Forgetting & Remembering

Question 1

What are the 4 types of forgetting?

Answer 1

• Retrieval failure
• Interference
• Motivated forgetting
• Decay

Question 2

Explain retrieval failure.

Answer 2

Inability to retrieve a certain piece of info. Memory cues that were present when the memory was formed are missing.

Question 3

Explain interference.

Answer 3

Forgetting due to similar competing info being stored.

Question 4

What are the 2 types of interference?

Answer 4

• Retroactive
• Proactive

Question 5

What is the difference between the 2 types on interfefence?

Answer 5

Retroactive:
When previously learned info is interfered with due to new info (old is changed - retro)

Proactive:
When the learning of new info is interfered with due to old info (new is changed - pro)

Question 7

Explain decay.

Answer 7

Fading over time. If neural pathways are not kept through rehearsal, they fade over time

Question 8

What is recall?

Answer 8

When we retrieve a memory and can recognise, recall and relearn info from long term memory

Question 9

What are the 3 types of recall?

Answer 9

• Free recall
• Serial recall
• Cued recall

Question 10

What is free recall? Give an example

Answer 10

Recalling info with no need for order
eg. Name teachers at your school

Question 11

What is serial recall? Give an example

Answer 11

Recalling info with a specific order
eg. In order, what classes have you had today?

Question 12

What is cued recall? Give an example

Answer 12

Using prompts to assist recall
eg. beggining with S …?

Question 13

What is recognition?

Answer 13

Identifying the correct info from a list of alternatives

Question 14

What is re-learning?

Answer 14

When someone learns something they have already learned but are unable to recall. It’s easier learning things for a second time, info is retained even unconsciously.

Question 15

What is rehearsal?

Answer 15

Repeatedly attending to info to store it for longer

Question 16

What are the 2 types of rehearsal

Answer 16

• Maintenance rehearsal
• Elaborative rehearsal

Question 17

What is maintenance rehearsal?

Answer 17

Deliberately repeating info to keep it in the short term memory

Question 18

What is elaborative rehearsal?

Answer 18

Adding meaning to the information when using maintenance rehersal

Question 19

What are 3 causes of memory loss?

Answer 19

• Trauma
• Degeneration
• Drug induced

Question 20

How does trauma lead to memory loss?

Answer 20

Repeated trauma to the head (concussions) can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

Question 21

What is chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Answer 21

A fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated blows to the head over a long period of time. The blows to the head dislodge the structural protein tau which forms clumps within neurons, reducing their function and leading to cell death.

Question 22

What are the symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy?

Answer 22

Symptoms progress from:
- Headaches and short-term memory deficits
- Mental health issues and increased aggression
- Cognitive impairments
- Dimentia

Question 23

What is degeneration?

Answer 23

A slow, progressive and irreversible loss of neurons and synapses in areas of the nervous system

Question 24

What are the causes, symptoms and impacts of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 24

• Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that mostly occurs in older people.
• Caused by amyloid plaque (building up on the outside of neurons) disrupting communication and the buildup of tau on the inside neurons, causing a lower amount of neurotransmitters involved in memory.
• Causes severe memory loss, confusion, impaired attention, disordered thinking and depression
• Impacted by genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors

Question 25

What is drug-induced memory loss?

Answer 25

A disease of syndrome provoked by taking a drug

Question 26

What is Wernikle-Korsakoff syndrome?

Answer 26

An alcohol-related neurodegenerative disorder caused by a severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency resulting in an inadequate energy supply to the brain causing damage over time. Leads to issues with memory, vision and coordination

Question 27

Explain the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve

Answer 27

Suggests that forgetting occurs most rapidly in the first 20 minutes to 1 hour (more than 50% of memorised material), then gradually over the next 31 days, material complexity and intelligence don’t seem to have an influence.

Question 28

How did Ebbinghaus come up with his theory

Answer 28

He memorised random 3-letter words and waited for periods of time, 20 minutes, 1 hour up to 31 days to test himself again