Memory Flashcards
Memory
The process by which the mind stores and remembers information.
Encoding
Converting information into a storable format.
Procedural Memory
Automatic memories not available for conscious inspection.
Semantic Memory
Semantic meanings or feelings available for conscious inspection.
Episodic Memory
Memories of events available for conscious inspection.
STM Capacity
7 items- Miller’s digit span technique.
STM Duration
18-30 seconds- Peterson and Peterson- remember trigram and count backward, recall decreased over time.
LTM Capacity
Limitless
LTM Duration
Supposedly a lifetime- Bahrick et al- people recalled high school year books- 70% accuracy after 48 years.
Sensory Memory
Info from senses that is stored up to 250ms (Sperling’s tachiscope- flashed symbols for 1/20 of a second and participants could only remember 3-4)
STM
If information catches attention of STM it is stored.
LTM
When information is rehearsed from the STM and stored in the LTM. Can be retrieved back to the STM.
Multi-store Model of Memory - Atkinson and Shriffrin 1968
Sensory memory > Attention > STM > Rehearsal > LTM > Retrieval > STM
MSM Evalutation
+ First model so prompted researched.
+ Simplifies complex information
+ Supported by research and case studies
- Temporal validity
- Types of LTM (Clive Wearing)
- Memory unlikely to be linear
- Reductionist
- What is rehearsal?
Forgetting
Information not successfully retrieved from LTM.
Trace Decay
Automatic loss of a memory from the sensory store.
Displacement
New memories push older ones out of the STM.
Retroactive Interference
Recent memories interfere with old.
Proactive Interference
Old memories interfere with new.
Loess
Given 3 words from a category and had to count back for 15 seconds. Each time they recalled the new list interfered with the old one.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966- The Serial Position Effect
STM + LTM different. Partipants memorised 21 words and recalled as many as possible. Recalled more from the beginning (primacy) and more from the end (recency).
Glanzer and Cunitz Study Evaluation
+ Experiment is controlled and reliable.
- Demand characteristics
- Ecological validity
- Individual differences
- What is the start, middle and end?
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
Alcoholics often develop this, leading to brain damage with little effect on STM. Supports different STM and LTM.
Shallice and Warrington - KF
Motorbike accident - in tact LTM but damaged STM. STM for auditory information more problematic that visual.