L09: Memory Flashcards
Memory as reconstruction
Memory is more like a personal mental sketch than a photograph, sometimes inferences are used
Modal Model of Memory
Memory is a structural model consisting of the sensory register, STM, and LTM. You can keep things in there indefinitely
Memory span/duration
measured by how many items can be juggled and manipulated in the mind.
Brown-Peterson paradigm of STM
To measure the duration of information in STM, rehearsal has to be prevented because continuous rehearsal keeps information in STM
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
Working memory
a two-way bridge between STM & LTM. includes the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central executive
phonological loop
processes spoken and written material
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
HM (Henry Molaison)
Bilateral hippocampectomy to treat epilepsy led to anterograde amnesia for episodic memory, while other forms of memory were unaffected
Implicit memory
Accessed without consciousness, or implicitly through performance rather than recollection. Includes procedural, priming, classical conditioning, and non-associative learning
Explicit memory
Allows us to consciously remember events and facts. Includes episodic and semantic memory
Declarative memory subsections and associated brain structures
Episodic and Semantic memory, both Hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe
Nondeclarative memory subsections and associated brain structures
Procedural memory (striatum, motor cortex, cerebellum), Priming (neocortex), classical conditioning (amydala, cerebellum), non-associative learning (reflex pathway)
memory (def.)
the ability to use or revive information that was previously encoded or processed.
Memory as a quale and consequences
Requires a holistic perspective and is never directly observed. Consequences: false memories, difficult to scientifically observe
Synaptic plasticity
memories are made by changing the structure of synapses. forming of memory increased number of connectors at synapses
Cortical plasticity
The phenomenon that cortical organisation can change in response to changed demands but also in response to brain injury, such as strokes, lesions, etc. Involves synaptic plasticity.
Law of regression / Ribot gradient
Memories that haven’t been consolidated are more likely to be affected by brain damage
Perseveration-consolidation hypothesis
Memories are permanently stored, are stable and can persist long-term.
Synaptic consolidation
strengthens relevant memories within a single synapse, so that new memories cannot affect them
Systems consolidation
the transformation in the brain structures responsible for memories’ expression
Models of systems consolidation
- standard model (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
Long-term potentiation (LTP)
high-frequency stimulation of neurons results in long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections b/n neurons
Temporal retrograde gradient in amnesia
amnesia more likely for recent than for remote memories
anterograde amnesia
decreased ability to retain new information (STM)
retrograde amnesia
affects memories that were formed before the onset of amnesia. (LTM)
memory schemata
We learn and remember in the context of what we already know.
script
A memory structure for encoding general knowledge of a certain situation-action routine.
Misinformation effect
post-memory info can change memory such that the original memory is lost. can be induced by leading questions
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
iconic memory
a rapidly decaying store of visual sensory information
Different forms of forgetting
erasure/storage failure, retrieval failure, memory disruption
Forgetting curve
rapid forgetting within hours, then slows
Law of disuse
when memory isn’t used, it is lost (Thorndike)
trace decay
memory weakens over time and is eventually lost
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
Proactive interference
old memories interfere with the recall of new memories
retroactive interference
new memories interfere with the recall of old memories
Availability vs accessibility
availability - info is stored somewhere in the brain
accessibility - 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 be better
shallow vs deep processing
shallow- fragile memory (phonemic processing)
deep- durable memory (semantic processing)
Hyperthymesia
A condition where one possesses an extremely detailed autobiographical memory
