Memory

Question 1

Definition of memory

Answer 1

the processing, storage and retrieval of information acquired through learning; neurological representation of a prior event/experience

Question 2

Encoding

Answer 2

converting raw sensory data into a ‘usable’ form to be represented and stored in memory

Question 3

Storage

Answer 3

retention of info in memory over time

Question 4

Retrieval

Answer 4

locating and recovering stored info from memory to conscious thought

Question 5

Multi-Store Model of Memory

Answer 5

Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968; consists of sensory, short and long term memory - categorized by capacity, duration, and function

Question 6

Sensory Memory

Answer 6

All information picked up by sensory receptors, held for less than 5 seconds as raw data - directing attention to raw data transfers it to STM - unlimited capacity

Question 7

Short Term Memory

Answer 7

Limited storage capacity of 5-9 units, info is temporarily held and worked on during tasks, info retained for 12-30 seconds

Question 8

Long Term Memory

Answer 8

Stores vasts amounts of info from 3 seconds - infinity (can decay over time), inferred through storage and retrieval, transitions from STM to LTM through physical changes in neurons and neural networks - info is stored in semanic networks

Question 9

LTM - Declarative Memory

Answer 9

Facts and events - explicit memory

Question 10

LTM - Procedural Memory

Answer 10

Actions and skills - implicit memory

Question 11

Divisions of Declarative Memory

Answer 11

Semantic and Episodic memory

Question 12

Semantic Memory

Answer 12

Memories of learnt facts/knowledge; not tagged with specific dates of learning

Question 13

Episodic Memory

Answer 13

Memories of personally experienced events - details of time, place, psychological and physiological state

Question 14

Serial Position Effect (SPE)

Answer 14

supports the theory of STM and LTM; immediate free recall of items at the beginning/end of a list are remembered

Question 15

SPE - Primary Effect

Answer 15

LTM - items at the beginning are recalled easier

Question 16

SPE - Asymptote

Answer 16

Middle section info is more likely to be forgotten

Question 17

SPE - Recency Effect

Answer 17

STM - items at the end are recalled easier

Question 18

STM - Maintenance Rehearsal

Answer 18

Repetition of words, auditory info, visual/spacial info; retained vocally/sub-vocally, inner-ear (mental maps)

Question 19

STM - Elaborative Rehearsal

Answer 19

Focuses on the meaning of the info - processes info on a deeper level by using concepts

Question 20

STM - Chunking

Answer 20

Grouping items to be remembered - familiar stimuli stored as a single unit

Question 21

Working Memory Model

Answer 21

Baddeley and Hitch (1974) - consists of the phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad, and the central executive

Question 22

Central Executive

Answer 22

Coordinates the actions of other components of working memory, controls attention, diverts info to relevant parts of memory, briefly stores sensory info, integrates info from LTM to guide behaviour, thoughts

Question 23

Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

Answer 23

Storing and manipulating of visual and spacial info

Question 24

Phonological Loop

Answer 24

Storing and manipulating of auditory info - lasts for 2 sec unrehearsed, “inner ear”/articulatory control system rehearsal

Question 25

Episodic Buffer

Answer 25

Limited and temporary storage in any form, joins info from visuo-spatial and phonological loop to prepare memories for storage in episodic buffer

Question 26

LTM - Types of Processing

Answer 26

Structural, Phonemic, Semantic

Question 27

LTM - Structural Processing

Answer 27

Encoding according to physical features of remembered word - shallow processing

Question 28

LTM - Phonemic Processing

Answer 28

Encoding according to the sound of the remembered word - intermediate processing

Question 29

LTM - Semantic Processing

Answer 29

Using the meaning of the info - deep processing

Question 30

Explicit Memory

Answer 30

Consciously and intentionally retrieved and stored; declarative memories

Question 31

Implict Memory

Answer 31

Expressed through behaviour and actions - memories without awareness; non -declarative memories

Question 32

Recall

Answer 32

Using minimal amount of cues for retrieval

Question 33

Free Recall

Answer 33

Retrieving info without order

Question 34

Serial Recall

Answer 34

Retrieving as much info in any order

Question 35

Cued Recall

Answer 35

Using prompts to assist retrieval

Question 36

Recognition

Answer 36

Identifying correct information amongst wrong info - Luh (1992) - better performance in recognition tests than recall

Question 37

Relearning

Answer 37

Revising things previously committed to memory - easier to relearn (saving score)

Question 38

Saving Score

Answer 38

[original learning]-[relearning]/[original learning] x100

Question 39

Forgetting

Answer 39

Inability to retrieve info previously stored in LTM

Question 40

Forgetting Curve - Ebbinghaus (1885)

Answer 40

Measures the amount of info retained and the rate of forgetfulness - 1/2 memory loss occurs in first hour, 68% of info (max lost) occurs in the first 8 hours

Question 41

Retrieval Failure Theory - Tulving & Thompson (1973)

Answer 41

Forgetting due to inability to retrieve material due to absence of right cues

Question 42

Retrieval Failure Theory - Context Dependant Cues

Answer 42

Environment in which the memory was encoded

Question 43

Retrieval Failure Theory - State Dependant Cues

Answer 43

Emotional state, smell, taste, sounds associated with memory

Question 44

Interference Theory

Answer 44

Explains why a previously available memory trace has become temporarily inaccessible; most likely to occur when material is similar (McGeoch & McDonald) - proactive and retroactive

Question 45

Interference Theory - Proactive

Answer 45

Previously learnt material inhibits new material

Question 46

Interference Theory - Retroactive

Answer 46

New material inhibits old material

Question 47

Interference Theory - Strengths and Weaknesses

Answer 47

Strengths: plausible theory, repeated in laboratory settings, face validity. Weaknesses: lab is different to IRL, interference may not occur as frequently

Question 48

Motivated Forgetting

Answer 48

Reason to forget stimuli - suppression (conscious) and repression (unconscious) - Freud

Question 49

Decay Theory

Answer 49

Memory trace will decay over time - based on physical/chemical trace from memory

Question 50

Decay Theory - Strengths and Weaknesses

Answer 50

Strengths: occurs in STM & LTM, supported by empirical studies of hippocampus. Weaknesses: no proof decay is cause, doesn't account for recollection from cues

Question 51

Iconic Memory

Answer 51

sensory memory division - visual memory

Question 52

Echoic Memory

Answer 52

sensory memory division - auditory memory