Memory errors

Question 1

is memory like a video camera?

Answer 1

No, memory is more like reconstruction.

Question 2

Why is memory a reconstructive process?

Answer 2

we only remember a gist of what we experience rather than truthful detail
store gist - reactivates nodes and connections form original memory (using spreading activation from retrieval clue)
the reconstruction may not be accurate

Question 3

What are intrusion errors?

Answer 3

something false that intrudes on our memory

falsely remember something that was not present during encoding

Question 4

why and when do intrusion errors occur?

Answer 4

density of memory connections -> well connected memories are easy to retrieve
also connected to nodes that were not part of the original experience
occur when
- memories are densely connected
- relying on prior knowledge to understand or remember

Question 5

What is schematic knowledge? How does it lead to errors?

Answer 5

describes what is typical or frequent in a particular situation
prior experience - build schemas
help us understand and remember + produce errors
- fill in gaps with what must have happened
- tendency to do this can lead to intrusion errors when what is typical is not what really happened `

Question 6

What is the DRM Procedure? why does it happen? why is it helpful?

Answer 6

lists of related words
tend to remember thematically appropriate words that was not presented
eg. present list of furniture - will recall seeing chair even if it was not present
almost never mistakenly recall unrelated words
why?
- spreading activation - word that is closely related to chair activated that node, even though chair was not there
helpful?
-themes can be helpful but produce errors
-memory is helped by theme and occurrence of -intrusions are relatively limited

Question 7

What is the misinformation effect?

Answer 7

memory errors -> memory is contaminated

• false ideas are introduced from an external source and incorporated into the memory
• misleading questions, false suggestions, use fake evidence etc.

Question 8

What is the relationship between confidence and memory?

Answer 8

not a good indicator of memory accuracy
confidence can be altered without changing the memory itself
confidence can be a good indicator of memory if the memory is not contaminated

Question 9

What is flashbulb memory?

Answer 9

-special kind of episodic memory which one can recall in great detail 
study 
test a memory 
- discrepancies over time 
- confidence in a memory =/ veracity

Question 10

how to avoid memory errors? three factors

Answer 10

personal relevance
-self-reference effect: better memory for information that is relevant to you
emotion
- amygdala activation = better memory consolidation, narrowing of attention, and increased rehearsal
consolidation
- memories are cemented into place via the hippocampus and amygdala, also facilitated during sleep