Memory Flashcards
What is memory?
The processes that allow us to record, store, and later retrieve experiences and information
What is encoding?
Getting information into the system by translating it into a neural code
What is storage?
Retaining information over time
What is retrieval?
Processes that access and use stored information
What are the three components of the three-stage model of memory?
Sensory memory
Short term memory
Long term memory
What is sensory memory?
A store that briefly holds incoming sensory information
It is split into the sensory registers (including the iconic and echoic stores), which are the initial information processors
What is the iconic store?
A form of sensory memory that briefly holds a visual representation of a scene that has just been perceived
It is remarkably accurate but very brief
Describe a study of iconic memory
Sperling (1960) presented his participants with an array of letters for 50 milliseconds, and asked them to recall the letters - most could recall about 3-5 letters but reported being aware of more
Describe Sperling’s follow up study
He used a partial report procedure, asking participants to name letters in only one of the three rows, and they could do this with perfect accuracy
What do Sperling’s results suggest?
Participants could remember all 12 letters since they were not aware which ones they would be asked to recall until after they had been shown them all
How long does iconic memory last?
Sperling theorised that it can last around 1 second, but more recent research suggests it is potentially up to 1.5 seconds
Why could the participants in Sperling’s study only initially recall 3-5 items?
Because it took longer than 1 second to identify, store and recall the letters
What is the echoic store?
Stores auditory stimuli for a short time
It is very important in speech perception
How long does echoic memory last?
Longer than iconic memory, potentially up to a few seconds
What is short term memory?
A memory store that temporarily holds a limited amount of information
What are memory codes?
Mental representations of some type of information or stimulus
For visual stimuli: mental images
For phonological stimuli: sounds
For semantic stimuli: meaning
For motor stimuli: patterns of movement
How many items can short term memory hold?
No more than 7 +/- 2 meaningful items
What is chunking?
Combining individual items into larger units of meaning
How can duration of memories in short term memory be extended?
Through rehearsal
What is working memory?
A limited capacity system that temporarily stores and processes information
What are the components of working memory?
Phonological loop
Visuospatial sketchpad
Episodic buffer
Central executive
What is the phonological loop?
A store of mental representations of sounds
It has two parts - the phonological store and the articulatory rehearsal system
Describe a study of the phonological loop
Baddeley presented participants with 5 words and asked them to recall them - they recalled fewer when the words were longer, suggesting that the capacity of the phonological loop is determined by how much material can be rehearsed in two seconds
What is an important role of the phonological loop?
Language learning
What is the visuospatial sketchpad?
A store of visual and spatial information
What is the episodic buffer?
Integrates and manipulates information from the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad
What is the central executive?
Directs the overall action, controls the focus of attention and integrates information in the episodic buffer
