Memory - Cognition

Question 1

Atkinson & Shiffrin - Multi-store model of memory

Question 2

Memory

Answer 2

internal record of some previous event or experience

Question 3

Memory involves…

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Characteristics of sensory memory/sensory register

Answer 4

Information stored for a short period - few seconds

Question 5

Characteristics of short-term memory

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Characteristics of Long term memory

Answer 6

Relatively permanent storage of info

Question 7

Each memory stage is characterised by 3 processes:

Answer 7

Duration - how long can the info be stored?
Capacity - how much info can be stored?
Encoding - in what form is the info stored?

Question 8

Sensory memory/sensory register: Duration, capacity, encoding system

Answer 8

D: From 1 to a few seconds
C: Unlimited
E: As a sense, such as an image or a sound

Question 9

Short-term Memory: Duration, capacity, encoding system

Answer 9

D: 30 secs
C: Limited - between 5 & 9 pieces of info
E: Active processing + rehearsal

Question 10

Long-term Memory: Duration, capacity, encoding system

Answer 10

D: Indefinitely
C: Unlimited, but can decay over time
E: Physical changed in neurons for storage

Question 11

Encoding

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Storage

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Retrieval

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Duration

Answer 14

Length of time for which information is stored

Question 15

Capacity

Answer 15

Amount of information that can be stored

Question 16

Sensory Register

Answer 16

Memory retained for a brief period (<1 sec)
Stores all incoming sensory info in memory registers for the different senses

Question 17

Outline 2 main sensory registers

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Rehearsal

Answer 18

Enables info to be retained longer
- Used to transfer material to LTM in cases where you want to remember the information

Question 19

Outline 2 kinds of rehearsals

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Chunking

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Working memory model 1974 - Baddeley & Hitch

Answer 21

Broader than STM & emphasises the active nature of processing memory rather than earlier notions of passive maintenance.

Question 22

2 slave system for ST maintenance

Answer 22

Articulatory/phonological loop
Visuospatial sketchpad

Question 23

Central Executive

Answer 23

Organises info and coordinates slave systems.
- Directs attention to relevant info and suppresses irrelevant info

Question 24

Articulatory/phonological loop

Answer 24

• 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.

Question 25

Visuospatial sketchpad

Answer 25

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

Question 26

2 types of LTM

Answer 26

Procedural Memory
Declarative Memory