Lecture 5: Memory Flashcards
Encoding definition
formatting a new memory
Storage definition
maintaining encoded info in memory overtime
Retrieval definition
recovering info from memory stores
What is the purpose of encoding?
requires us to pay attention
Process of encoding
- Focus awareness a narrowed range of things or events
- Filter allows us to select specific sensory info
- Due to filtering during sensory input (early) or after the brain has processed the input (late) (scientists go 🧐)
What is the cocktail party phenomenon?
overhear name being mentioned despite paying attention to something else
Facts on multitasking
- switch out attention back and forth between tasks instead of simultaneously paying attention to all of them
- Bad for tasks that require full attention (driving)
- Performance on given tasks is reduced when multitasking
Definition of “levels to process theory”
deeper level of process result in longer-lasting memory codes
Structural encoding definition
Shallow processing, focus on physical structure of stimuli (shape, colour, length etc)
Phonemic encoding definition
Emphasis on sound of words
Semantic encoding definition
Emphasis on meaning of word, think bout object. And action the words represent
How to enhance retention
- Elaboration
- linking stimuli togther at time of encoding
- - - Additional association + examples - Visual imagery
- - - Creation of visual images to repeat
- - - Words to be remembered- -(Easy: table, pony, etc.) (hard: love, truth, justice)
Sensory memory definition
Info in its sensory for, that is stored for a brief time (only fraction of second)
- Example: Afterimage
Short term memory definition
limited capacity storage, that can maintain unrehearsed info up 4 20 secs
Rehearsal definition
process of repetitively verbalizing or thinking bout info
What are the 2 rehearsals?
- Maintenance rehearsal
- Elaborative rehearsal
Maintenance rehearsal definition
maintaining info in consciousness
Elaborative rehearsal definition
memory technology that involves thinking bout meaning of term (not repeating)
Short term memory facts
- info is lost in less then 20 secs without rehearsal 2. Mostly due to inference from competing material
- Can remember 4 (+/-) items
Chunking definition
group stimuli into units
Example: (phone number)
Short-term memory as “working memory” process
- working memory
- Phonological loop
- Visuospatial sketchpad
- Central executive system
- Episodic buffer
working memory purpose
- limited capacity storage system
- temporarily maintains and stores info by providing interface between perception, memory and action
Phonological loop purpose
use recitation to temporarily remember something
Visuospatial sketchpad purpose
temporary hold and manipulate visual images
Central executive system purpose
- Controls attention
- Controls switching
- Dividing attention
Episodic buffer purpose
- allows components of working memory to intergrate info.
- Acts as interface between short-term and long-term memory
Memory capacity definition
ability to hold and manipulate info in conscious attention
Memory capacity purpose
can temporarily reduce when under pressure or when ruminating on something else
Memory associated with high-level cognitive abilities examples
- Reading comprehension
- Complex reading
- General intelligence
- Playing musical instruments
Long term memory definition
Unlimited capacity store that can hold info over lengthy periods of time
Flash-bulb memories definition
unusually vivid and detailed recollections of momentous events
Facts about flashbulb memories
- supports idea that memories are permanent
- Become faded overtime
- Vivid, so therefore more confident
Clustering definition
tendency to remember similar or related items in groups
Conceptual hierarchy definition
multilevel classification system based on common properties among items
Schemas definition and facts
Definition:
- Organized cluster of knowledge about particular object or event
Facts:
- Abstract from previous experience with object or even
- Remember things that are consistent with schemas, but seem really odd of place
Semantic networks definition
Nodes of representing concepts joined together by pathways that link related concepts
Connectionist models definition
Memory based on neural networks handle info
Parallel distribution process
Parallel distribution process definition
Simultaneous process of same info spread across neuron networks
Cognitive process definition
Depend pattern of activation in high interconnected computational networks resemble neural network
Retrieval purpose
Getting memories
Accessibility purpose
Can get info in memory system
Availability purpose
Info is in memory system or not
What is tip-of-tongue phenomenon?
Temporary inability to remember something you know, accompanied by feeling that its just out of reach
Retrieval cues definition
Stimuli that can help gain access to memories
Context cues definition
Remembrance by putting yourself back in the context in which the thing took place
Memories facts
- Not perfect recollection of something — make it up as we go along
- Memories are reconstructions based on info we think we know at the time, but not
What is misinformation effect?
Recall of witnessed event is altered by introducing misleading post-event info
Source monitoring definition
Process of making inferences about origins of memories
Quick fact: Make decisions memory at time of retrieval to determine where we got info
Source monitoring ERROR definition
Occurs when memory derived from one source is misattributed to another source
Forgetting (i forgor) Definition
Failure to remember something
Forgetting curve (i forgor) Definition
Graphs retention and forgetting overtime
Retention definition
proportion of material retained
Retention interval definition
length of time between presentation of something and measurement of forgetting
Recall definition
Requires the reproduction of info without any cues
Recognition definition
require selection of previous learned info from lots of options
Relearning definition
- Requires memorization of into
- second time to determine how much time or how many practice trials are saved by learning it before
Ineffective coding theory of forgetting definition
cant forget something you never learned in first place
Pseudo-forgetting definition
Forgetting cuz you never learned it, usually due to lack of attention
Decay theory of forgetting definition
Forget because memory traces fade overtime
Neural connections are strengthened through use
Interference theory of forgetting definition
Forget because info competes with other info
Retroactive interference definition
New info impairs retention of pervious learned info
Proactive interferences definition
Previous learned info interferes with retention of new info
Retrieval failure fact
not always great at getting info
Encoding specificity principle definition
Value of retrieval cues depends on how well it corresponds to memory code
State-dependent learning definition
Remember thing better if we are same state as when we learned them
Motivating forgetting definition
We dont want to remember something, consciously or unconsciously
Repression definition
Keeping distressing thoughts and feeling buried in unconscious (from psychodynamic theories)
Repressed memories definition
“remembering” abuse during childhood during therapy sessions, often under hypnosis, later turned out to be false
Repressed memories definition
- Victims of childhood abuse (physical, psychological, sexual, etc) have trouble accurately remembering/reporting incidents several years later
- Well-documented cases with supporting evidence from multiple sources
- People who have PTSD have trouble remembering specific details of event that caused symptoms
Physiological of memory fact
maybe specific neural pathways that are created when we expect and consolidate info
Long tern potentiation (LTP) definition
long lasting increase in neural excitability at synapse along specific neural pathway
Fact: LTP seems to happen in hippocampus
Neurogenesis definition
Formation of new neurons contribute to formation of new memories
Retrograde amnesia definition
Loss of memories for events that occurred PRIOR to onset of amnesia
Anterograde amnesia definition
Loss of memories for events that occur AFTER onset of amnesia
Consolidation definition
hypothetical process involving the gradual conversion of info into durable memory codes stored in long-term memory
Consolidation process
- Process is chemical, physical and anatomical
- Memories become unstabileres when retrieved and require reconsolidation to become stable again
- Weaken and strength memory depending on what happens during reconsolidation
Types of memories
- Implicit
- Explicit
- Declarative
- Non-declarative (procedural)
- Semantic
- Episodic
- Prospective
- Retrospective
Implicit definition
memory that is apparent when retention is exhibited on a task that doesn’t require intentional remembering
Implicit memory facts
- Mostly perceptually and motor
- Primarily in cerebellum
- Unconscious and unintentional recall strategies
Explicit memory definition
involves intentional recollection of previous experiences
Explicit memory facts
- Mostly facts and events
- Primarily in hippocampus and temporal lobe
- Conscious and deliberate recall strategies used
Declarative memory purpose
Handles factual info
Non-declarative (procedural) memory propose
Handles memory for action, skill, operations, conditioned responses
Semantic memory definition
general knowledge that is not tied to the time when info was learned
Episodic memory definition
chronologically recollections of personal experience
Prospective memory purpose
remembering to do things in the future
Retrospective memory purpose
remembering events from past
