Lecture 16 - Associative Effects In Memory

Question 1

Memory and it’s translation to behaviour

Answer 1

Influence performance, learned info must be remembered

Some memories survive long intervals, others short lived

Question 2

Outline 2 theories of Memory

Answer 2

Trace Decay Theory of Forgetting

Interference Theory of Forgetting

Question 3

Outline conditioned fear in rats 1 day and 60 days after conditioning Henderson 1985

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Outline Trace Decay Theory of forgetting

Answer 4

Not maintained through reconsolidation or re encoding any particular association/memory only be expected last so long

Question 5

Outline Interference Theory of Forgetting

Answer 5

More dominant and view we are taking
Memories nearly always there
But there is interference
E.g. learning names

Question 6

Outline how conditioned Inhibition is forgotten over time

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Outline how forgetting can be reduced by a reminder

Answer 7

Memory improved by reminder 24 hours and 10 mins prior to test

No effect when presented 3 days prior

Question 8

Outline forgetting after a context change

Answer 8

Change where learning to testing don’t show fear no memory

Forgetting induced by context switch was reduced by reminder

Question 9

Outline theoretical implications of experimental observations

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Anecdote from Marcel Proust for principles of association

Answer 10

Varnish paired distinctive smell
Later trigger emotional reaction
Like certain smells bring you back memories In childhood

Question 11

Outline Godden and Baddeley 1975

Answer 11

Environmental context
Recall more when learn and text same environment 11-13 score

Different environments 8.5

Question 12

Outline who researched into environmental context of music

Answer 12

Balch and Lewis 1996

Smith 1985

Question 13

Outline who researched into environmental context of odour

Answer 13

Children’s toys - Goldman and Seamon 1992

Mothballs, baby powder - Rubin et al 1984

Museum smells - Aggleton and Waskerr 1999

Question 14

Outline encoding specificity by Tulving and Thomson 1973

Answer 14

Encoding context provides memory triggers

E.g. category names

Question 15

Outline final year project of Parker et al 2001 and odours

Answer 15

Experiment children, UGs
Essential oils
Difference recalling from word list depending whether odour in background was congruent or incongruent between learning and test

Question 16

Outline Final year project by Cassaday et al 2002

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Outline Overton 1964 study

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Outline Goodwin et al 1969 study on state dependent memory

Answer 18

Non-alcoholic subjects remember things from being sober

Drunk people remember things when drunk

Question 19

Outline Eich et al 1975 study on state dependent memory

Answer 19

Marijuana produced state dependent effect when no (external) cues to recall available

Question 20

Outline Hurst et al 1969 study on state dependent memory

Answer 20

Amphetamine ineffective

But paired associative task

Question 21

Outline Bustamante et al 1970 study on state dependent memory

Answer 21

Amphetamine did result in state dependency
Free recall task
Drawing geometric shapes

Question 22

Why are there inconsistencies in state dependent memory

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Outline Eich et al 1975 study on the effect of Marijuana by task

Answer 23

Compared matched, free, cues recall

High recall in cued recall
Lower recall free recall

Question 24

Outline final year project by Carter and Cassaday 1998

Answer 24

Effect of chlophenieamine - antihistamine

Recall better when matched conditions

Question 25

Outline Mood dependent by Clark and Teasdale 1981

Answer 25

Low mood change brain state their ability retrieve past memories/experience selectively affected

More likely recall negative experiences associated those brain states

Question 26

Outline over shadowing effects making state dependency unreliable by Eich 1980

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Conclusions of theory of memories

Answer 27

Trace decay forgetting cannot explain recovered memories

Experiments support later remember something earlier forgot

Memories encoded embedded cues later help retrieval