L7-9

Question 1

what are the three types of memory?

Answer 1

• episodic memory
• semantic memory
• procedural memory

Question 2

what is episodic memory?

Answer 2

• memory for important events
• stored in hippocampus

contains three elements:

• specific details of the event
• context of the event
• emotions you were feeling @ the time of event

Question 3

what is semantic memory?

Answer 3

• memory for facts + general knowledge about the world
• stored in temporal lobe
• also relate to e.g. functions of an object, what behaviour is appropriate in a certain situation or abstract concepts such as maths + language
• semantic memories begin as episodic memories = acquire knowledge based on personal experiences
• gradual transition from episodic –> semantic when memory slowly loses its association to particular events + is generalised
• HOWEVER, sometimes ppl can have strong recollection of when + where they learned a particular fact

Question 4

what is procedural memory?

Answer 4

• aka muscle memory
• memory for motor skills + actions e.g. tying shoe laces/ knowing how to read
• stored in cerebllum
• acquired through practice + repetition = resistant to forgetting or amnesia than other types of LTM
• less aware of them = become automatic + unavailable for conscious inspection (unlike semantic + episodic) = difficult to explain verbally
• if you think too much about procedural memories = prob prevents from carrying it out

Question 5

where is the episodic memory stored?

Answer 5

hippocampus

Question 6

where is semantic memory stored?

Answer 6

temporal lobe

Question 7

where is procedural memory stored?

Answer 7

cerebellum

Question 8

what are some ads for LTM? (ep, sem, proc)

Answer 8

• evidence for distinction between ep/sem + proc has come from research on patients w/ amnesia
  = patients w/ amnesia are unable to store ep/sem memories but proc memory unaffected
• scientific evidence captured from brain scans supports the view that there are diff types of LTM = when asking parts to recall diff types of info, diff areas of the brain are shown active on fMRI = ep, hippocamus… sem, temporal lobe… proc, cerebellum
• case studies of brain damaged patients support diff types of LTM = Clive Wearing suffered from viral infection which damaged hippocampus = no ep memory + can’t form sem memories BUT proc memory unaffected

Question 9

what is a disad of for LTM? (ep, sem, proc)

Answer 9

• case studies and research are only isolated cases of one individual = can’t assume that everyone’s LTM is formed in same way –> can’t be generalised

Question 10

what is forgetting?

Answer 10

forgetting refers to a person’s loss of ability to recall or recognise something that they have previously learnt

Question 11

what is the interference theory?

Answer 11

interference theory claims that forgetting occurs when two lots of information become confused in memory

• most likely to occur when two lots of info are similar to one another
• less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning

Question 12

what is retroactive interference?

Answer 12

when new learning affects the recall of old info

Question 13

what is proactive interference?

Answer 13

when old learning affects the recall of new info

Question 14

what are the ads of interference theory?

Answer 14

• underwood (1957) investigated proactive interference = found parts who learned 10 lists of words could only recall 20% from first list the next day
• parts who learned 1 list of words recalled over 70% of words the next day
• McGeoh and Mcdonald (1931) demonstrated retroactive interference = gave parts lists of words that they had to learn until 100% recall
• parts learned new list = either synonyms or antonyms –> then asked to remember o.g. list = pats who learnt synonyms list had worst recall as similar meanings caused interference
• theory has practical applications = students made aware that shouldn’t revise similar content/subjects @ same time = interference most likely to occur

Question 15

what are some disads of interference theory?

Answer 15

• when interference occurs, loss of info may only be temporary –> interference may not be true explanation for forgetting as info isn’t acc over-written + still is in LTM
• some psychologists argue that retrieval failure is a much better explanation of forgetting in everyday life than interference
• theory states that we forget when there aren’t enough retrieval cues to help us remember
• Godden + Baddeley (1975) got divers to learn + recall in the same context = better remembered ad retrieval cues in environment

Question 16

what is retrieval failure?

Answer 16

• when forgetting occurs in the absence of appropriate retrieval cues
• info is initially placed in memory, data associated with this info is stored at the same time
• if retrieval cues aren’t present at the time = appear forgotten but just can’t access it @ that time

Question 17

what are context cues?

Answer 17

retrieval cues = environment where we learn info

recall info in same environment where learnt (coding) = recall better

diff environment = forgetting can occur

Question 18

what are state cues?

Answer 18

an individual’s physical/mental state (e.g. mood) can affect recall = similar state, info can be recalled better as when it was coded otherwise fail to access info

Question 19

what is are some ads fr retrieval failure theory?

Answer 19

• Abernethy (1940) demomstrated importance of context-dependant cues
  = tested parts’ recall of mix of familiar + unfamiliar instructors + teaching rooms
• parts tested by familiar teacher in familiar room performed best = instructor + room = retrieval cues
• Godden + Baddeley (1975) got divers to learn + recall in the same context (land or underwater) = better remembered ad retrieval cues in environment
• Darley et. al (1973) showed the importance of state-dependant cyes = found parts who hid money in a large warehouse while under the influence of cannabis were more likely to recall hiding place when in similar drugged state
• retrieval failure has practical applications = students should study where they will take their final exams

Question 20

what are is a disad of retrieval failure theory?

Answer 20

Baddeley (1997) argues that influence of retrieval cues is not acc very strong = we often recall something in a diff context e.g. students don’t take GCSE exams in classroom where info is learnt