongst similar things
distinctiveness and picture superiority
- better memory for words that are visually distinctive
- supports picture superiority
importance of meaning
- what pictures are of really matters
- those with people in them = more memorable
- just bc people ‘like’ them more doesn’t mean they are more likely to remember - e.g. natural scenes
uniqueness
item with more distinctive features or features that are unique to them = more memroable
droodles
- context/additional information makes things easier to remember
- schemas: prior knowledge on what is going on
fMRI whilst encoding new facts (Schema)
scheme related facts:
- activated the prefrontal cortex more
- activated the temporal lobe less (inc hippocampus)
- prefrontal cortex schema-related activation predicted Y2 course performance
BRAIN ENCODES RELATED AND UNRELATED FACTS IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS
Related: PFC more and MTL less
Unrelated PFC less and MTL more
schema effect
expected objects are better remembered than neutral objects