memory definitions

Question 1

define the term ‘cognitive interview’

Answer 1

A technique for interviewing witnesses to a crime that is used by the police in order to help them retrieve more accurate memories through re creating the context. 4 main retrieval techniques are used.

Question 2

define the term ‘eye witness testimony’

Answer 2

The evidence provided in court by a person who witnessed a crime and helps identify the perpetrator. EWT can be affected by factors like misleading information, leading questions, and anxiety.

Question 3

define the term ‘misleading information’

Answer 3

Incorrect information supplied to a witness after the event, which can lead to their memory being altered. Can come in multiple forms i.e leading questions or post-event discussions.

Question 4

define the term ‘leading question’

Answer 4

A question that desires a specific answer or leads to a desired answer being given due to its form or content.

Question 5

define the term ‘post-event discussion’

Answer 5

A conversation between co-witnesses or an interviewer and an eyewitness, which can lead to contamination of the witnesses memory on the event.

Question 6

define the term ‘cues’

Answer 6

Things that serve as reminders. May be meaningfully linked material to remember or may not ie environmental cues like a room, or can be related to your mental state ie sad or drunk.

Question 7

define the term ‘retrieval failure’

Answer 7

Occurs due to an absence of cues. Is an explanation for forgetting based on the idea that forgetting is caused due to memory being available ie its there, but not accessible. Retrieval is dependant on cues.

Question 8

define the term ‘interference’

Answer 8

An explanation for forgetting in terms of one memory disrupting the ability to recall another. This usually happens when two memories are similar.

Question 9

define the term ‘proactive interference’

Answer 9

Past learning interferes with current attempts to learn.

Question 10

define the term ‘retroactive interference’

Answer 10

Recent / current learning interferes with past learning.

Question 11

define the term ‘episodic memory’

Answer 11

Personal memories of events, like what you did yesterday or a teacher you liked. This memory type includes contextual detail and an emotional tone.

Question 12

define the term ‘semantic memory’

Answer 12

Shared memory that is for facts and knowledge, like knowing ice is made of water or having mathematical knowledge.

Question 13

define the term ‘procedural memory’

Answer 13

Memory for how to do things ie, how to ride a bike. These memories are a result of repeated practice.

Question 14

define the term ‘working memory model’

Answer 14

Created by Baddley and Hitch in 1974. Is a representation of short term memory that suggests it is made of sub-units that are controlled by a central decision making system.

Question 15

define the term ‘central executive’

Answer 15

A component of the WMM that monitors and coordinates all the other mental functions in working memory.

Question 16

define the term ‘phonological loop’

Answer 16

Divided into the phonological store and articulatory process. Codes speech sounds in the WMM, mainly those to do with maintenance rehearsal.

Question 17

define the term ‘visuo-spatial sketchpad’

Answer 17

Codes visual information in terms of separate objects and the arrangements of these objects in a persons visual field.

Question 18

define the term ‘episodic buffer’

Answer 18

Receives input from multiple sources and temporarily stores the info and integrates it to construct a mental episode of what’s being experienced.

Question 19

define the term ‘multi-store model’

Answer 19

Created by Aktikson and Shiffrin in 1968. Is an explanation of memory based on 3 separate memory stores and how information is transferred between these stores.

Question 20

define the term ‘sensory register’

Answer 20

The memory store for our senses i.e iconic sensory register for vision and echoic memory store for hearing. Coding is visual in the iconic and acoustic in the echoic. Capacity is huge as there are millions of sensory receptors, but duration is very short i.e less than half a second.

Question 21

define the term ‘coding’

Answer 21

The format in which information is stored in the various memory stores.

Question 22

define the term ‘capacity’

Answer 22

The amount of information that can be held in a memory store.

Question 23

define the term ‘duration’

Answer 23

How long information can be held for in a memory store.

Question 24

define the term ‘long term memory’

Answer 24

A unlimited capacity memory store that is coded semantically and can hold information for up to a lifetime. (known as the permanent memory store)

Question 25

define the term ‘short term memory’

Answer 25

A limited-capacity memory store where coding is mainly acoustic, information can be held for 18 - 30 seconds and capacity on average is 5-9 items.