Memory Flashcards
What is the first stage of memory that captures sensory stimuli?
Sensory memory
Sensory memory lasts for 1−3 seconds.
How long does information typically stay in working memory?
Up to 30 seconds
Information can be lost at any point along the memory pathway.
What system controls the flow of information in working memory?
The central executive system
It is supported by three memory stores.
Name the three memory stores supported by the central executive system.
- Phonological loop
- Visual sketchpad
- Episodic buffer
What is the function of the phonological loop?
Translates visual words and numbers into auditory information
It allows self-talk.
What does the visual sketchpad deal with?
Visual and spatial information
It holds images of objects in the mind’s eye.
What is the role of the episodic buffer?
Links working memory with long-term memory
What are the three pathways for encoding information into long-term memory?
- Procedural Long Term Memory
- Semantic Long Term Memory
- Episodic Long Term Memory
What does procedural long term memory store?
Knowledge about how to perform certain skills
Examples include walking, playing the piano, or riding a bike.
What is stored in semantic long term memory?
Factual knowledge
Includes information like the capital of France and DNA structure.
What type of memory stores specific personal experiences?
Episodic Long Term Memory
What brain areas are involved in skill learning?
- Basal ganglia
- Cerebellum
Which brain area is primarily responsible for emotional learning?
Amygdala
What is working memory (WM) widely distributed across?
- Sensory cortex
- Parietal cortex
- Premotor cortex
- Medial temporal lobe
- Prefrontal cortex
- Subcortical areas
What function does the prefrontal cortex (PFC) serve in working memory?
Coordinates control functions and interfaces WM with long-term memory
What is declarative long-term memory?
Conscious, intentional recollection of factual information, experiences, and concepts
What are the two categories of declarative long-term memory?
- Episodic memory
- Semantic memory
Where are declarative memories encoded?
Medial Temporal Lobe
Specifically in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and perirhinal cortex.
What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?
A mechanism for long-term memory that involves stable changes in synaptic efficiency
What is the role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in memory?
Activates Protein Kinase A (PKA), which is involved in memory processes
What is decay in the context of memory?
The fading of memory traces over time
What is retroactive interference?
New learning interferes with the recall of old memories
What is proactive interference?
Old information interferes with the ability to learn new information
What is motivated forgetting?
An active process of forgetting psychologically painful information
