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Intro to Psyc > Memory > Flashcards

Memory Flashcards

1
Q

What is “memory”?

A

“Memory refers to the processes that allow us to record, store and later retrieve experiences and information”

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2
Q

What are the 3 stage of memory process?

A

Encoding > Storage > Retrieval

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3
Q

What does “encoding” means in memory?

A

“Encoding refers to getting information into the [memory] system by translating it into a neural
code that your brain processes”

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4
Q

Describe massed practice of encoding memory.

A

Massed is done in a big chunk

Chunking = combining individual items into larger units of meaning

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5
Q

Describe distributed practice of encoding memory.

A

Breaking down the big chunk of work into smaller chunks.

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6
Q

Describe maintenance vs elaborative rehearsal in remembering things.

A

Maintenance is learning things over and over again. Elaborative is trying to elaborate the memory, narrate and making stories out of it etc.

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7
Q

What are the 3 stages of processing in encoding memory?

A

Sensory, working, long term memory.

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8
Q

How long can you remember sensory memory? Under what condition does it lasts?

A

<1 sec, it’s about perception by senses. The senses register long enough to be linked and be further processed, it fades if not processed.

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9
Q

How long can you remember working memory?

A

<20 seconds

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10
Q

How many items can you normally remember under working memory?

A

7 items plus and minus 2

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11
Q

Short term memory is the component of ____________ memory.

A

Working

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12
Q

How many chunks of info (regardless of list length) can short term memory has the capacity to remember?

A

3-4

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13
Q

Working memory has two separate work spaces that can be active simultaneously or independently. What are they?

A

Phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad.

Phonological loop = mental representations of sounds.

Visuospatial sketchpad = visual and spatial info

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14
Q

What is an episodic buffer in memory?

A

It provides a temporary storage space where info from long term memory and from the phonological and/or visuospatial subsystems can be integrated, manipulated and made available for conscious awareness

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15
Q

What is the central executive in memory?

A

It directs overall action.

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16
Q

What is an episodic memory?

A

The store of knowledge concerning personal experiences

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17
Q

How long can you remember long term memory?

A

Indefinite.

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18
Q

How can long term memory be accessed?

A

Via working memory.

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19
Q

Describe the “serial position effect” in long term memory.

A

It means the ability to recall an item is influenced by the item’s position in a series.

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20
Q

What is the “primary effect” of “serial position effect” in memory?

A

Superior recalling the earliest items.

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21
Q

What is the “recency effect” of “serial position effect” in memory?

A

Superior recalling of the most recent items

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22
Q

Why is encoding an imperfect process?

A
  • We encode different things from the same sensory info
  • We can’t notice/encode all sensory info
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23
Q

What are the 2 types of long-term memories?

A

Declarative/explicit recall and nondeclarative/implicit

24
Q

Which of declarative and nondeclarative/procedural long-term memories require conscious recall?

A

Declarative: that involves factual knowledge

25
Q

Which of declarative and nondeclarative long-term memories does not require conscious recall?

A

Nondeclarative

26
Q

What are the 2 types of declarative/explicit long-term memories?

A

1) Semantic memory: Facts, general knowledge
2) Episodic memory: Personal experience

27
Q

What are the 2 types of nondeclarative long-term memories?

A

1) Skills (motor and cognitive)
2) Classical conditioning effects

28
Q

Two reasons of why we forget.

A

1) Decay: info just gradually disappears
2) Interference: memory impaired by other info

29
Q

Describe the 2 ways memory can be impaired by other info.

A

1) Retroactive interference: Learning new info makes it harder to retrieve old info
2) Proactive interference: Old memories affect the retrieval of new memories

30
Q

Describe Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve.

A

Forgetting happens rapidly at first then slows. It’s a highly consistent pattern.

31
Q

Describe the retrieval problem called the tip-of-the-tongue state.

A

We cannot recall something but feel that we are on the verge of remembering it.

32
Q

What does priming mean in memory?

A

The activation of one concept (or one unit of information) by another.

33
Q

Memory works better in what kind of context of original learning (2 types of environments)

A

Physical and internal environments

34
Q

What two types of memory do we retrieve from the internal environment? Describe them.

A

1) Mood congruent memory: tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current mood. When getting spitted by many words, when the subject was in a bad mood they tend to only remember the bad words.

2) State dependent memory: what is learned in one state can more easily be remembered when in the same state (more physiological, like when drunk/high)

35
Q

The deeper we process the information, the better we can remember it. What are the 3 levels of processing the info, which one comes first and which one the last?

A

Semantic > phonemic > structural

36
Q

What is the concept of “relearning” in memory?

A

Asking people to memorise something a second time will be faster if the material is still in their long-term memory.

37
Q

The 2 ways to encode memory.

A

Effortful and automatic

38
Q

Describe shallow processing in encoding memory?

A
  • Processing only superficial characteristics of a piece of information
  • Acoustic encoding: Encoding of sound
  • Visual encoding: Encoding of picture images
39
Q

Describe “deep processing” in encoding memory?

A

Semantic encoding: encoding of meaning, elaborative rehearsal (focus on meaning and expanding on it in some way)

40
Q

Who is a key researcher who has explored the components of our working memory, including the visuo-spatial sketchpad, phonological loop,
episodic buffer, and central executive?

A

Alan Baddley and colleagues.

41
Q

What are the 2 errors when reconstructing memory?

A

Source monitoring error and misinformation effect.

42
Q

Describe “source monitoring error” when reconstructing memory.

A

Attributing to the wrong source an event that we experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined (misattribution)

43
Q

Describe the “misinformation effect” when reconstructing memory.

A

Information encountered after event can affect what is remembered about the event

44
Q

Describe memory distortion.

A

Led by memory reconstruction, when people fill in memory gaps with plausible guesses and assumptions, often based on schemas; or imagining events that can create false memories.

45
Q

Describe autobiographical memory.

A

Memory for the events we have experienced in our own lives, that helps us create coherent representation of
ourselves and our lives.

46
Q

How can we study autobiographical memory?

A
  • Retrospective surveys/interviews
  • Diary studies
  • Provide retrieval cues (e.g., words, photos)
47
Q

What is a reminiscence bump in memory?

A

Memory is high for events occurred in adolescence and early adulthood (10-30y.o.) Bump occurs for happy and important memories.

48
Q

What can be a factor that makes personal events easier to recall?

A

When it fit in the cultural life script.

49
Q

Cultural differences can affect the types of memories of people. Describe what in the research do US participants recall vs Chinese participants recall?

A

US - more memories about personal significance (self-focus)

Chinese - more memories with a group or social orientation (collective-focus)

50
Q

What can improve memory performance?

A

How accurately matching is between encoding and retrieval cue.

51
Q

What is amnesia?

A

Loss of memory

52
Q

Describe retrograde amnesia.

A

Inability to remember events
that occurred before a brain trauma.

53
Q

Describe anterograde amnesia.

A

Inability to remember events that occur after the brain trauma (i.e., inability to transfer new information into long term memory) - cannot form new memories

54
Q

What 2 ways we can improve retrieval of memories?

A

1) Mnemonic strategies
2) Distributed vs massed practice

55
Q

What are the 3 main types of memory?

A

Episodic, semantic, procedural.

Procedural: reflected in skills and actions

56
Q

Describe simulation heuristic.

A

Mental shortcut in making judgment/ simplified mental strategy

57
Q

What is the method of loci?

A

A mnemonic technique in which the items to be remembered are converted into mental images and associated with specific positions or locations.

Intro to Psyc (6 decks)

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