Memory

Question 1

Memory

Answer 1

Memory is an active information-processing system that receives , stores, organizes and recovers information.

Question 2

Processes of Memory

Answer 2

Encoding = set of mental operations that people perform on sensory information to convert that information into a form useable in the brain’s storage systems. [convert sensory information into a form/ code that can be processed by the brain].

Storage = holding onto information for periods of time. [retention of information via a network of neurons]
**Encoded information is held/retained in storage for a period of time for later usage.

Retrieval = getting information in storage into a form that can be used. [cues are used to recover information from the storage].

Question 3

Models of memory

Answer 3

• Information processing model = memory processing similar to a computer.
• Parallel distributed processing (PDP) model = memory processes take place at same time over a large network of neural connections.
• Levels of processing model = information is remembered when you deeply process it accordance to its meaning.

Question 4

Information-Processing Model: Three Memory Systems

Answer 4

• Sensory Memory = information lost within a second or so.
• Short-term Memory = unrehearsed information lost in about 15 to 30 seconds.
• Long-term Memory = information retrieved indefinitely although some may be difficult to retrieve.

Question 5

Each Memory stage is categorized by what three differences? (Characteristics)

Answer 5

Duration = how long can the information be stored.

Capacity = how much information can be stored.

Function = what is done with the stored information.

Question 6

Types of encoding

Answer 6

Semantic - encoding words

Acoustic - encoding sounds

Visual - encoding images and pictures

Question 7

Sensory Memory

Answer 7

New sensory information in the form of sight, sound, taste, smell and touch enters memory through registration. [raw information from the senses is held briefly]

**
Duration
Capacity
Function

Question 8

Types of sensory registers in memory

Answer 8

Iconic memory = visual sensory memory, lasting only a fraction of a second (1 second or less).
** duration and capacity

Echoic memory = auditory sensory memory, lasting only 2-4 seconds.
** duration and capacity

Eidetic memory = the rare ability to access a visual memory for thirty seconds or more.

Question 9

Short-term Memory

Answer 9

Also known as working memory - memory system which information is held for brief periods of time while being used (around 20 secs).

Question 10

Chunking

Answer 10

bits of information are combined into meaningful units, or chunks, so that more information can be held in the STM.

Question 11

Maintenance rehearsal

Answer 11

Repeating information over and over in one’s head to remember and maintain it in the STM.

**STM is likely to be interrupted by interference

Question 12

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 12

Involves linking new information in some meaningful way with information already stored in the LTM, or with other pieces of new information.

Question 13

Zeigarnik effect

Answer 13

People remember unfinished tasks better than completes tasks.

Question 14

Long-term memory

Answer 14

The system of memory into which all information is placed to be kept more or less permanently.

Question 15

Non-declarative memory

Answer 15

Implicit memory [procedural] = type of long-term memory for skills, habits, procedures, and conditioned responses.

**automatic - not a conscious memory process

Question 16

Retrograde Amnesia

Answer 16

loss of memory from the point of injury or trauma, or the inability to recall old memories.
[can’t remember things that happened before the event that caused their amnesia, but they can form new Emory’s after that injury or traumatic event.]

Question 17

Anterograde Amnesia

Answer 17

loss of memory from the point of injury or trauma forward, or t inability to form new long-term memories.
[can remember what happened before the event, but can’t form any new memories after the injury or traumatic event].

**usually does not affect procedural memory

Question 18

Declarative Memory

Answer 18

A type of long-term memory also known as explicit memory that contains information that is conscious and known.

**it is called explicit because it requires a conscious effort for retrieval.

Question 19

Types of declarative memory?

Answer 19

Semantic memory - declarative memory containing general knowledge [knowledge of language, concepts or terms]

**acts an encyclopedia of memory that stores knowledge of facts and information, based on the understanding and interpretation of spoken or written material (stores the mental representation of the world).

Episodic memory - declarative memory containing personal information not readily available to others.

**holds information about specific events or personal experiences, and often includes details of the time, place, and psychological and physiological state of the person when an event occurred.

**considered to be like a mental diary recoding autobiographical episodes.

Question 20

Encoding Specifity

Answer 20

The information of a memory is improved if related information that as available when the memory was first formed is also available upon time of retrieval.

**context-dependent learning = the actual physical environment in which you lear information can latter be used as a cue fr retrieval.

**state-dependent learning = memories formed during a particular physiological or psychological state will be easier to recall in a similar state.

Question 21

Recall

Answer 21

Retrieving (pulling) information from memory with very few to no external cues.

**testing how much someone remembers

Question 22

Recognition

Answer 22

The ability t match a piece of information or a stimulus to a stored image or fact [identify the correct information from a number of given alternatives]

**tests how much someone remembers

***like multiple choice questions

Question 23

Serial position effect

Answer 23

Information at the beginning and end of a body of information is more accurately remembered than information in the middle.

**primary effect - tendency to remember information at the beginning of a body of information better than what follows.

**recency effect - tendency to remember information at the end of a body of information better than what’s ahead of it.

Question 24

Automatic encoding

Answer 24

The tendency of certain kinds of information to enter the long-term memory with little or no effort full encoding.

**Flashbulb memories: automatic encoding that occurs because of an unexpected event that has strong emotional association for person remembering it.
[info easily Evers the LTM because of a tragic event that happen]

Question 25

Constructive processing

Answer 25

How reliable are memories?

With each retrieval, memories may be altered, revised, or influenced by newer information.

Question 26

Hindsight Bias

Answer 26

How reliable are memories?

The tendency to falsely believe, through revision of older memories and including newer memories, that one could have predicted the outcome of an event.

Question 27

Misinformation effect

Answer 27

How reliable are memories?

The tendency of misleading information presented after an event to alter memories of the event itself.

Question 28

False memory syndrome

Answer 28

How reliable are memories?

Creation of inaccurate or false memories.

Question 29

Forgetting

Answer 29

This is the inability to retrieve information previously stored in the LTM.

**some information that is suppressed makes it easier to remember content you need.

Question 30

Reasons we forget?

Answer 30

• Encoding failure = failure to process information into memory.
• Memory Trace = physical change in the brain that occurs when memory is formed.
• Interference theory = proactive and retroactive interference.

Question 31

Consolidation

Answer 31

Changes that take place in the structure and functioning of neuron when a memory is formed.