L9 - memory

Question 1

memory as reconstruction

Answer 1

pieced together from small pieces

Question 2

modal model of memory components

Answer 2

STM = RAM, restricted capacity
LTM = hard disk, infinite capacity

Question 3

processes in modal model

Answer 3

encoding, storage, retrieval, recall
keeping in memory: attention, rehearsal, recall
otherwise: decay, interference

Question 4

memory span/duration

Answer 4

Modal model:
sensory register - seconds
STM - indefinitely if rehearsed/18-30s
LTM - indefinitely

Question 5

chunking

Answer 5

individual pieces of information bound to create meaningful whole

Question 6

working memory

Answer 6

phonological loop, visuospatial, sketchpad, central executive (control/ regulation of processes, directs focus)

Question 7

HM’s spared and impaired abilities

Answer 7

spared: procedural, semantic, priming, conditioning, implicit memory tasks
impaired: episodic, recognition of recent objects/places, explicit memory tasks

Question 8

implicit vs explicit memory/paradigm

Answer 8

study item - images
test item - when image revealed gradually, HM could recognise much earlier than if never seen before (implicit) but states that he has not (explicit)

Question 9

declarative-nondeclarative taxonomy & brain structures

Answer 9

declarative: episodic & semantic (medial temporal lobe in hippocampus)
nondeclarative:
procedural - stratium, motor cortex, cerebellum
priming - neocortex
conditioning - amygdala, cerebellum
non-associative learning - reflex pathway

Question 10

memory definition

Answer 10

ability to use or revive information previously encoded/processed
biological: every change in neural connectivity

Question 11

memory as quale & consequences

Answer 11

never directly observed (problem of measurement) - existence is inferred from behaviour
does not exist physically but likely arising from brain activity patterns
understanding requires holistic perspective, related to hard question

Question 12

synaptic plasticity

Answer 12

change in connection between neurons due to experience, neurobiological basis of learning

Question 13

cortical plasticity

Answer 13

change in cortical organisation in response to changing demands or brain injury, eg auditory & tactile stimuli recruiting more processing resources after 2 weeks of visual deprivation

Question 14

Ribot gradient/law of regression

Answer 14

progress of amnesia follows line of least resistance (organisation), ie least consolidated
see retrograde amnesia gradient - most recent memories before amnesia induction exponentially more likely to be forgotten

Question 15

perseveration-consolidation hypothesis

Answer 15

memories labile after acquisition, permanently consolidated over time (unidirectional process)
disruption to sonsolidation impairs memory formation

Question 16

synaptic consolidation

Answer 16

learning leads to change in connections between neurons, modifications unstable, need to stabilise to transfer to long-term memory

Question 17

systems consolidation

Answer 17

certain (eg episodic) memories initially require hippocampus, expression gradually involve it less & frontal areas more

Question 18

models of systems consolidation

Answer 18

standard model: neocortex regions linked to hippocampus which connects them, cortical connection strengthens as hippocampal connection disappears
extended standard model: prefrontal cortex connects both regions
multiple trace model: links both within neocortex and between neocortex & hippocampus regions

Question 19

Hebbian learning

Answer 19

principle of associative learning
recurrent connections among neurons of cell assembly keep pattern of activity active on its own for a while after experience (STM)
recurrent activity eventually leads to changes in synapse of cell assembly, pattern can be recreated (structural modification = LTM)

Question 20

long-term potentiation

Answer 20

HFS/tetanic stimulation of neuron results in long-lasting strengthening of synapting connection
spine size increases, more post-synaptic glutamate receptors so more likely to fire

Question 21

temporal gradient in amnesia

Answer 21

HM: temporally graded retrograde amnesia for episodic memory & dense anterograde episodic amnesia
hippocampal lesions only impair memory of contextual fear conditioning when applied up to 28 days after conditioning

Question 22

memory schema

Answer 22

schema: active organisation of past reactions

Question 23

script

Answer 23

memory structure encoding general knowledge of situation-action routines

Question 24

memory reconsolidation

Answer 24

every time memory is recalled it becomes active again - unstable, succeptible to change/deletion

Question 25

prediction error

Answer 25

negative prediction error - expecting shock but not receiving one
positive prediction error - expecting no shock but getting one
fear reduced if reconsolidation interferred with only if there is prediction error

Question 26

flashbulb memories

Answer 26

memory for circumstances in which one learned of public event (reception memory not event memory)

Question 27

iconic memory

Answer 27

estimated 500ms (location)
identity memory decays slower

Question 28

Brown-Peterson paradigm, duration of short-term memory

Answer 28

distraction technique: presented 3 letter nonsense syllable, asked to count backwards in three starting from random number, estimate 18s

Question 29

retroactive changes to memory

Answer 29

ommission
rationalisation
transformation (unfamiliar to familiar)

Question 30

forms of forgetting long term episodic memory

Answer 30

erasure/storage failure/consolidation impairment
retrieval failure
memory disruption/interference/trace decay

Question 31

forgetting curve

Answer 31

logarithmic decay of most episodic LTM

Question 32

law of disuse/trace decay theory

Answer 32

if connection not made between situation and response, connection’s strength is decreased (passive trace decay)

Question 33

new law of disuse

Answer 33

storage strength not reduced but retrieval strength does

Question 34

active decay

Answer 34

organised removal of AMPAR from synapse - forgetting needed to learn new things

Question 35

proactive & retroactive interference

Answer 35

proactive: old memory interferes with new
retroactive: new memory interferes with old

Question 36

availability vs accessibility

Answer 36

forgetting never proved, we only know memory less accessible, not necessarily unavailable

Question 37

encoding specificity principle

Answer 37

likelihood of recall depends on how similar encoding and retrieval situations (contexts) are

Question 38

transfer appropriate processing

Answer 38

better recall if processes engaged in encoding are appropriate for retrieval tas

Question 39

levels of processing

Answer 39

shallow - how it looks or sounds
deep - significance & meaning

Question 40

hyperthymesia

Answer 40

extremely detailed autobiographical memory (AJ)
constant recollections, cannot focus on new info & standardised tests
memory disorder from defective prefrontal cortical circuits