Memory - 1

Question 1

What is the definition of memory?

Answer 1

-The ability to store and retrieve information over time

Question 2

Is memory always the same?

Answer 2

• No
• There are multiple different types of memory and evidence suggests these different types are stored differently in the brain
• Structure of storage is different, some will be stored in distributed areas of neurones, others will be stored in local networks

Question 3

What is iconic memory?

Answer 3

• First level on sensory store
• For example when you stare at screen and then close you eyes, image remains on your retina very briefly and fades
• AKA Sensory memory

Question 4

What is short-term memory?

Answer 4

-Info that is stored for a short period to time (30 seconds)

Question 5

What is working memory?

Answer 5

• Newer term for short term memory

- Encompasses the idea that it is an online store for any information you are working on.

Question 6

What is capacity?

Answer 6

-Amount of memory you can store

7 +- 2 bits of information for human, varies due to IQ.

Question 7

What is the link between IQ and memory capacity?

Answer 7

• High IQ can store up to 9 bits of info whereas someone with low IQ maybe only 5
• 7 is average

Question 8

What is intermediate term memory?

Answer 8

• Memory that is stored for longer period than short term memory.
• For example, you remember where you park In car park, but then forget 4 days later

Question 9

What is long-term memory?

Answer 9

• The long term storage of memory in the brain

- For long term memory to exist, there must be biological changes in the brain

Question 10

What is episodic memory

Answer 10

• It is memory store for all you life events
• Memory about you
• Like where you went on holiday or what you ate for breakfast

Question 11

What is semantic memory?

Answer 11

• All the facts about the world you live in

- EG Capital of France

Question 12

Why is episodic and somatic memory kept separate?

Answer 12

• Stored in different way and different places

- Because info about you is more important for survival, info about your ma is more important than capital of France

Question 13

Why is episodic memory preferred to semantic memory?

Answer 13

• Because the brain would rather lose semantic memory than episodic
• If you get head injury, personal info won’t be lost hopefully

Question 14

What is declarative memory?

Answer 14

• Memory that you know you know

- Memory that tells you that you are fully aware that you have certain memories

Question 15

What is procedural memory?

Answer 15

• Memory that allows you to do certain activities that involve procedures
• Riding a bike, driving, tying shoe laces
• Difficult to access memory to explain how you do these procedures, more likely that you have to show them

Question 16

What memory types if procedural memory stored separate from?

Answer 16

• Long
• Short
• Semantic
• Episodic

Question 17

Why are is procedural stored different from long term?

Answer 17

• To prevent loss of information

- Prefers to loss some types of info over others

Question 18

What is prospective memory?

Answer 18

• All about remembering your future intentions

- eg like buying a chicken and a can of coke

Question 19

What is purpose of dissociation and double dissociation?

Answer 19

-Help to identify neural substrates of various brain functions

Question 20

What is dissociation and what is an example of this?

Answer 20

• When you know localisation of brain damage or lesion, and find that one function is knocked out but other related functions are preserved
• e.g. individual looses ability to name category of animals but can name all other objects.

Question 21

What is double dissociation?

Answer 21

• Lesion in specific brain area impairs function x but not y then demonstrate that lesion of separate brain area impairs y but not x.
• So you know that these memories are different

Question 22

What are the three key processes in memory?

Answer 22

• Encoding
• Storage
• Retrieval

Question 23

What is encoding?

Answer 23

-Processes occurring during initial encounter with to be remembered stimulus = stage 1

Question 24

What is storage?

Answer 24

-storage in the memory system = stage 2

Question 25

What is retrieval?

Answer 25

-recovering stored information from the memory system stage 3

Question 26

What is the basic model of memory called?

Answer 26

• Multi-Store model

Question 27

What does the basic model of multi-store model entail?

Answer 27

• Sensory inputs (iconic store)
• Sensory store (iconic memory)
• Process of encoding which transfers information from sensory store to short-term memory (ears vibrating or image on retina)
• Rehersal moves info from short-term to long-term memory
• Retrieval moves info back from long-term to short to remember the memory

Question 28

What is auditory memory also known as, and how long is it held for?

Answer 28

-Echoic and 3 seconds

Question 29

What is visual memory also known as and how long is it stored for?

Answer 29

-Iconic and 250ms

Question 30

Who were originators of short term memory?

Answer 30

-Baddeley & Hitch, 1974

Question 31

What are the 3 components of short term memory?

Answer 31

• Central Executive: this resembles what we would call ‘attention’
• Phonological Loop: holds information in a speech-based form
• Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad: specialised for holding visual and spatial information

Question 32

Why do we need working memory when comparing it to short term memory?

Answer 32

-much more dynamic store than a unitary STM

Question 33

What are two limitations of working memory?

Answer 33

-Capacity and duration of storage