Memory Flashcards
Short term memory (STM)
The limited capacity memory store. In STM, coding is mainly acoustic (sounds), capacity is between 5 and 9 items on average, and duration is about 18 seconds.
Long term memory (LTM)
The permanent memory store. In LTM, coding is mainly semantic (meaning), it has unlimited capacity and can store memories for up to a lifetime.
Coding
The format in which information is stored in the various memory stores.
Capacity
The amount of information that can be held in a memory store.
Duration
The length of time information can be held in memory.
Multi-store model (MSM)
A representation of how memory works in terms of three stores called the sensory register, short term memory and long term memory. It also describes how information is transferred from one store to another, what makes some memories last and what makes some memories disappear.
Sensory register
The memory stores for each of our five senses, such as vision (iconic store) and hearing (echoic store). Coding in the iconic sensory register is visual and in the echoic sensory register it is acoustic (sounds). The capacity of the sensory register is huge (millions of receptors) and information lasts for a very short time (less than half a second).
Episodic memory
A long term memory store for personal events. It includes memories of when the events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviours involved. Memories from this store have to be retrieved consciously with effort.
Semantic memory
A long term memory store for our knowledge of the world. This includes facts and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean. These memories usually need to be recalled deliberately.
Procedural memory
A long term memory store for our knowledge of how to do things. This includes our memories of learned skills. We usually recall these memories without making a conscious or deliberate effort.
Working memory model (WMM)
A representation of short term memory. It suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using subunits co-ordinated by a central decision making system.
Central executive (CE)
The component of the WMM that co-ordinates the activities of the three subsystems in memory. It also allocates processing resources to those activities.
Phonological loop (PL)
The component of the WMM that processes information in terms of sound. This includes both written and spoken material. It’s divided into the phonological store and the articulatory process.
Visuo-spatial sketchpad (VSS)
The component of the WMM that processes visual and spatial information in a mental space often called the ‘inner eye’.
Episodic buffer (EB)
The component of the WMM that brings together material from other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands. It also provides a bridge between working memory and long term memory.
Interference
Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten.
Proactive interference (PI)
Forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories. The degree of forgetting is greater when the memories are similar.
Retroactive interference (RI)
Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored. The degree of forgetting is greater when the memories are similar.
Retrieval failure
A form of forgetting. It occurs when we don’t have the necessary cues to access memory. The memory is available but not accessible unless a suitable cue is provided.
Cue
A ‘tigger’ of information that allows us to access a memory. Such cues may be meaningful or may be indirectly linked by being encoded at the time of learning. Indirect cues may be external (context-dependent) or internal (state-dependent).
Eyewitness testimony (EWT)
The ability of people to remember the details of events, such as accidents and crimes, which they themselves have observed. Accuracy of EWT can be affected by factors such as misleading information and anxiety.
Misleading information
Incorrect information given to an eyewitness, usually after an event. It can take many forms, such as leading questions and post-event discussion.
Leading question
A question which, because of the way it is phrased, suggests a certain answer.
Post-event discussion (PED)
Occurs when there is more than one witness to an event. Witnesses may discuss what they have seen with co-witnesses or with other people. This may influence the accuracy of each witness’s recall of the event.
Anxiety
A state of emotional and physical arousal. The emotions include having worried thoughts and feelings of tension. Physical changes include an increased heart rate and sweatiness. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations, but it can affect the accuracy and detail of eyewitness testimony.
Cognitive interview (CI)
A method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories. It uses four main techniques, all based on evidence-based psychological knowledge of human memory. The four techniques are: report everything, reinstate the context, reverse the order, and change perspective.
