Memory Flashcards
Memory:
Define memory
Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed
Short Term Memory:
What is sensory memory? What are the types of sensory memory, what is their duration and purpose?
Sensory memory: A store for incoming, fleeting sensory information through senses (something you see, hear, feel, taste)
Iconic Memory - a sensory register for the fleeting storage of visual information (visual encoding). Duration approx 0.3 seconds. Explains why we can see a moving picture from a series of still photos or pictures (e.g. movie runs are 24 frames per second, or waving a sparkler in the dark and experiencing a brief afterimage)
Echoic memory - a type of sensory memory (auditory/acoustic encoding). Duration 3-4 seconds. (e.g. Retaining the sound of words long enough to understand a whole word phrase being spoken
Short Term Memory:
Define and explain short term memory and interference
A store that receives information from the long term and sensory stores; with a limited capacity of 5-9 pieces of information, and a duration of approximately 12-30 seconds
Interference occurs when new information enters the short term memory and pushes out information. For a short term memory to last 12-30 seconds, there must be no interference.
Short Term Memory
Define maintenance rehearsal and describe different methods of maintenance rehearsal
Maintenance rehearsal - a strategy for keeping information in short-term memory or for moving it into long term memory by simply repeating information over and over
Methods of maintenance rehearsal:
Verbal (using words): vocal (saying words out loud), sub-vocal (thinking words silently to oneself)
Non-verbal (using visual or spatial information): visualizing (keeping an image in one’s mind), muscular (imagining how it feels to perform an action)
Short Term Memory:
Define encoding, storage, retrieval
Encoding - The process of putting information into a form that will allow it to fit with tour personal storage system
Storage - Maintaining encoded information in a memory store
Retrieval - the process of getting information back from long-term memory to be used in working memory
Short Term Memory:
Describe and explain the multi-store model of memory (as an application of short term memory)
The multi-store model is an explanation of memory which assumes there are unitary (separate) memory stores, and that information is transferred between these stores in a linear sequence.
Three main stores:
1. Sensory memory
2. Short term memory
3. Long term memory
Information is detected by the sense organs and enters the sensory memory, which stores a fleeting impression of the sensory stimuli, If attended to this information enters the STM and if the information is given meaning (elaborative rehearsal) is passed in to the LTM
Long Term Memory:
Define long-term memory, semantic networks, and retrieval cues
Long term memory: The duration of long-term memory is difficult to determine; these memories are maintained because of psychological changes to the neurons and their connections with other neurons.
Long term memory
——————^——————
Declarative Procedural
Episodic Semantic .
Semantic networks: the idea that items in long-term memory are stored in a hierarchic pattern of nodes with links between related nodes
Retrieval cues: mental reminders or prompts that we create to assist in our recollection of information from long term memory
Long Term Memory:
Define implicit, procedural, classic conditioning, explicit/declarative, semantic and episodic
Explicit memory (declarative): memories of facts, names, images, and events; also called declarative memories
Semantic memory: memory for facts or general knowledge (e.g. knowing that Canberra is capital city of Australia; knowing each country’s flag)
Episodic memory: personalized memory of events;
long-term memories of episodes or experiences in your life which may be related to knowledge of facts if the memory is also of how and where you learnt it (e.g. your first day of school, your first bestfriend)
Implicit memory: memories of skills, emotions, preferences and dispositions; also called procedural or non-declarative memories; processed in the amygdala and possibly the cerebellum
Procedural memory: one aspect of implicit memory; memory for how to perform particular tasks, skills, or actions. Occurs after practice
Classical conditioning: whereby an animal or other organism can passively learn to show a naturally occurring reflex action, such as salvation, in response to any stimulus - learning through association, also known as Pavlovian conditioning
Working Model of Memory:
What is Working Memory and describe the 4 separate (but interdependent) aspects of working memory.
The mental work that is occurring at any given time, including retrieving information, problem-solving, comprehending sounds and visions; draws on information from sensory and long-term memories
Central Executive: puts together the sounds and vision of working memory - enables us to perform mental manipulation. Central executive has three functions: (1) inhibition - aspect of attention - screening out irrelevant material (2) Switching - changing attention from one item to another (3) updating - modifying items bought in by the LTM before re-committing them to memory
Visiospatial Sketchpad: visual short term memory - storage of what we see and imagine
Episodic Buffer: helps retrive information from LTM to associate with information in the working memory - and select and encode info into LTM
Phonological Loop: auditory working memory - storage of what we hear
Level of Processing
Describe the Levels of Processing model of memory
A model of memory that suggests that memory comprises a continuous dimension in which memory is encoded related to the ease with which it can be retrieved
The deeper (depth: the meaningfulness extracted from the stimulus rather than in terms of the number of analyses performed upon it) the processing of information, the greater the chance of it being retrieved
Levels of processing refers to the number and types of association made between new knowledge and previous knowledge.
Non-structured approach; the basic idea is that memory is a result of processing information
Craik and Lockhart (1972) suggested that:
- there are three levels at which we encode material; and the deeper processing, the better the chance of retrieval
- practical applications to study for an exam; thinking about and using new information to be remembered is more valuable way to encode than simply looking at the new information
Craik and Tulving (1975) extended that research and found that the more complex the processing, the stronger the memory, even within the same level.
Levels of Processing
Explain the three levels of processing
Shallow processing takes two forms: (1) Structural processing (appearance) which is when we encode only the physical qualities of something; and (2) Phonetic processing which is when we encode its sound. Shallow processing only involves maintenance rehearsal (repetition to help us hold something in STM) and leads to fairly short term retention of information.
Deep processing takes the form of semantic processing which happens when we encode the meaning of a word and relate it to similar words with similar meaning. Deep processing involves elaboration rehearsal which involves a more meaningful analysis (e.g. thinking and associations) of information and leads to better recall
Role of the Hippocampus in Memory:
What is the Hippocampus involved in?
Forming explicit memories
Consolidating and retrieving long-term declarative memories. Note: declarative memories are not permanently stored in the hippocampus
Establishing the background or context for each new memory - e.g. location of places
During the encoding and storage process of declarative memory - a step occurs in the hippocampus - then the memories are transferred to a more permanent storage in the cerebral cortex.
The cells of the hippocampus are able to reproduce and enable new memories to be formed (unlike cells in other structures of the brain)
The hippocampus is important for forming explicit memory as well as memory for complex tasks
Use London taxi drivers an an example
Role of the Hippocampus in Memory
What is consolidation?
The process in which the brain forms a permanent representation of memory
The process of consolidation of declarative memory takes place in the hippocampus
Cerebellum and Memory:
What is the cerebellum and it’s role in memory
The cerebellum has a role in the memory of how to perform a motor skill. The cerebellum works with the frontal lobes. Procedural memories are encoded, processed and stored by the cerebellum. A procedural memory is a type of implicit (automatic/unconscious - do without thinking) long term memory. An example is how to ride a bike.
The cerebellum is also involved in classical conditioning. A classically conditioned response is another form of implicit memory.
The cerebellum activates the relevant neural systems to retrieve a procedural memory - thereby enabling you to perform a task or motor skill without consciously thinking about it
How We Remember and Forget:
Define and give examples for free recall, serial recall and cued recall.
Free recall: recalling as much information as possible in any order without cues (e.g. )
Serial recall: recalling information in the order in which it was presented (e.g. recalling shopping list)
Cued recall: recalling assisted by cues not involving the original items to be retrieved (e.g. being given an individual’s initials to assist recall of their name)
