Memory - Cognition Flashcards
Atkinson & Shiffrin - Multi-store model of memory
Memory
internal record of some previous event or experience
Memory involves…
paying attention to what you are doing and what you see, converting that into a ?gorm? that can be stored in the brain and then retrieving that information when it is required and using it.
It’s an active information processing system where the brain processes, encodes, stores, retrieves and uses that information.
Characteristics of sensory memory/sensory register
Information stored for a short period - few seconds
Characteristics of short-term memory
Information that has been attended to is transferred from sensory memory and is stored for a short period.
If info is rehearsed, it’s transferred to long-term memory.
STM holds all current info (thoughts + experiences)
STM can also retrieve info from LTM
Characteristics of Long term memory
Relatively permanent storage of info
Each memory stage is characterised by 3 processes:
Duration - how long can the info be stored?
Capacity - how much info can be stored?
Encoding - in what form is the info stored?
Sensory memory/sensory register: Duration, capacity, encoding system
D: From 1 to a few seconds
C: Unlimited
E: As a sense, such as an image or a sound
Short-term Memory: Duration, capacity, encoding system
D: 30 secs
C: Limited - between 5 & 9 pieces of info
E: Active processing + rehearsal
Long-term Memory: Duration, capacity, encoding system
D: Indefinitely
C: Unlimited, but can decay over time
E: Physical changed in neurons for storage
Encoding
Conversion of sensory information into a form that can be processed by the brain.
Can be encoded visually, acoustically, mean (words).
/ Process of converting info into a form that can be used (stored) by the memory system.
Storage
Retention of the information for various lengths of time.
Information storage is via networks of neurons.
Associations between neural networks aid later retrieval.
Info is held for various lengths of time.
Retrieval
Central to memory.
Recovery of information stored in the brain.
Retrieval causes memory to be identified as a process.
Process that locates stored info and returns it to consciousness as required
Duration
Length of time for which information is stored
Capacity
Amount of information that can be stored
Sensory Register
Memory retained for a brief period (<1 sec)
Stores all incoming sensory info in memory registers for the different senses
Outline 2 main sensory registers
Iconic Memory
- Visual info - shape and colour
- Briefly stores an icon or image for <1.
- Intense icons may last long enough (>1) to begin encoding.
Echoic Memory
- Hearing info
- Held in the sensory stage for 3-4 secs
- Long enough for encoding the storage to begin.
Rehearsal
Enables info to be retained longer
- Used to transfer material to LTM in cases where you want to remember the information
Outline 2 kinds of rehearsals
Maintenance Rehearsal
- Remembering a telephone number for immediate use: you may say the # aloud or in your head
Elaborative Rehearsal
- Actively process + encode the info rather than repeating it.
- Material is made more meaningful so it can be stored + used later.
Chunking
Material is combined into larger, meaningful groups.
Larger group is based on patterns or regularities in info being processed - telephone #s chunked into groups of 3.
Working memory model 1974 - Baddeley & Hitch
Broader than STM & emphasises the active nature of processing memory rather than earlier notions of passive maintenance.
2 slave system for ST maintenance
Articulatory/phonological loop
Visuospatial sketchpad
Central Executive
Organises info and coordinates slave systems.
- Directs attention to relevant info and suppresses irrelevant info
Articulatory/phonological loop
- Storage systems for verbal info.
- Stores + processes phonological info (sounds of language) & rehearses it silently.
- So we can remember a 10-digit # as long as it’s refreshed in the rehearsal loop.
Visuospatial sketchpad
Storage system for visual information
Stores visual + spatial info
- Constructs & manipulates visual images - includes details of shape, colour, motion, pattern and position
- Represents mental maps
2 types of LTM
Procedural Memory
Declarative Memory
