Memory Flashcards
Sensation
The detection of environmental stimuli by the sense organs and the conversion of sensory information to electrochemical energy.
3 stages of sensation
- Reception
- Transduction
- Transmission
Reception
The detection of sensory information in the sense organs of the body by sensory receptors.
Transduction
The changing of sensory information into electrochemical energy.
Transmission
The movement of electrochemical energy from sensory receptors to the brain for interpreting.
Perception
The mental representation that the brain creates using information detected by the senses.
3 stages of perception
- Selection
- Organization
- Interpretation
Selection
Crucial features of information are selected for further processing and insignificant content is disregarded.
Organization
Selected information is categorised, allowing for the arrangement of meaningful patterns
Interpretation
Meanings assigned to the groups of patterns.
Attention
The mental capacity to concentrate on a specific stimulus while ignoring other stimuli. Can be a voluntary process as well as invountary.
Memory
The cognitive function through which information and past experiences are actively processed, stored and retrieved.
The Cocktail Party Effect
Refers to the ability for an individual to be aware of multiple conversations occurring around them at the same time using divided attention, as well as using selective attention where their focus is on one conversation and the rest are neglected.
Selective attention
The process of concentrating on chosen stimuli while disregarding others
Divided attention
The ability to concentrate on two or more stimuli simultaneously.
Processes of memory
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
Storage
The retention of information within the stores of memory
Retrieval
The movement of information from the long term store of memory to conscious awareness.
Encoding
The form in which information is stored
Decay
The fading of memory over time
Capacity
The maximum amount of information able to be stored at a given time
Duration
The length of time information can be stored for
Sensory register
The memory store where sensory information is briefly held before decaying or transferring to the short term store. Iconic and echoic.
Short-term memory
A temporary memory store for limited information received from the sensory register and long term store. Can store 5-9 pieces of information. Information decays after 15-30 seconds
Long-term memory
A relatively permanent memory store for a limitless amount of information that sends and receives information from the short-term store.
Procedural memory
A type of long-term memory for skills or actions that are usually difficult to explain in words. (Implicit)
Declarative memory
A type of long-term memory for factual information that can be expressed in words. (Explicit)
Semantic memory
A type of declarative memory for impersonal factual knowledge (Explicit)
Episodic memory
A type of declarative memory for personally significant events. (Explicit)
Working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch)
A view of short-term memory as a dynamic storage system capable of simultaneously holding multiple pieces of information
- Central executive
-Phonological loop
- Visuospatial sketchpad
- Episodic buffer
Central executive
A component of the working memory model responsible for coordinating the slave systems as well as controlling attention given to information and decision making.
Phonological loop
A component of the working memory model that temporarily stores and processes auditory and linguistic based information.
Phonological store
Storage for words that are heard (inner ear)
Articulatory process
Repeats heard words in a loop allowing for maintenance rehearsal to occur (inner voice)
Visuospatial sketchpad
A component of the working memory that stores and manipulates visual and spatial information.
Episodic buffer
A component of the working memory model that temporarily stores consolidated information from the central executive, visuospatial sketchpad, phonological loop and long term memory.
Iconic store
Visual information is held for 0.2-0.4 seconds. Relatively unlimited storage capacity.
Echoic store
Auditory information is held for 3-4 seconds. Relatively unlimited storage capacity.
Sensory organs
- Eyes
- Touch receptors
- Ears
- Nose
- Tongue and taste buds
Visual sensation: Eyes
Stimuli = light waves
Auditory sensation: Ears
Stimuli = Sound waves
Touch (tactile) sensation
Stimuli = Mechanical, thermal and chemical energy
Olfactory sensation: Nose
Stimuli = Chemical energy
Gustatory (taste) sensation
Stimuli = Chemical energy
Internal attention
- How hungry you feel
External attention
- What the person beside is saying
Elaborate rehearsal
Actively process information, by associating it with other memories, or assign meaning to it.
- Mneumonics
Maintenance rehearsal
Repeating something over and over in order to remember it. This is not used for transferring info into LTM.
- Chunking
- Repetition
Forgetting
The inability to retrieve memories
Types of forgetting
- Retrieval failure
- Interference
- Motivated forgetting
- Decay
Retrieval failure
The inability to consciously recall information stored that was known before, due to the absence of retrieval cues that could trigger memory retrieval. (tip of the tongue phenomenon)
Interference
When information in the long-term store cannot be retrieved due to it being disrupted by similar information. Either proactive or retroactive.
Proactive interference
Old information interferes with new information
Retroactive interference
New information interferes with old information
Motivated forgetting
The intentional or unintentional suppression of memories to minimise emotional distress
Recall
The process of retrieving information from the long term memory without the aid of cues retreiving the information.
- Free
- Serial
- Cued
Free recall
The retrieval of as much information as possible about a specific topic in any order.
Serial recall
The retrieval of information in a set order.
Cued recall
Provided retrieval cues help with the retrieval of memory.
Relearning
Reacquiring of skills, that were learned previously, but is forgotten over time.
Recognition
The ability to identify something you’ve seen or learned before by matching stimuli to stored memories.
