Long Term Memory- Storing and Retrieving (Chapter 7)

Question 1

Encoding

Answer 1

Process of obtaining information and storing it in LTM

Question 2

Retrieval

Answer 2

Process of transferring information from LTM to STM/working memory

Question 3

Rehearsal

Answer 3

Keeps information active in STM

Doesn’t guarantee transfer to LTM

Question 4

Maintenance rehearsal

Answer 4

Low effort
Pure repetition (just repeating over and over)
Keeps things active in STM/working memory

Question 5

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 5

High effort
Thinking about meaning of what you are trying to encode and relate it to other ideas
Keep in LTM

Question 6

Levels of processing theory

Answer 6

Memory depends on how deeply it is encoded

Shallow processing and deep processing

Question 7

Shallow processing

Answer 7

Requires little attention

Focusing on physical characteristics (sounds of words, etc.)

Question 8

Deep processing

Answer 8

Requires a lot of attention

Focusing on the meaning of information

Question 9

Testing the levels of processing theory

Answer 9

Have people learn pairs of words with different tasks (shallow or deep processing tasks)
Shallow processing task: asking if words in pair have same number of syllables
Deep processing task: form a mental image of the two words interacting
Recall as many words as possible: deep processing group did better

Question 10

Problems with levels of processing theory

Answer 10

Circular definition: can’t define deep processing and memory performance separately of one another
Can’t explain all experimental results (experiment that asked people to recall words that had been presented: participants who had been presented with task to determine if words rhymed or not actually did better on rhyming recognition task than participants who had been presented with task to determine if words made sense in a sentence)

Question 11

Transfer appropriate processing

Answer 11

Memory performance is enhanced if the type of task at encoding matches the type of task at retrieval

Question 12

Retrieval cues

Answer 12

Words or other stimuli that help people remember information stored in memory

Question 13

Free vs. cued recall experiment

Answer 13

Presented list of words to learn
Free recall group: recall words
Cued recall group: recall words, given the categories that specific words fell under
Cued recall group outperformed free recall group

Question 14

Encoding specificity

Answer 14

Information is encoded together with its context
Study: have people learn word associations while listening to music or sitting in silence, then test
People perform best when condition of retrieval matches that of encoding

Question 15

6 memory tips

Answer 15

1. Generate your own retrieval cues
2. Use effective approaches to encoding
3. Approach memory as a physical attribute- hard work is needed
4. Rote memorization doesn’t work without understanding
5. Practice techniques for expanding memory
6. Know what you know

Question 16

Generate your own retrieval cues

Answer 16

Study: people were able to remember words better when using their own retrieval cues rather than someone else’s
Set up retrieval cues that are likely to be present when you need the info later

Question 17

Use effective approaches to encoding

Answer 17

Create connections between what you already know and what you are trying to learn
Active creation
Organization according to meaning

Question 18

Create connections between what you already know and what you are trying to learn

Answer 18

Memory for word is better when placed in complex sentence
Imagery: create an image of what you are trying to remember
Linking information to self

Question 19

Active creation

Answer 19

Actively generate information

Test yourself over information

Question 20

Organization according to meaning

Answer 20

Recall by groups (come up with common themes that tie things together)
Present information in an organized way (make a tree diagram)
Put information into a meaningful framework (understand how things relate to each other)

Question 21

Cognitively active learning behaviors

Answer 21

Writing own study questions
Figuring out answer before looking it up
Closing notes and testing how much is remembered
Breaking down complex processes step by step

Question 22

Rote memorization study (pizzeria)

Answer 22

People read story (some knew it was about a pizzeria, some did not) and tried to recall as many phrases from it as possible
Those who knew what story was about were able to remember it better

Question 23

Techniques for expanding memory

Answer 23

Finding meaning of information
Using imagery
Method of loci (store info at a particular location, such as a place you are familiar with: place information at different spots along route through familiar place)

Question 24

Medial temporal lobe (MTL)

Answer 24

Portion of temporal lobe responsible for memory (tempus- Latin for “time,” like mental time travel)
Located near the middle of the brain
Contains the hippocampus

Question 25

Hippocampus

Answer 25

Located in medial temporal lobe

Responsible for forming new long term memories

Question 26

How the amygdala relates to memory

Answer 26

Amygdala is responsible for fight or flight response (and emotion in general)
When in a highly emotional state (amygdala is active), there is greater encoding of memory

Question 27

Consolidation

Answer 27

Process of forming new long term memories
Making memories stronger and more resistant to forgetting
Involves neural reorganization

Question 28

Synaptic consolidation

Answer 28

First presentation of stimulus: weak signal at synapse
Continued presentation of stimulus: structure of axon is changed to create increased rate of firing (more efficient at relating signal)
Rapid process

Question 29

Systems consolidation

Answer 29

Gradual reorganization of brain circuitry (entire neural network)

Question 30

Standard model of memory consolidation

Answer 30

Retrieval depends on hippocampus during consolidation
After consolidation, cortex is used to retrieve memory
During reactivation (resetting of memory; occurs during sleep), hippocampus reactivates neural activity associated with the memory

Question 31

Multiple trace hypothesis

Answer 31

Hippocampus is involved in remote memories, specifically episodic remote memories (can be changed; richer recollection experience)

Question 32

Retrograde amnesia

Answer 32

Loss of memory for past experiences

Graded amnesia: most impairment in recent memories, but small impairments in older memories (seen in head injuries)

Question 33

Anterograde amnesia

Answer 33

Inability to form new memories

Example: Clive Wearing