Memory

Question 1

Brains are like computers, receiving input, processing, and producing output

Answer 1

Information processing model

Bottom-up or stimulus-driven model
Assumes serial processing, however allows that humans are also capable of parallel processing

Question 2

Ultra-short-term memory that takes in sensory information and holds it momentarily

Answer 2

Sensory memory (register)

Question 3

Memory for what you see

Answer 3

iconic memory

Question 4

Memory for what you hear

Answer 4

echoic memory

Question 5

Uses cued recall to identify a subset of characters from a visual display, for example recalling a single row of characters
Found higher recall compared to whole report

Answer 5

Partial report technique

Question 6

Recall as many elements as possible from the original display, for example hiding all rows
Found lower recall compared to partial report

Answer 6

Whole report technique

Question 7

Temporarily holds information for processing memory while held at forefront of attention.

Holds 7 ± 2 pieces of information

Answer 7

Working memory

Question 8

Tendency to recall the first (primacy effect) and last items (recency effect) in a series the best, and the middle items worst.

Answer 8

Serial position effect

Question 9

Component of working memory that holds visual and spatial information for brief moments

Answer 9

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Question 10

Component of working memory dealing with auditory information
Duration = ~2 seconds

Answer 10

Phonological loop

Question 11

Functions to temporarily store and integrate information across working memory components
Maintains a sense of time

Answer 11

episodic buffer

Question 12

Oversees the working memory system, directing information to various components such as the visuospatial sketchpad or phonological loop

Helps working memory and long term memory work together

Answer 12

central executive

Question 13

maximum words recalled in the following test:
Subjects (1) read and verify simple math problem, (2) read word, (3) perform recall test

Answer 13

operational span testing

Question 14

Memory that is held for prolonged periods of time
Two categories:

Answer 14

long term memory

Two categories: explicit (declarative) and implicit (non-declarative)

Question 15

Facts and events that can be explicitly described

Divided into episodic and semantic memory
Also known as declarative memory

Answer 15

Explicit memory

Question 16

Memory of words, concepts, facts, & numbers
Memory not from personal experiences

Answer 16

Semantic Memory

Question 17

Memories of events from past personal experiences or “episodes”

Answer 17

episodic memory

Question 18

Memory that is acquired and used unconsciously
Also known as non-declarative memory, automatic memory, or unconscious memory

Answer 18

Implicit memory

Question 19

Subset of implicit memory used in performance of particular tasks without conscious awareness

Answer 19

procedural memory

Question 20

Memory of events in one’s own life
Includes episodic and semantic memory

Answer 20

Autobiographical memory

Question 21

Exposure to one stimulus influences response to a subsequent stimulus

Answer 21

Priming

Question 22

Reduces speed of processing compared to un-primed levels
Caused by experiencing but ignoring a stimulus

Answer 22

Negative priming

Question 23

Increases speed of processing compared to un-primed levels
Caused by just experiencing a stimulus

Answer 23

positive priming

Question 24

The transfer of information from working memory to long-term memory

Answer 24

encoding

Question 25

Improvement of memory retrieval when conditions of testing are similar to conditions of encoding

Answer 25

encoding specificity

Example: If you memorize a concept while listening to music, your retrieval is optimized when listening to the same music

Question 26

Repetition of the same information to try to memorize it
Requires minimal cognitive effort but is the least effective technique

Answer 26

rote rehearsal

Question 27

Grouping information into categories or other discrete groups of data

Answer 27

chunking

Example: Grouping a grocery list into categories of fruits, dairy, vegetables, etc to remember it. Or breaking down a phone number into strings of 3-4 digits.

Question 28

Learning technique and memory device relying on retrieval cues and imagery to facilitate retrieval

Answer 28

mnemonic devices

Question 29

Relating new information to oneself or one’s experiences
Helps improve recall

Answer 29

self referencing

Question 30

Exposure to information over multiple short exposures, spread out over time
Contrasted with cramming (single long exposure)

Answer 30

spacing

Example: spaced repetition using Memm

Question 31

The recall of learned information from memory
The two forms of retrieval are recognition and recall

Answer 31

retrieval

Question 32

Recognizing information as familiar or previously encountered
Considered easier than other forms of retrieval

Example: It’s easier to remember whether you’ve heard a song before than to remember the name of the song

Answer 32

recognition

Question 33

Recalling items without a cue vs Recalling items with the assistance of a cue.

Answer 33

Free recall: Recalling items without a cue
Cued recall: Recalling items with the assistance of a cue. Easier than free recall

Question 34

Retrieval is facilitated when one’s mental state during encoding and retrieval are similar
Internal cues that assist in retrieval

Answer 34

state-dependent
Example: When feeling sad you are more likely to remember other sad memories

Question 35

Retrieval is facilitated when the physical environment during encoding and retrieval are similar
External cues that assist in retrieval

Answer 35

Context-dependent

Example: If you memorize a concept while listening to music, your retrieval is optimized when listening to the same music

Question 36

Re-encoding of information once learned then forgotten
Faster compared to learning for the first time

Answer 36

relearning

Question 37

Recollections of an event that are not accurate

Answer 37

false information

Question 38

Recollections of an event that become less accurate due to post-event information

Answer 38

misleading information

Question 39

The memory of how a memory was formed

Answer 39

source memory

Question 40

Memory is attributed to the wrong source

Answer 40

Source monitoring error
Example: information from the Med School Insiders YouTube channel is attributed to a higher being

Question 41

Inability to recall the nature of how, where, or when information was acquired

Answer 41

source amnesia

Question 42

Memory with vivid detail - “snapshot”
Associated with highly emotionally charged events
Individual has high confidence in the memory, although are often inaccurate

Answer 42

flashbulb memory

Question 43

Repeated stimulation → strengthening of synaptic connection
Key process in learning and memory

Answer 43

long term potentiation

Question 44

Reduced stimulation → weakening of synaptic connection
The opposite of long term potentiation

Answer 44

long term depression

Question 45

Ability of the nervous system to adapt (e.g. in response to lesions, environment, or experiences)

Answer 45

neural plasticity

Question 46

The natural fading of memories over time

Answer 46

decay

Question 47

Learning new information interferes with previously learned information

Answer 47

Retroactive interference

Question 48

Previously learned information interferes with learning new information

Answer 48

Proactive interference

Question 49

Memory decay is fastest immediately after information is learned
Plateaus with time

Answer 49

forgetting curve

Question 50

Decline in cognitive functions (including memory) to the point of interference with normal daily living

Answer 50

dementia

Question 51

Most common form of dementia
Earliest symptoms are memory loss, most prominent with recent memories

Answer 51

Alzheimer’s disease

Question 52

Extracellular deposits of amyloid β
Considered causative of Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 52

Amyloid plaques

Question 53

Memory loss syndrome due to vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency

Answer 53

Korsakoff’s syndrome

Question 54

Precursor to Korsakoff’s syndrome
Characterized by triad of confusion, ataxia (dysfunction in coordinated movement), and eye abnormalities

Answer 54

Wernicke’s encephalopathy

Question 55

Deficit in memory
Usually secondary to disease, brain damage, or trauma

Answer 55

Amnesic syndrome

Question 56

Inability to recall previously encoded information. However, skills are usually retained

Answer 56

Retrograde amnesia

Example: someone may forget what car they own, but still remember how to drive

Question 57

Inability to encode new memories
Can result from lesions to the bilateral hippocampus regions

Answer 57

Anterograde amnesia

Example: Dory from the movie Finding Nemo, or the movie Memento

Question 58

Inability to remember important personal details
Often associated with a traumatic event

Answer 58

dissociative amnesia

Question 59

Concepts are organized as an interconnected network of ideas, connecting concepts with similar meaning

Answer 59

semantic networks

Question 60

Concepts organized like nested folders, from higher order categories to lower order categories
Information is stored at the highest level possible

Answer 60

Hierarchical semantic network

Question 61

Brain optimizes for efficiency such that information is organized in a way to minimize cognitive load

Answer 61

cognitive economy principle

Question 62

Model for searching information in a semantic network
Activation of one piece of memory will also cause recall of related nodes/concepts

Answer 62

spreading activation

Example: Recalling the definition for “spreading activation” will activate your brain to also retrieve the related definition for “semantic network”