Memory

Question 1

We likely remember exactly where we were when we received news that classes were suspended due to Covid-19. Why?

Answer 1

Memory processes are different when emotion is involved. More memorable.

Hormones: epinephrine and norepinephrine are more active in arousal and stress; they enhance memory. Possibly because glucose more available to brain.

Question 2

Explicit vs. Implicit memory

Answer 2

Explicit: Conscious, intentional recollection of an event or information (accessible to conscious mind)

Implicit: Unconscious retention of memory by experience that affects current thoughts or actions (not accessible to conscious mind)

Question 3

Priming

Answer 3

Measures implicit memory where someone reads or listens to information and is later tested to see if it affects performance on another task

Question 4

Information-processing models of memory (three-box model)

Answer 4

We encode information, store information, and retrieve information (much like a computer).

sensory register, working memory, long-term memory

Question 5

How long is working memory? How long is long-term memory? How long is sensory register?

Answer 5

Sensory register is 1-2s
Working memory is up to 30s
Long-term memory is a few minutes to a couple decades

Question 6

Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) model

Answer 6

The mind has many processes operating at the same time (not linearly). Connections among a huge number of interacting processing units. Parallel and simultaneous processing.

Question 7

How long visual images in sensory register? How long audio stimuli?

Answer 7

Visual: max half a second
Audio: up to 10 seconds

Question 8

Magic number of working memory

Answer 8

7 plus or minus 2 items

Question 9

Why is working memory called ‘working’ memory?

Answer 9

Our brain works with the information we have, comparing it to existing information.

Question 10

2 types of contents of memories

Answer 10

1) Semantic memories: memories of general knowledge, facts, rules, etc.

2) Episodic memories: memories of personally experienced events and their contexts

Question 11

Serial-position effect

why?

Answer 11

We recall better the beginning and end of a list of items.

First few items are due to the first few items rehearsed many times or first exposed to working memory before overloaded.

Last few are due to being plucked out of working memory as they’re most recent.

Question 12

What happens to neural processes in working memory?

Answer 12

Neurons change in ability to release neurotransmitters (either more or less)

Question 13

Changes in brain processes during long-term memory

Answer 13

Long-term potentiation (a long-lasting increase in strength of synaptic responsiveness, a biological mechanism)

Question 14

Consolidation (memory)

Answer 14

long-term memory becomes durable and stable (but they never truly consolidate fully! retrieving them potentially messes them up)

Question 15

Long-term potentiation

Answer 15

Increased strength of synaptic responses in an area after stimulation. Important for learning and memory

Question 16

Storage of memory is in which part of the brain?

Answer 16

Cerebral cortex

Question 17

Which part of the brain is active during working memory tasks?

Answer 17

Frontal and parietal lobes

Question 18

What areas of brain is important to encode pictures and words?

Answer 18

Frontal lobes and area adjacent to hippocampus (temporal)

Question 19

Implicit memory parts of the brain

Answer 19

Cerebellum, striatum

Question 20

Which part of the brain is important for formation and retention of classically conditioned responses?

Answer 20

Cerebellum

Question 21

Mnemonics

Answer 21

Strategies/tricks for improving memory`

Question 22

Effortful encoding

Answer 22

Use of intentional effort to encode information. studying. Relating to personal experience.

Question 23

Maintenance and Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 23

Maintenance: mere reptetition of material

Elaborative rehearsal: associate new information with stored information. (more effective in longer lists)

Question 24

Deep Processing

Answer 24

Processing of meaning rather than physical/sensory features

Question 25

4 Mechanisms of forgetting:

Answer 25

Decay, replacement, interference, and cue-dependent forgetting.

Question 26

Decay theory (memory)

does not explain what?

Answer 26

Information in memory fades if not accessed.

doesn’t explain some skills like riding a bike (lasts long) or other knowledge things like Spanish

Question 27

Replacement theory (memory)

Answer 27

New information wipes out old. For example, leading questions influence or overwrite memories.

Question 28

Interference theory (memory)

Answer 28

Similar items of information interfere with each other.

Question 29

Retroactive interference

Answer 29

new info interferes with ability to remember old.

Question 30

Proactive interference

Answer 30

Old information interferes with ability to remember current

Question 31

Cue-dependent forgetting

Answer 31

Inability to retrieve info stored in memory because there aren’t sufficient cues.

Question 32

State-dependent memory

Answer 32

Tendency to remember things when in the same physical or mental state as the original experience

Question 33

Mood-congruent memory

Answer 33

Tendency to remember experiences consistent with current mood and overlook events that aren’t.

Question 34

Childhood amnesia (what’s alternate name?)

Answer 34

Infantile amnesia

Adults cannot accurately recall events from earlier than age 2

Question 35

Why might infantile amnesia exist? (3 things)

Answer 35

Brain development (prefrontal cortex) not well developed.

No self-concept, making it little cues to recall

Not socially developed, so parents decide everything that’s important to them

Question 36

Psychogenic amnesia

Answer 36

massive memory loss without brain damage cause

Question 37

Traumatic amnesia (alternate name?)

Answer 37

Burying of traumatic events in memory.

Repression according to Freud.

Question 38

Repressed memories in the literature

Answer 38

Can be fabricated memories that never existed. There is not one case of repressed memory of surviving concentration camp or being victim of terrorism. Weak empirical support for repressed memories

Question 39

Source misattribution

Answer 39

Not being able to distinguish actual memory from information learned elsewhere.

Question 40

Confabulation

Answer 40

Confusion of some event that happened to someone else with one that happened to you.

Belief you remember something when it never happened.

Question 41

Under what circumstances is confabulation most likely to happen?

3 things

Answer 41

1) imagined it many times
2) image has lots of details, making it feel real
3) the event is easy to imagine

Question 42

Memory is re_______.

(it’s not fixed)

Answer 42

reconstructive