Memory

Question 1

What is the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 1

An explanation of memory based on three separate memory stores…
-Sensory register
-Short term memory store
-Long term memory store
…and the processes that enable the transfer of information from one store to another. (attention, maintenance rehearsal, retrieval)

Question 2

What is the sensory register?

Answer 2

The information collected by your senses. The capacity of seonsory memory is very large but the information is retained for lest than half a second. The method of coding depends on the sense organ involved.

Question 3

How do you define short-term memory (STM)?

Answer 3

You memory for immediate events. It has a short duration (around 18 seconds) and a limited capacity (5-9 items or chunks) and tends to be coded acoustically. Short term memories disappear unless rehearsed.

Question 4

How do you define long-term memory (LTM)

Answer 4

Your memory for events that happened in the past. It has potentially unlimited in duration and capacity tends to be coded semantically.

Question 5

What is coding in the context of memory?

Answer 5

The way information is changed so it can be stored in memory. It enters the brain via the senses and is stored in different forms.
eg. visual codes (pictures)
acoustic codes (sounds)
semantic codes (the meaning of experience)
It is also known as ‘encoding’.

Question 6

What does capacity measure in the context of memory?

Answer 6

How much can be held in memory, represented as bits of information such as digits.

Question 7

What does duration measure in the context of memory?

Answer 7

How long a memory lasts before it is no longer available.

Question 8

How would you describe episodic memory?

Answer 8

A type of long term memory. It is part of the explicit memory and involves personal memories of events. It includes contextual details plus emotional tone.

Question 9

How would you describe procedural memory?

Answer 9

A type of long term memory. It is memories of how to do things. Procedural memories are automatic, implicit and the result of repeated practice.

Question 10

How would you describe semantic memory?

Answer 10

A type of long term memory. It is part of the explicit memory and relates to shared facts and knowledge, which may be concrete or abstract.

Question 11

What is the working memory model.

Answer 11

It is an explanation of the short-term memory that views memory as an active process. It is split into four systems :

• The central executive
• The phonological loop
• The visuo-spatial sketchpad
• The episodic buffer

Question 12

What does the central executive do?

Answer 12

It monitors and coordinates all other mental functions in working memory, including attention, decision making and controlling the other slave systems (phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad) It has a limited capacity.

Can be thought of as the boss as has overall control of the working memory.

Question 13

What does the phonological loop do?

Answer 13

It codes speech sounds in working memory, typically by maintenance rehearsal (repeating words over and over again) It has a limited capacity.

Question 14

What does the visuo-spatial sketchpad do?

Answer 14

It codes visual information (what things look like) and spatial information (the physical relationship between things) It has limited capacity.

Question 15

What does the episodic buffer do?

Answer 15

It integrates information from the central executive, the phonological loop, and the visuo-spatial sketchpad. It also maintains a sense of times sequencing and sends information to the long term memory. It has limited capacity.

Question 16

Name two explanations for forgetting

Answer 16

Interference and retrieval failure due to absence of ques.

Question 17

What is interference?

Answer 17

An explanation of forgetting where one memory disrupts the ability to recall another. Most likely when memories have a similarity.

Question 18

What is proactive interference (PI)?

Answer 18

Proactive interference (PI) occurs when past learning interference with current attempts to learn something.

Question 19

What is retroactive interference (RI)?

Answer 19

Retroactive interference (RI) occurs when current attempts to learn something interfere with past learning.

Question 20

What is retrieval failure?

Answer 20

Am explanation of forgetting based on based on the idea that the issue relates to retrieving a memory that is available but not accessible. Retrieval depends on cues and retrieval failure occurs when there is an absence of cues.

Question 21

What are cues?

Answer 21

Things that serve as a trigger for other memories. They are usually split into context cues (e.g. environment) or state cues (e.g. mood). If we are given a cue, it can allow access to information that is otherwise inaccessible.

Question 22

What is the name of evidence provided in court by a person who witnessed a crime, with a view to identifying the perpetrator of the crime?

Answer 22

Eyewitness testimony

Question 23

Name the factors that affect eyewitness testimony?

Answer 23

Misleading information (for example, leading questions and post event discussion) and anxiety.

Question 24

Name one procedure that can improve the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.

Answer 24

The cognitive interview

Question 25

Describe misleading information.

Answer 25

Information that may lead to a witnesses memory of a crime being altered.

Question 26

Describe a leading question

Answer 26

A question that, either by it’s form or context suggest to the witness what answer is desired or leads them to the desired answer.

Question 27

What is post-event discussion?

Answer 27

A conversation between co-witnesses or an interviewer and an eyewitness after a crime that may contaminate a witness’ memory of that event.

Question 28

How would you describe anxiety?

Answer 28

An unpleasant emotional state that is often accompanied by an increased heart rate and rapid breathing (i.e. psychological arousal).

Question 29

What is a cognitive interview?

Answer 29

A police technique for interviewing witnesses that encourages them to recreate the original context of the crime, to increase accessibility of stored information. Techniques such as ‘report everything’ and ‘change order’ are used.