memory Flashcards
define memory
the structure and processes involved in the storage and retrieval of information
what does the term structure refer to
how the brain is made up, the different parts of the brain
what does the term storage refer to
when information is kept in the brain
what does the term retrieval refer to
recalling information from where it is stored in memory
what does the term capacity refer to
how much information can be held at one time
what does the tern duration refer to
how long information can be held in store without rehearsal
what does the term encoding refer to
how information is transformed in order to be stored
what are the three types of memories
episodic
semantic
procedural
explain episodic memories
memories made from your personal experience, what you did last year for Christmas
explain semantic memories
common knowledge memories such as what a giraffe looks like
explain procedural memories
carrying out complex skills such as walking, driving etc
who researches memories
cognitive psychologists
what is information processing
the way in which information is inputted, encoded, stored, retrieved and outputted in our brains
explain the process of input
information entering through surrounding environment - through our five senses
explain the process of encoding
involves putting information into nerve impulses that our brain can recognise
explain the process of storage
the information is filled away (in schemas) to be used at a later date
explain the process of retrieval
the information is recalled from memory
explain the process of output
the information retrieved is used in someway
what is the process of forgetting called
amnesia
define amnesia
a condition that affects peoples ability to recall stored memories or form new ones
what are some factors that can cause amnesia
- brain injury
- illnesses
- neurological diseases
what is anterograde amnesia
the inability to form new memories after damage
what is retrograde amnesia
the inability to recall new memories after damage
draw out the multistore model
sensory input - sensory memory - stm - ltm
maintenance rehearsal
attention
elaborate rehearsal
retrieval
retrieval failure
what is the capacity, duration and encoding for sensory memory
- very high
- very short ( 2 seconds)
- separate senses
what is the capacity, duration and encoding for short term memory
- limited
- up to 30 seconds
- auditory information
what is the capacity, duration and encoding for long term memory
- unlimited
- unlimited
- semantically
what is meant by the decay theory of forgetting
- happens if not enough attention is paid to the information entering the sensory store
- the information breaks down
- multi store memory suggests that decay occurs if information isn’t rehearsed
what is the displacement theory of forgetting
because short term memory has limited capacity, when it is full, new information can push out old information therefore meaning it’s forgotten
what is retrieval failure
when a memory is accessible yet we lack the cues to recall it
what is a context cue
when you are in the same environment/ context when you encode the information and retrieve the information
what is a state cue
being in the same state when the memory is encoded and retrieved. this could be mentally and physically
what is amnesic syndrome
general term for memory problems caused by brain damage, illnesses, psychological trauma
what is dementia
disorder causing loss of memory and problem solving. it becomes worse over time
what is a distorted memory
memories that have been changed or altered in some way from the actual event that took place
what is a delusion
false belief that a person fully believes in even if someone else argues that they are incorrect.
what are the two types of distorted memories and explain
faulty episodic - memories of past events (personal) are incorrectly recalled
faulty semantic - memories of knowledge and understanding of things may be inaccurate
define consciousness
an organisms awareness of it’s own self and ability to respond to their surroundings
who studied Clive Wearing
Kopelman
what was the aim of the study about Clive Wearing
to investigate and document the neuropsychological assessment and psychological experiences of Clive
what type of study was it and what was the sample
case study, longitudinal, 21 years, Clive wearing. he developed a influenza type of disease
what methods were used
neuropsychological tests - IQ testing, digit span
MRI scans - to observe locations of damage and the extent of it
why did Kopelman use a longitudinal study
- produces more quanatitive and qualitative data
- able to see how Clive’s behaviour changed over time - any trends or patterns
- more valid
what did the neurological tests find out
- Clive suffered severe episodic memory defects and some semantic memory impairments
- normal immediate memory span (stm)
- his verbal and IQ was average
what were the results of the neurological assessments
- always scored zero on tests of delayed recall
- new semantic memories couldn’t be formed
- he could not recall facts and some episodic memories from before his accident
what were the MRI findings
the first MRI was used in 1991
- significant abnormalities in hippocampal formations, temporal lobes, amygdala
In 2006 there was little change
what are some criticisms of the multi story model
- doesn’t explain why we recall traumatic event
- over emphasising the importance of rehearsal
- ignores individual differences
what are schemas
organised files in your brain where information is stored
what are the advantages and disadvantages of schemas
advantages - helps us recognise things around us
disadvantages - can cause stereotypes and create trauma - phobias - based on past experience
what is the theory of reconstructive memory
suggest our memories are influenced by our prior experiences
what is the role of experience on memory
when you use your past experiences and recalled memories to make new memories of an event
what are the negatives about the role of experience
- when recalling memories we may recall aspects of two different events (interference)
- memories may not be accurate if they are shaped by other experiences
what is the role of expectation on memory
use our schemas to quickly interpret sensory information and therefore make quick judgments about things around us
what are the negatives about the role of expectation
we may have certain expectations that result in misremembering information
what is confabulation
making things up to try and fill in gaps in memory. people aren’t lying and there is no intent to deceive people
what is a leading question
when the answer is planted into a question to manipulate someone’s answer. they can be used to distort memories
what is the impact of distorted memories
implications to eyewitness - prevent justice
what was the aim of the first Loftus and pickell study
to determine weather autobiographical advertising can affect how consumers remember prior childhood experiences
what type of experiment and what was the sample was the first Loftus and pickell study
laboratory experiment with independent measures, 107 undergrads from a uni in USA
what were the independent and dependent variables
independent - weather the participants viewed a Disney advert or non Disney advert
dependent - the difference between the scores given in week one and week two about shaking hands with a character at Disney
what happened in week one of the Loftus and pickell study
participants completed a questionnaire asking them to rate the likelihood of an event happening to them before they were ten years old; including if they shook hands with their favourite character at Disney.
what happened in week two of the Loftus and pickell study
participants were split into two groups - experimental ( Disney ad) and control (non Disney) and watched the ad
they were then asked questions about the ad and how it made them feel
they were then told there was a problem with the questionnaire in week one and after completing a short distractor task were asked to complete the questionnaire again
what was the aim of the second Loftus and Pickell study
to see weather false information could distort memories of childhood experiences
what type of experiment and what was the sample was the second Loftus and pickell study
labatory, individual measures, 167 students from uni in USA
what was the procedure of the second Loftus and Pickell study
split into three groups:
one - advert suggesting they shook hands with bugs bunny (not possible)
two - advert suggested they shook hands with ariel ( not possible)
three - control group shown an informational Disney advert
questionnaire was given
what were the findings of the first Loftus and pickell study
90% of people in experimental groups increased their scores from week one to week two in relation to their confidence they shook hands with their favourite Disney character
what were the findings of the second Loftus and Pickell study
all groups increased their confidence that they shook hands with cartoon characters - more in experimental conditions
suggesting that adverts were able to reconstruct memories
what are some criticisms of the Loftus and pickell study
lack ecological validity - not normally exposed to ads under those conditions
age, culture and gender bias
participants were deceived - unethical - memories were manipulated without their consent
what do advertisers use to trigger memories for people who watch their adverts
cues - state or context - trigger memory of product
non verbal cue - increases brand awareness as we want to be aware of what other people are doing
repetition - builds familiarity and prevents decay increases chance of being converted into long term memory
avoid overload - not too much information exposed at once
what are autobiographical adverts
nostalgic adverts used to remind people of their childhood and linking emotions to their products
how did the development in neuropsychology help measure memory functions and give an example of one
Wechsler scale - a tool that helps evaluate brain structures and damage after injury
important to help diagnose and provide treatment on people
