Memory A01 Flashcards
What is the capacity of the sensory register?
The capacity of the sensory register is unlimited; it can hold a vast amount of sensory information for a brief period of 250 milliseconds and is coded modality specific.
What is the duration of information in the short-term memory (STM)?
The duration of STM is approximately 18-30 seconds without rehearsal.
What is the capacity of short-term memory (STM)?
The capacity of STM is typically around 7 ± 2 items, as suggested by Miller’s ‘magic number 7.’
What is maintenance rehearsal?
Maintenance rehearsal is the process of repeating information in the STM to keep it from decaying and to help transfer it into long-term memory (LTM).
What is the duration of long-term memory (LTM)?
The duration of LTM can be potentially unlimited, ranging from minutes to a lifetime.
What is the capacity of long-term memory (LTM)?
LTM has an extremely large capacity, with no known limit to how much information it can hold.
What does the multi-store model of memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin) suggest?
The multi-store model suggests that memory consists of three stores: sensory register, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM), each with different characteristics (capacity, duration, and coding).
What is the definition of the working memory model (Baddeley & Hitch)?
The working memory model suggests that STM is not a single store but consists of multiple components that work together to process information.
What are the components of the working memory model?
The components are the central executive, phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and episodic buffer.
What does the central executive do in the working memory model?
The central executive is responsible for allocating attention and coordinating the activities of the other components in working memory.
What is the role of the phonological loop?
The phonological loop processes verbal and auditory information and consists of two subcomponents: the phonological store (inner ear) and the articulatory process (inner voice).
What is the role of the visuospatial sketchpad?
The visuospatial sketchpad processes visual and spatial information, such as images or spatial relationships.
What is the episodic buffer in the working memory model?
The episodic buffer integrates information from different stores (like the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad) and links it to long-term memory.
What is the difference between episodic and semantic memory?
Episodic memory is the memory of personal experiences and events, while semantic memory refers to the memory of facts and general knowledge.
What is procedural memory?
Procedural memory is the memory for actions, skills, and procedures, such as riding a bike or playing an instrument.
What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory?
Explicit memory (or declarative memory) involves conscious recall, such as facts or events, whereas implicit memory (or non-declarative memory) is unconscious and includes things like skills and habits.
Who conducted the research on the capacity of short-term memory using digit span?
Jacobs conducted research on the capacity of STM using the digit span technique, finding that the average span is 7±2.
What is the role of rehearsal in the multi-store model of memory?
Rehearsal helps transfer information from STM to LTM by maintaining it in the short-term store and eventually encoding it into long-term storage.
What is Eyewitness Testimony (EWT)?
Eyewitness testimony refers to the account given by individuals who have witnessed a specific event or crime. It is often used in legal contexts as evidence to identify criminals and establish facts.
What are the main factors that affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?
The main factors include: misleading information, memory decay, stress or anxiety, weapon focus effect, age of the witness, and cross-race effect.
What is the ‘Weapon Focus’ effect?
The weapon focus effect occurs when a witness’s attention is drawn to a weapon during a crime, which can impair their ability to accurately recall other details of the event.
What is the role of leading questions in influencing eyewitness testimony?
Leading questions suggest a particular answer or contain information that influences the witness’s response, potentially distorting their memory.
How does post-event information affect eyewitness testimony?
Post-event information refers to details introduced after the event, which can distort the witness’s original memory, leading to the misinformation effect.
What is the misinformation effect?
The misinformation effect occurs when a person’s memory of an event becomes distorted after being exposed to incorrect or misleading information.
What is the significance of Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study on eyewitness testimony?
Loftus and Palmer (1974) demonstrated that the phrasing of questions can influence eyewitness memory, affecting speed estimates and recollections.
What is the ‘Yerkes-Dodson Law’ in relation to eyewitness testimony?
The Yerkes-Dodson Law suggests that memory accuracy is influenced by stress or anxiety, with moderate levels enhancing recall and extreme levels impairing it.
How does anxiety affect eyewitness testimony?
High levels of anxiety can impair memory, but moderate anxiety may enhance attention and memory recall.
What did the research by Christianson & Hubinette (1993) show about anxiety and eyewitness testimony?
Christianson & Hubinette (1993) found that highly stressed witnesses had accurate recollections, suggesting anxiety may not always impair memory.
How does age affect eyewitness testimony?
Children and elderly adults tend to be less accurate in recalling details, particularly in distinguishing between similar individuals.
What is the ‘own-race bias’ in eyewitness testimony?
The own-race bias refers to the tendency for people to better recognize faces of their own race compared to faces of other races.
What is the role of cognitive interviews in improving eyewitness testimony?
Cognitive interviews use techniques to enhance eyewitness recall, reducing the risk of leading questions and improving memory retrieval.
How does the passage of time affect eyewitness testimony?
As time passes, the accuracy of eyewitness testimony tends to decline due to memory decay.
What is the ‘Reconstructive Memory’ theory in the context of eyewitness testimony?
The reconstructive memory theory suggests that memory is a reconstruction based on stored information and external cues.
How can eyewitness testimony impact legal outcomes?
Eyewitness testimony plays a critical role in legal proceedings, often being used as key evidence in trials.
What is the difference between ‘central details’ and ‘peripheral details’ in eyewitness testimony?
Central details are key aspects of an event, while peripheral details are secondary or less important and more prone to distortion.
What is the effect of stress on the encoding process of memory in eyewitness testimony?
High levels of stress can affect memory encoding, leading to incomplete or biased memory formation.
What does the research by Gabbert et al. (2003) suggest about post-event discussion and eyewitness testimony?
Gabbert et al. (2003) found that discussing an event with others can lead to the incorporation of incorrect information into a witness’s memory.
