L6: MEMORY Flashcards
Why do we need memory?
- to retain useful skills
- to recognize familiar people and places
- to build a sense of self
- to build our capacity to use language
- to learn in general
- to sustain culture
Why do we need to study memory?
-it can help improve your memory
-assists with studying
- assists with day-to-day life
- assists with future career plans
What is Memory?
The persistence of learning over time.
What are the 3 things that make it so we know that learning persists? Three R”S
Recall
Recognition
Relearning
What is recall?
-The retrieving of information that’s not currently in your conscience, but has been learned in some previous time.
- “ fill in the blank”
What is Recognition?
- identifying items previously learned
- multiple choice questions
What is relearning?
-learning something more quickly when you are learning it for a 1st, 2nd, 3rd … time
- studying for a cumulative exam
T/F: Memory is exact.
False.
Memory is a ————-, not a ———- of reality.
reconstruction, replication
Just because we’re so certain we remembered something correctly ….
doesn’t mean we did, our memory is not fully exact.
How does the memory work? What approach is taken?
Through the information processing approach.
Approach that mocks a computers functions
3 Phases of the Information Processing Approach
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
Explain steps: encoding, storage and retrieval
Encoding = the information gets into the brain in a way that allows it to be stored
Storage- holds or retains the information that came into the system
Retrieval - the getting of the information back out of the brain, reactivating or recalling of information. in a form similar to how it was encoded.
What are the 3 stages in the 3 stage memory model?
- Sensory memory
- Short term memory
- Long term memory
What happens during the sensory memory stage?
immediate very brief recording of sensory information
What happens at the short term memory stage?
-tends to hold a few items before the information is stored or forgotten
- some short-term memories are later moved into long term memory for later retrieval
What happens to the long term memory stage?
- permanently and limitless storehouse
- includes all of our knowledge, skills and experiences
What is automatic processing ?
Information that is processed but un consciously, slips right into the long term memory
What is sensory memory?
the memory stage that briefly preserves a relatively exact replica of incoming sensory information
How long does information last in the sensory memory stage?
Only a few seconds, and not all the information is absorbed
How long do our sensory memories last?
- depends on the sense
- sight = 0.5 secs
-sound = 3-4 secs - touch = 1 sec
What’s the function of the working memory in the 3-stage model?
-the conscious active processing of incoming auditory and visual-spatial information
- like an active desktop where ur brain processes info, makes sense of it and then makes connection
Is the working memory stage active or passive?
Active.
What is the concept of central executive ?
- hypothetical manager
- focuses your attention and pulls information from your LT memory to help u make sense of new info incoming
Example of auditory rehearsal ?
- repeating a password or phone number out loud
-Mentally repeating a persons name
Example of Visual Spatial Information?
Mentally picturing someone
How does out working memory capacity vary?
-varies depending on age and other factors
-younger = more capacity + better at multitasking
- older = less
How many information bytes can the short term/ working memory retain?
5-9 or 7 +_ 2
How many digits, letters or words can be remembered according to our working memory theory by George Miller?
WITHOUT DISTRACTION
- 7 digits
-6 letters
- 5 words
What is chunking?
- A processing strategy
-organizing items into familiar manageable units
What is Mnemonics?
- A processing strategy
- memory aids, especially ones that use vivid imagery
- example = acronyms
What is Hierarchies/ Categories ?
- A processing strategy
- branching set of.categories and sub categories
Provide a real-life example as to why were are better at visualizing concrete words then broad ones.
-Pictionary
- draw a bird v.s morality
What does effortful learning require.
rehearsal or repetition
Does the long term memory storage of the brain get full? Why or why not?
- no it doesn’t get full unlimited capacity storage
- instead, the neuro networks just get more intertwined and interconnected causing overlapping
What two levels are included in our dual-track memory?
Effortful processing
Automatic processing
Effortful processing VS
Automatic processing
Effortful- conscious process that occurs for explicit memories
Automatic- when information skips over our encoding and the automatic processing occurs without our knowledge - unconscious process
What types of memories does effortful vs automatic processing produce ?
Effortful= declarative memories
Automatic = non declarative memories
What parts of the brain are used for our dual track memory systems?
Effortful uses hippocampus and frontal lobes
Automatic uses cerebellum and basal ganglia
Define retrieval.
retrieval refers to getting information out of the memory storage?
Whats a study that shows recognition seems to be more efficient in contrast with recalling?
research shows people are better at recognizing photos of previous highschool classmates then recalling there actual names
Whats an example of context effects?
Scuba divers recall more words underwater if they learned the list underwater, while they recall more words on land if they learned that list on land
Serial Position Effect
the tendency to have better recall for the last and first items on a list
Recency Effect
when given a list and immediately asked to recall it , its likely the last of the list was recalled
Primacy Effect
-recall after a time delay
- we tend to recall the first items on a list better
- because the words may have reached long term memory at this point
The primary effect has been directly linked to ones…..
IQ
How could you manipulate the recency effect?
by creating a distracting task near the end of the list
What is a flashbulb memorie?
vivid and lasting images are associated with surprising or emotional events
example: 9/11
Whats the significant thing about flashbulb memories ?
They feel more accurate than other memories
Are flashbulb memories more accurate then normal memories ?
even tho they feel like it no
2 main memory construction errors?
- misinformation effect
- Source Amnesia
Misinformation effect
when we incorporate misleading info into ones memory of an event
Source Amnesia
when we attribute the wrong source of an event we have expirenced , read about or imagined
ex. we may think our dreams may of happened
How does Emma Loftus explain the memory as?
a Wikipedia can be changed easily by yourself but equally by other people
