Kaplan Ch. 3 - Learning & Memory

Question 1

What is the definition of learning?

Answer 1

The way in which we acquire new behaviors

Question 2

What is habituation?

Answer 2

Repeated exposure to a new stimulus causes a decrease in response to that stimulus

Question 3

What is dishabituation?

Answer 3

The recovery of a response to a stimulus after habituation has occurred

Question 4

How do biological needs influence learning?

Answer 4

Animals may tend to learn behaviors based on natural abilities and instincts (or may fail to learn behaviors that are at odds with their natural instincts)

Question 5

What are the 3 subdivisions of memory formation?

Answer 5

Encoding, storage, retrieval

Question 6

What is encoding of memory?

Answer 6

The way in which we put new information into our memory

Question 7

What are the 2 main ways that information can be encoded?

Answer 7

Automatic (passive) or controlled (requires input of effort)

Question 8

There are 3 categories of encoding methods. What are they, from weakest method –> strongest method?

Answer 8

visual, acoustic, sematic

Question 9

Self - reference effect

Answer 9

A type of semantic encoding, individual puts the new information in personal context to help them remember

Question 10

Maintenance rehearsal

Answer 10

Repeat information to keep it in working memory or to store it effectively

Question 11

Method of loci

Answer 11

Associates items on a list with a location along a route that is already memorized (i.e. if I were to associate the 3rd non polar amino acid on my list with a location in research north)

Question 12

Peg word

Answer 12

Associates numbers with items in a list that rhyme or resemble the numbers

Question 13

Mnemonics

Answer 13

Groups items from a large list into elements with meaning

Question 14

What are the 4 categories of stored memory?

Answer 14

sensory, short term, working, long term

Question 15

Complete these sentences:

1. Sensory memory is ___ in duration.
2. Sensory memory is subdivided into __ and __.
3. Sensory memory is maintained by __ and __.

Answer 15

1. Shortest
2. Auditory and visual memory
3. The auditory and visual complexes.

Question 16

How long is short term memory?

Answer 16

< 30 seconds

Question 17

What is the rule for determining the # of things stored in short term memory?

Answer 17

7 +/- 2 memories

Question 18

Where in the brain is short term memory located?

Answer 18

Hippocampus

Question 19

Where in the brain is working memory located? What other 2 areas of the brain are involved in working memory?

Answer 19

Hippocampus

Frontal & Parietal lobes

Question 20

What does working memory allow us to do?

Answer 20

Keep a couple pieces of information in our consciousness so we can manipulate and use that information

Question 21

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 21

A means of storing information in long term memory. It associates information with something already stored in long term memory.

Question 22

What are the 2 types of long term memory?

Answer 22

Implicit (procedural) = unconscious, skills & conditioned responses
Explicit (declarative) = memories that require conscious recall

Question 23

Explicit memory is a type of long term memory where information that requires conscious recall is stored. How is this type of memory further subdivided?

Answer 23

Semantic (factual) and episodic (experiences) memories

Question 24

Name 6 methods that can be used to retrieve memories.

Answer 24

Recall
Recognition
Relearning
Context effects
State-dependent memory
Serial position effect

Question 25

What is recall?

Answer 25

The immediate retrieval and statement of previously learned information

Question 26

What is a semantic network? How does it aid with recall?

Answer 26

A semantic network is the linking of concepts together based on similar meanings. It helps with recall because as one part of the semantic network is activated, concepts that are linked to this area may be activated as well.

Question 27

Recognition

Answer 27

Identifying information that was already learned

Question 28

Relearning

Answer 28

Seeing information again and learning it again. It usually takes less time to learn information the more it is re-learned.

Question 29

What is the spacing effect as it applies to relearning?

Answer 29

The time between relearning attempts is most effective if longer and leads to increased retention

Question 30

Context effects as it applies to relearning?

Answer 30

Memory is aided by being in the same physical location where the encoding first occurred.

Question 31

What is state dependent memory?

Answer 31

Ability to learn is dependent on one’s mental state. If one learns skills while in negative mood, then skills will be easier to perform in negative mood.

Question 32

Serial position effect?

Answer 32

When learning lists, it is easier to recall items from the beginning and end of the list

Question 33

Agnosia

Answer 33

The loss of ability to recognize objects/people/sounds, this is caused by physical damage to the brain

Question 34

What is memory interference?

Answer 34

A retrieval error caused by the existence of other, similar information stored in our memory

Question 35

What are the 2 modes of memory interference?

Answer 35

Proactive (old information interferes with learning new information)
Retroactive (new information causes us to forget old information)

Question 36

False memory

Answer 36

Faulty memory due to thoughts/feelings/outside sources

Question 37

Misinformation effect

Answer 37

Use of leading language / false descriptions of events that alter an individual’s ability to recall information correctly

Question 38

Source monitoring error

Answer 38

Confusion between semantic and episodic memory (one might remember the details (episodic memory) but confuse the context (semantic memory))