Memory Flashcards
who proposed the multi-store model (MSM)
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
What does the MSM explain
- it explains how information flows through a series of storage systems
What are the three permanent structures in memory outlined by the MSM
- sensory register (SR)
- short term memory (STM)
- long term memory (LTM)
Each stage of the MSM work in different ways. What are the three ways they work different to each other
- coding- the form in which the information is stored ( e.g visual)
- capacity- how much information can be stored
- duration- how long information can be stored for
How is information coded for in the sensory register (SR)
its stored in a raw, unprocessed form, with separate sensory stores for different sensory inputs
- e.g echoic store for auditory information, iconic store for visual information
How large is the capacity in the SR
- very large, with information contained being in an unprocessed, highly detailed, ever-changing format
What is the duration of the SR
have limited duration with different information decaying at different rates
How is information coded for in the STM
information is coded either visually or acoustically
What is Baddeley’s research into coding in the STM and LTM
- his research was to see if coding in STM and LTM was mainly acoustic or semantic
- 75 p’s were given 4 word lists which were acoustically similar/ dissimilar or semantically similar/dissimilar
What were Baddeley’s findings into coding into the STM and LTM
- STM p’s given acoustically similar words performed the worst. This shows that STM is coded mainly on an acoustic bases
- LTM p’s performed worst on semantically similar words. This shows that LTM is mainly coded on a semantic bases
What is the capacity of STM
- it has a limited capacity
- research shows between 5 and 9 items can be held at any one time
- capacity is increased by chunking
What is the duration of STM
- maximum of 30 seconds
How is information stored in the LTM
- in form of memories
What is the duration of LTM
- possibly forever as memories can last a lifetime
What did Baddeley and Hitch propose in 1974
working memory model (WMM)
why did Baddeley and Hitch create the WMM
because they argued that the STM was far more complex than just being a temporary store for transferring information to the LTM
What were the components Baddeley and Hitch introduced to replace the single STM store
- central executive (CE)
- visuo-spatial sketchpad (VSS)
- phonological loop (PL)
- episodic buffer (EB)
Explain the CE
- it acts as a filter to determine which information should be attended to.
- it directs information to the models slave systems
Evaluation of CE
- little is known about the CE
+ because little is known it can be used to explain experimental results - the CE isn’t a memory store unlike the PL and VSS which are specialised memory stores
Explain the PL
- deals with auditory information and the order of words
- has a limited capacity as its mainly an acoustic store
What sub-parts did Baddeley divide the PL into
- primary acoustic store (PAS) - stores words recently heard
- articulatory process (AP) - keeps information in PL through sub-vocal repetition
Evaluate the PL
+ PET scans show different brain areas are activated when doing verbal and visual tasks suggesting PL and VSS are separate systems
+ the PL is associated with the human vocal language so it can help the learning of more complex language abilities
What is the VSS
- handles non- phonological information
- temporary store for visual and spatial items
- VSS helps individuals navigate and interact with their physical environment
Evaluation of VSS
+ PET scans show that the VSS can be divided into the VC and IS
- tasks performed in studies into VSS and PL don’t often reflect those experienced in real life so it lacks mundane realism
Why was the EB introduced
It explained how it was possible to temporarily store information combined together from the CE, PL the VSS and the LTM
What is episodic LTM
It’s the memory that gives individuals an autobiographical record of personal experiences
What is semantic LTM
• type if exicit memory
• contains all information an individual has learnt
• semantic LTM is linked to episodic LTM as new knowledge tends to be learnt from experience
What is procedural LTM
• type of implicit memory
• allows individuals to perform learned tasks with little conscious thought e.g riding a bike
• many procedural LTM’s occur early in life so are hard to explain
• as procedural memory doesn’t require conscious thought, it permits people to simultaneously perform other cognitive tasks that requite attention
What is the definition of forgetting
a failure to retrieve memories
What is the interference theory
it sees forgetting as due to information in LTM becoming confused with or disrupted by other information during coding leading to inaccurate recall
What is proactive interference
when information is stored previously interferes with new information
What is retroactive interference
when coding of new information interferes with information previously coded
When does cue dependant forgetting happen
-when information is still in the LTM but cant be accessed.
- CDF sees recall as dependant upon retrieval cues
What are the two main forms of CDF
- context dependant failure
- state dependant failure
What is context dependant failure
occurs with external retrieval cues, with forgetting occurring with the external environment is different at recall from how it was at coding
What is state dependant forgetting
occurs with internal retrieval cues, with forgetting occurring when an individuals internal environment is dissimilar at recall to when information was coded
What is repression
- type of motivated forgetting where emotionally threatening events are thought to be banished into the unconscious mind, to prevent feelings of anxiety
How does misleading information affect the accuracy of EWT
- misleading information is able to create false memories of events
- post event discussion can also create false memories
How does anxiety affect EWT
real-life events which involve violent crimes can affect EWT as people are more likely to focus on the weapon used instead of the culprits face
what is the cognitive interview (CI)
-developed by Fisher and Geiselman (1992)
- its a series of memory retrieval and communication techniques
What are some factors of the cognitive interview
- change of narrative order- recall event in a different order
- change of perspective- recall event from a different persons view
- mental reinstatement of context- recall both the environmental and emotional context of the event
- report everything- recall everything even if no relevance
How does the enhanced cognitive interview differ from the standard CI
- it seeks to build trusting relationship between the interviewer and witness to improve the quality of communication
-this is achieved by- no distracting the witness
- witness being in control
- getting witness to speak slowly
- p’s not to guess but admit they don’t know
- reduce anxiety in the interview
