Memory 2 - Process Models Flashcards
Visible persistance (vs. Iconic memory - visual memory, fast decay)
Visible persistance is when a visual stimulus appears before the eye for some time after it’s been presented
Working Memory (vs. Short-Term Store)
STS = controlling, “executive” system which is active and working memory as opposed to a passive store
Dual Task paradigms - Baddeley & Hitch
Peform a primary task whilst simultaniosuly performing a secondary task which prsumably take up STS capacity (called “concurent memory load”)
Overt(qvna repeticiq) rehearsal for secondary task ensures non-switching between tasks
-Q: Does STS divide to deal with both tasks? - A: It’s possible to carry out both task which require STS
- Error rate held constant
-Increase in reasoning time is significant but not large (35%) = speed-accuracy trade-off
The Working Memory Model
Visuo-spatial Sketch Pad (inner eye) - Central Executive - (Articulatory loop or phonologcal loop = inner voice) - Phonological Store
Evidence for Phonological loop
- Dual task results
- Phonological confusability effect (Conrad 1964; Baddeley 1966)
- Word- Length Effect (Baddeley, 1975)
Speech-based phonological system with 2 components:
- Phonological Store = stores for a few secs before fading
- Articulatory (Phonological) Loop = rehearsal process results in subvocal (inner) speech
Word- Length effect
Greater span for short words than for long words, whther written or heard
It also corresponds with speed at which words are read
Articularly Supression
Method used to inhibit inner rehearsal of items in a memory test or experiment by requiring the Ps to perform a distracting verbal task (such as counting or naming during retention period)
Results: word-length effect dissapears (for written words only!)
Explanation: Articulation of irrelevent items dominates the Articulatory Control Processes, so words cannot be rehearsed- word length has no influence
Spoken words go straight to phonological store
What’s the phonological loop for?
- Learning to read - lower memory spans-reduced reading ability
- Vocabulary acquisition - correlation between non-word repetition ability and vocabulary size
- Language comprehension - patients with STS impairments have difficulty comprehending complex sentances
The Visuospatial Sketch-pad
A segment of memory where an image can be stored and manipuated to influence behaviour
Brooks Matrix Task (1967)
Learn sequence of sentances to remember:
-Spatial (left/right, beneath/above) better with verbal instructions
-Non spatial (quick/slow, good/bad) perf. better with written instructions
Result: recall 8 spatial vs 6 non spatia - benefit of spatial imagery
Visual and spatial interfere
What’s the sketch pad for?
Not as well studied
Geographical location - how to navigate our way in the enviornment
Planning and performing spatial tasks
The Central Executive
Most complex and least understood component of Working memory
- divided by storage and processing demands
- model suggests CE co-ordinates the activity of two slave systems?!
- Functons more like an attentional system than memory store
-Coordinating retrieval strategies and selective attention
Evidence for existance of Working Memory
- Partial report technique
- Brown-Peterson Paradigm
- Digit span
-Phonological Confusability
-Semantic COnfusability - Serial Position Curve
Is it a Sensory Store or Processing mechanism?
Visual icon is a memory store that decays rapidly (<500 miliseconds)
-Sperling’s (1960) Partial Report Technique
- Eriksen & Collins (1967) :Dot- pattern fusion
Eriksen & Collins (1967) dot pattern fusion
Dot patterns shown with a big and small time gap, the smaller the gap the more fusable the pattern
ISI - inter-stimulus interval (in msecs)
