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Psychology > Memory > Flashcards

Memory Flashcards

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1
Q

Memory

A

storage and retrieval of information acquired through learning. 3 key processes (encoding, storage, retrieval)

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2
Q

Encoding

A

converting information into a ‘storable’ and usable form (i.e. memory)

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3
Q

Storage

A

Information is retained by the memory system. It is retention of information over time

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4
Q

Retrieval

A

The process of locating and recovering the stored information from memory so that we are consciously aware of it

fast process- seems automatic

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5
Q

sensory memory

A

The entry point of memory

stores information in a raw or unencoded form for very short period of time

Types of sensory memory include:
iconic
echoic

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6
Q

Iconic sensory memory

A

visual sensory memory

stores an exact copy of all visual information. Retained for about 0.2-0.4 seconds (a third of a second)

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7
Q

echoic sensory memory

A

Auditory sensory memory. Stores an exact copy of all auditory information. This information is retained for 3-4 seconds

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8
Q

Short Term Memory (STM)

A

receives and encodes new information from sensory memory, and receives information from the long term memory for temporary use.

Information is stored for a short period of time with a limited capacity. After about 12-20 seconds recall starts to decline unless it is attended to (rehearsed) and then can be held indefinitely

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9
Q

Capacity of Short Term Memory (STM)

A

limited to 7+/-2 pieces of information at any one time; information in excess of this capacity is discarded or transferred to long term memory (LTM)

Information is STM is lost primarily through decay (not being used) and displacement (being pushed out) by new information

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10
Q

STM as working memory

A

STM is sometimes called ‘working memory’ to emphasise the active part memory plays in ‘working on a problem’

Information enters STM from both sensory memory and long term memory

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11
Q

Chunking

A

The process of combining smaller bits of information into larger more meaningful units

Chunking increases the amount of information/capacity that can be held in STM at any one time

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12
Q

Rehearsal

A

the process of actively manipulating information in memory to aid storage and retrieval

may be vocal- repeating information aloud or subvocal- repeating information silently ‘in the head’

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13
Q

Maintenance rehearsal

A

repetition of a sound or image over and over (vocally or subvocally) in a rote, mechanical way without attaching new meaning to it

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14
Q

Elaborative rehearsal

A

The process of linking new information in a meaningful way with old information to aid storage and retrieval from long term memory (LTM)

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15
Q

Central executive system

A

The working component of memory which controls attention, integrates information from other components, as well as information from LTM, and coordinates the information between components and LTM

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16
Q

Phonological loop

A

Temporarily stores verbal, speech like information in a sound based form

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17
Q

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

A

temporarily stores a limited amount of of visual and spatial information ‘mental images’

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18
Q

Episodic buffer

A

a sub system controlled by the central executive that enables the different components of working memory to interact with LTM

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19
Q

Primacy effect

A

better recall for items at the beginning of a list (due to earlier items being transferred to LTM)

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20
Q

Recency effect

A

better recall for items at the end of a list (due to later items being held in in STM)

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21
Q

Serial position effect

A

a finding that free recall of a list of items (e.g words or names) is better for those items at the begibnning and the end of a list than for those items in the middle

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22
Q

Hippocampus

A

A structure within the brain, more specifically within the temporal lobe, that is thought to play a role in long-term memory

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23
Q

Consolidation theory

A

The idea that memories take a finite amount of time to become permanent. This process can take up to 30 minutes, and if disrupted the memory will be lost.

Structural and physical changes to neurons occur when something new is learned

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24
Q

long-term memory

A

A relatively permanent storage facility for an infinite amount of information

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25
Q

Semantic network theory

A

Semantic network theory proposes that information in the LTM is organised systematically in the form of overlapping networks (or grids) of concepts interconnected and interrelated by meaningful links

Each word (idea) is called a node. Each node is connected to other nodes by a meaningful link

Nodes are organised in a heirachy

When we retrieve information the activation of one node causes other related nodes to be activated

The more closely connected that nodes are the faster the information is able to be recalled/remembered

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26
Q

Amygdala

A

Responsible for the “emotional” memory- particularly fear and the encoding and consolidation of these memories

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27
Q

Organic causes of forgetting

A

Physical damage to the brain

Organic- a physiological basis, which results from some sort of damage to the brain. Can be caused by disease, stroke, head injury, long term alcoholism, severe malnutrition, brain surgery or through aging

Memory loss due to organic factors is usually called organic amnesia

28
Q

Amnesia

A

partial or total memory loss

29
Q

Anterograde

A

Loss of memory for experiences that occured after the amnesia-causing event,
e.g not remembering the immediate events just after a head injury (walking into a door) or not being able to form any long term memories because of physical damage to the brain

30
Q

Retrograde

A

Loss of memory for experiences that occurred just before the amnesia-causing event. e.g not remembering the events prior to a head injury (walking into a door)

31
Q

Declarative memory

A

A type of long term memory associated with information about facts and events. Declaractive memory is broken down further into Episodic and Semantic

32
Q

Non declarative memory

A

? do I need this?

33
Q

Episodic

A

Memory of your own set of autobiographical events (episodes), personal experiences e.g how you felt on your first day of school

34
Q

Semantic

A

Stores information we have about the world. Includes specialised knowledge, academic knowledge, rules and everyday knowledge. Involves facts that don’t rely on a particular time or place

35
Q

procedural

A

Knowledge of how to perform an action that you have previously learnt or committed to memory e.g driving or tieing shoelaces

36
Q

Brain Trauma

A

Any brain damage that impairs normal brain functioning i.e damage due to inflicted brain injury (e.g blow to the head) or acquired brain injury (e.g. neurodegenerative disease)

37
Q

Neurodegenerative disease

A

Characterised by progressive and irreversible decline in mental functioning

38
Q

Dementia

A

A group of neurodegenerative diseases that cause a progressive decline in mental functioning

39
Q

Alzheimer’s disease

A

Characterised by the gradual widespread degeneration of brain neurons

Symptoms include- memory loss, decline in cognitive and social skills and changes in personality

occurs mainly in old age; usually worsens with age following onset

progressive loss of all types of memory, but varies with individuals

tendency for initially impaired declarative memory

40
Q

Forgetting

A

failure to access or retrieve information previously stored in memory

41
Q

Forgetting curve

A

A graphical representation of the rate and amount of forgetting for newly leaned material

42
Q

Retrieval failure theory

A

forgetting occurs from long-term memory due to a lack of retrieval cues, or failure to use the right cue to retrieve the information stored there

Information is not lost, but inaccessible when needed

Context dependent cues and state-dependent cues can increase the likelihood of retrieval

43
Q

Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon (TOT)

A

A feeling of knowing that certain information is stored in memory but being unable to immediately retrieve it. This indicates that…

Retrieval can be a partial process (rather than all or nothing)

Information stored in long-term memory may not be easily accessible unless the right retrieval cue is used

Information may have been encoded with inadequate retrieval cues and so we need other types of associations to locate it (e.g. the first letter)

The information in TOT is being blocked by interference from similar sounding names or objects (that is why we can describe what it sounds like) Once we start to think of something different, the interference stops and the information is retrieved

44
Q

Interference theory

A

Forgetting occurs due to interference between information previously stored in memory and more recently stored information

fix this

Interference is grater with increasing similarity of information

Interference occurs in both STM and LTM

45
Q

Proactive interference

A

Existing (old) memories interfere with new (recent) memories

PON
proactive- Old interfering with New Information

46
Q

Retroactive interference

A

New (recent) memories interfere with existing (old memories

47
Q

Motivated forgetting

A

proposes that there is a strong desire to forget certain things because the memory is either too traumatic, disturbing, anxiety provoking or upsetting

48
Q

Repression

A

unconsciously blocking a memory from entering conscious awareness (involuntary process)

mnemonic RUSC
R=repression U=unconscious S= suppression C= conscious

49
Q

Suppression

A

Consciously blocking a memory from entering conscious awareness (a voluntary process)

mnemonic RUSC
R=repression U=unconscious S= suppression C= conscious

50
Q

Decay theory

A

A memory trace (like a neural imprint) is formed in the brain when new information is learned

Memory traces weaken over time (i.e decay)

Forgetting occurs if the stored information (memory trace) is not used (reactivated or rehearsed)

Decay occurs in STM (WM) and LTM

Decay explains forgetting in physiological rather than psychological terms

51
Q

Measure of retention

A

a method of assessing the amount of information stored in memory

52
Q

Recall

A

Reproducing previously learned information with retrieval cues (cued recall) or without retrieval cues (free recall)

53
Q

Recognition

A

correctly identifying or selecting previously learned information from a set of alternatives

54
Q

Relearning

A

relearning previously learned or memorised information and calculating the amount of information saved (retained) in memory from the original learning

savings score(%)= T1-T2/T1 x 100

T1= the No. of trials (or time) for original learning

T2= No. of trials (or time) for relearning

55
Q

Sensitivity of a measure

A

The sensitivity of a measure is its ability to assess the amount of stored information in memory

Relearning is the most sensitive measure, followed by recognition; recall is the least sensitive

56
Q

Retrieval cue

A

a prompt that assists in the process of locating and recovering information stored in LTM

57
Q

Context dependent cue

A

environmental or external cues from the specific setting where learning has occurred which can act as subsequent retrieval cues

58
Q

State-dependent cue

A

Internal cues where you are in the same physiological or emotional state or setting as when you originally learnt (encoded) the material

59
Q

Free recall

A

recalling as much as you can in any order without the assistance of any cues

60
Q

Serial recall

A

recalling information in the same order in which it was presented

61
Q

Cued recall

A

Being provided with some cues to assist in the recall process

62
Q

acronym

A

pronounceable words (or abbreviations) created from the first letters of a group of words

that act as letter cues aiding in recall of more complex information

63
Q

mnemonic

A

techniques to enhance or improve memory

64
Q

acrostics

A

phrases or poems where the first letter of each word functions as a cue to help memory e.g. ‘every good boy deserves fruit’

65
Q

narrative chaining

A

Remembering groups of concepts or items by creating a story involving these items or concepts

66
Q

Method of Loci

A

mnemonic device where a person associates items to be remembered with particular landmarks on a well known path

67
Q

eyewitness testimony

A

Recollection of witnesses present when a crime was perpetrated, relating to what was done and by whom

Psychology (28 decks)

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