Lecture 16 - Associative Effects In Memory Flashcards
Memory and it’s translation to behaviour
Influence performance, learned info must be remembered
Some memories survive long intervals, others short lived
Outline 2 theories of Memory
Trace Decay Theory of Forgetting
Interference Theory of Forgetting
Outline conditioned fear in rats 1 day and 60 days after conditioning Henderson 1985
Conditioned foot shocks. Presented shock stop regular drinking
Conditioned suppression kicking procedure
Irrespective US intensity, hardly any forgetting after 60 days
In principle memories can last
Outline Trace Decay Theory of forgetting
Not maintained through reconsolidation or re encoding any particular association/memory only be expected last so long
Outline Interference Theory of Forgetting
More dominant and view we are taking
Memories nearly always there
But there is interference
E.g. learning names
Outline how conditioned Inhibition is forgotten over time
Initially fear conditioned procedures
Fear reduced by pairing with second stimuli at day 1 but this does not maintain at Day 35
Some forgetting seen within 35 days
Outline how forgetting can be reduced by a reminder
Memory improved by reminder 24 hours and 10 mins prior to test
No effect when presented 3 days prior
Outline forgetting after a context change
Change where learning to testing don’t show fear no memory
Forgetting induced by context switch was reduced by reminder
Outline theoretical implications of experimental observations
Reminders job memories suggests memories be forgotten without necessarily having decayed
Memories always there just need trigger
Temporary retrieval problems importance interference cause forgetting
Associative learning explain how reminders work
Anecdote from Marcel Proust for principles of association
Varnish paired distinctive smell
Later trigger emotional reaction
Like certain smells bring you back memories In childhood
Outline Godden and Baddeley 1975
Environmental context
Recall more when learn and text same environment 11-13 score
Different environments 8.5
Outline who researched into environmental context of music
Balch and Lewis 1996
Smith 1985
Outline who researched into environmental context of odour
Children’s toys - Goldman and Seamon 1992
Mothballs, baby powder - Rubin et al 1984
Museum smells - Aggleton and Waskerr 1999
Outline encoding specificity by Tulving and Thomson 1973
Encoding context provides memory triggers
E.g. category names
Outline final year project of Parker et al 2001 and odours
Experiment children, UGs
Essential oils
Difference recalling from word list depending whether odour in background was congruent or incongruent between learning and test
Outline Final year project by Cassaday et al 2002
Conditions incongruent ppts worse problem solving
Congruent lowest mean Errors
Cues and free recall certain congruent conditions highest mean error ratings
Conditions multiple different context changes reflect daily life - 20% people score less 50% this task
Outline Overton 1964 study
Rats trained escape unavoidable shock T-maze
Sodium pentobarbital produced dissociative learning in rats
Performances tasks learned drug stats not transfer non-drug stats
Learning reactivated drug reinstated
State dependent
Outline Goodwin et al 1969 study on state dependent memory
Non-alcoholic subjects remember things from being sober
Drunk people remember things when drunk
Outline Eich et al 1975 study on state dependent memory
Marijuana produced state dependent effect when no (external) cues to recall available
Outline Hurst et al 1969 study on state dependent memory
Amphetamine ineffective
But paired associative task
Outline Bustamante et al 1970 study on state dependent memory
Amphetamine did result in state dependency
Free recall task
Drawing geometric shapes
Why are there inconsistencies in state dependent memory
Inconsistencies down nature task
Paired associative task —> already have quite strong cue association
Context dependent cues comparison subtler
If more obvious cues around more likely pay attention obvious ones
Outline Eich et al 1975 study on the effect of Marijuana by task
Compared matched, free, cues recall
High recall in cued recall
Lower recall free recall
Outline final year project by Carter and Cassaday 1998
Effect of chlophenieamine - antihistamine
Recall better when matched conditions
Outline Mood dependent by Clark and Teasdale 1981
Low mood change brain state their ability retrieve past memories/experience selectively affected
More likely recall negative experiences associated those brain states
Outline over shadowing effects making state dependency unreliable by Eich 1980
88% studies evidence state dependent effects free recall
90% not show state dependency cued or recognition
Internal state more important cue in absence observable cues
Effects only when contextual cues not overshadowed more explicit reminders
Conclusions of theory of memories
Trace decay forgetting cannot explain recovered memories
Experiments support later remember something earlier forgot
Memories encoded embedded cues later help retrieval
