L09: Memory Flashcards
The modal model of memory
Memory is a structural model consisting of the sensory register, STM, and LTM. You can keep things in there indefinitely
Henry Molaison (HM)
Bilateral hippocampectomy to treat epilepsy led to anterograde amnesia for episode memory, while other forms of memory were unaffected
Modern Memory Taxonomies
Divides memory into declarative and nondeclarative
Declarative/ Explicit Memory
Allows us to consciously remember events and facts. Includes episodic and semantic memory
Nondeclarative/ Implicit Memory
Accessed without consciousness, or implicitly through -performance rather than recollection. Includes procedural, priming, classical conditioning, and non-associative learning
Episodic Memory
Memory for events. Controlled by hippocampus-medial temporal lobe
Semantic Memory
the memory of meaning, understanding, general knowledge about the world. Controlled by hippocampus-medial temporal lobe
Procedural Memory
a type of long-term memory involving how to perform different actions and skills. Controlled by the striatum, motor cortex and cerebellum
Priming Memory
exposure to one stimulus influences a response to a subsequent stimulus Controlled by the neocortex
Classical Conditioning
an automatic conditioned response is paired with a specific stimulus. controlled by the amygdala and cerebellum
Non-associative learning
When you’re not pairing a stimulus with a behaviour. Controlled by the reflex pathway
Memory (def)
The ability to use or receive info that was previously encoded or processed
Challenge of memory
Requires a holistic perspective and is never directly observed. It is a quale. Challenges: false memories, difficult to scientifically observe
Law of regression/ Ribot gradient
Memories that haven’t been consolidated are more likely to be affected by brain damage
Preservation-Consolidation hypothesis
Consolidation is a transient, unidirectional process that occurs only after acquisition. disrupting consolidation impairs memory formation
Two levels of memory consolidation
synaptic consolidation & systems consolidation
Synaptic consolidation
the stabilization of synaptic modifications needed to form long-lasting memories
systems consolidation
the transformation in the brain structures responsible for memories’ expression
cellular consolidation
learning changes communication between neurons
synaptic connectivity
basis of memory is the connection between neurons
dendritic spines
small membranous compartments protruding from dendrites that receive synaptic contacts from axons
long-term potentiation (LTP)
high-frequency stimulation of neurons results in long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections b/n neurons
spine remodelling during learning
LTP increases the size of spines and neurotransmitter sensitivity
synaptic plasticity & forming of memory
memories are made by changing the structure of synapses. forming of memory increased number of connectors at synapses
principle of associative learning
whenever the axon of cell A repeatedly takes part in firing B, some growth process takes place such that A’s efficiency as one of the cells firing B increases
when do encoding and cellular consolidation occur?
soon after learning
memory as a reconstruction
we use inferences to reconstruct what we think happened, and these beliefs become part of our memory
sensory register
Relatively faithful representations of sensory input. Most info decays within seconds and is permanently lost. Codes for Auditory, Visual, Tactile, etc. memory
short-term memory
If info is not continuously rehearsed, then decay within 18-30 seconds. Codes for acoustic and linguistic memory
long-term memory
unlimited capacity/ duration. codes for semantic memory
Memory span
measured by how many items can be juggled and manipulated in the mind.
Chunking
A process of grouping separate stimuli into meaningful wholes or categories. Allows us to overcome the limited amount of information we can retain in short-term memory
Brown-Peterson Paradigm of STM
in order to measure the duration of information in STM, rehearsal has to be prevented because continuous rehearsal keeps information in STM
phonological loop
processes spoken and written material
Working memory
a two-way bridge between STM & LTM. includes the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central executive
visuospatial sketchpad
stores and processes information in a visual and spatial form
central executive
supports cognitive operations on new info coming into STM from different systems & previous LTMs
models of systems consolidation
- standard model of systems consolidation (Marr) encoding and cellular consolidation processes are completed soon after learning
- cortical reorganization model: existing cortical map is affected by a stimulus resulting in the creating of a ‘new’ cortical map.
Hebbian learning
Principle of associative learning. When our brains learn something new, neurons are activated and connected with other neurons, forming a neural network. Neurons that fire together wire together
temporary retrograde gradient in amnesia
- temporally graded retrograde amnesia for episodic memory (LTM)
- hippocampal lesion becomes present
- anterograde episodic amnesia
anterograde amnesia
decreased ability to retain new information (STM)
retrograde amnesia
affects memories that were formed before the onset of amnesia. (LTM)
Théodule Armand Ribot
law of regression. Memories that haven’t been consolidated are more likely to be affected by brain damage
Donald Hebb
Principle of Associative Learning: whenever the axon of cell A repeatedly takes part in firing B, some growth process takes place such that A’s efficiency as one of the cells firing B increases
Schemata
We learn and remember in the context of what we already know.
Frederic Bartlett
Discovered schemata (organization of past reactions)
Hyperthymesia
A condition where one possesses an extremely detailed autobiographical memory
Misinformation effect
post-memory info can change memory such that the original memory is lost. can be induced by leading questions
Frame effect
when one encounters a new situation, one selects from memory a framework adapted to fit reality by changing details as necessary
memory reconsolidation
a consolidated memory can become susceptible to impairment after retrieval
prediction error
when we expect something and it doesn’t happen memory becomes plastic and subject to change
flashbulb memories
highly detailed memory for the circumstances in which one learned of a public event. often inaccurate
forgetting curve
rapid forgetting within hours, but then curve peters out
law of disuse
when memory isn’t used, it is lost (Thorndike)
trace decay
memory weakens over time and is eventually lost
interference
new learning overwrites existing memory
new law of disuse
storage strength will not be reduced, but retrieval strength changes over time
active decay
built-in memory trace erases memories over time
retroactive interference
new memories interfere with the recall of old memories
proactive interference
old memories interfere with the recall of new memories
availability vs. accessibility
available- info is stored somewhere in the brain
accessible- able to be retrieved
encoding-specificity principle
the likelihood to recall encoded info depends on how similar the encoding and retrieval situations are
transfer-appropriate processing
if the processes used to encode an item are appropriate for the retrieval task, memory performance will benefit
shallow vs. deep processing
shallow- fragile memory (phonemic processing)
deep- durable memory (semantic processing)
Hermann Ebbinghaus
developed the forgetting curve by memorizing and recalling syllables
