Memory Key Words

Question 1

Coding

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Capacity

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Duration

Answer 3

The length of time information can be held In memory

Question 4

Semantic

Answer 4

Relating to meaning

Question 5

Chunking

Answer 5

Grouping sets of digits/letters into units or chunks to improve capacity of memory

Question 6

Sensory Register

Answer 6

The memory store for each of our five senses
Coding is sense specific
Capacity is huge
Duration lasts for less than half a second

Question 7

Short term memory

Answer 7

The limited capacity memory store
Coding is acoustic
Capacity is 7+/- 2
Duration is 18-30 seconds

Question 8

Long term memory

Answer 8

The permanent memory store
Coding is semantic
Capacity is unlimited
Duration is unlimited

Question 9

Multi store model of memory

Answer 9

A representation of how memory works in terms of three stores eg. sensory register, LTM and STM
It describes how information is transferred from one store to another and how it is remembered and forgotten

Question 10

Primacy effect

Answer 10

A cognitive bias that makes people remeber the first information they encounter better than the information they receive later on

Question 11

Recency effect

Answer 11

A cognitive memory bias that makes people remember the most recent information they encounter better than the information they receive first

Question 12

Episodic memory

Answer 12

A long term memory store for personal events.
It includes memories of when the events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviours involved.
Memories from this store have to be retrieved consciously with effort

Question 13

Semantic memory

Answer 13

A long term memory store for our knowledge of the world
This includes facts and pour knowledge of what words and concepts mean
These memories need to be recalled deliberately

Question 14

Procedural memory

Answer 14

A long term memory store for our knowledge of how to do things
Includes our memory of learned skills
We recall these memories without making a conscious deliberate effort to

Question 15

Working Memory Model

Answer 15

A representation of short term memory. It suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub units coordinated by a central decision making system

Question 16

Central Executive

Answer 16

The component of the WWM that coordinates the activities of the three subsystems in memory
It allocated processing resources to those activities

Question 17

Phonological loop

Answer 17

The component of the WWM that processes information in terms of sound
This includes both written and spoken material
It’s divided into the phonological store and the articulatory process

Question 18

Phonological store

Answer 18

A part of the phonological loop which stores words you hear

Question 19

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 19

The component of the WWM that processes visual and spatial information in a mental state often called our inner eye

Question 20

Articulatory process

Answer 20

A part of the phonological loop which allows maintained rehearsal to keep them working in memory

Question 21

Visual cache

Answer 21

A part of the visual spatial sketchpad which stores visual data

Question 22

Inner scribe

Answer 22

A part of the visual spatial sketchpad which records the arrangement of objects in the visual field

Question 23

Episodic buffer

Answer 23

The component of the WMM that brings together material from other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands of memory
It also provides a bridge between working memory and long term memory

Question 24

Dual task

Answer 24

Performing two tasks at the same time that either uses both stores a the same time or different stores

Question 25

Interference

Answer 25

Forgetting because one memory blocks another causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgetting

Question 26

Proactive interferences

Answer 26

Forgetting occurs when older memories already stored disrupt the recall of newer memories
The degree of forgetting is greater when the memories are similar
Eg. forgetting and new email address and only being able to remember the old

Question 27

Retrospective interference

Answer 27

Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored
The degree of forgetting is again greater when the memories are similar
Eg. Forgetting old phone number and only remembering new

Question 28

Retrieval failure

Answer 28

A form of forgetting
It occurs when we don’t have access to the necessary cues to access memory
The memory is available but not accessible till triggered by a certain cue

Question 29

Cue

Answer 29

A trigger of information that allows us to access a memory
Such cues may be meaningful or may be indirectly linked by being encoded at the time of learning

Question 30

Encoding specificity principle

Answer 30

If a cue is to be present at encoding and at retrieval

Question 31

Context dependent forgetting

Answer 31

Forgetting which occurs because the external cues at recall are different to those at the time of learning
Eg doing a test in a different classroom

Question 32

State dependent forgetting

Answer 32

Forgetting which occurs because the emotional or physical state at recall is different to that time at the time of learning

Question 33

Eye witness testimony

Answer 33

The ability to remember the details of events such as accidents and crimes which they themselves have observed

Question 34

Misleading information

Answer 34

Incorrect information given to the eyewitness usually after the event

Question 35

Leading questions

Answer 35

A form of misleading information
A question which because of the way it’s phrased suggests a certain answer
For example, “was the knife in the accused left hand” suggests there was a knife in the left hand

Question 36

Post event discussion

Answer 36

A form of misleading information
Occurs when there is one or more witness at an event
Witnesses may discuss what they have seen with co witnesses or with other people this may influence the accuracy of each witness’s recall of the event

Question 37

Anxiety

Answer 37

A state of emotional and physical arousal.
The emotions include having worried thought and feelings of tension
Physical changes include an increased heart rate and sweatiness
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations and can affect the accuracy of EWT

Question 38

Weapon focus effect

Answer 38

A witness will remember less about a crime or the perpetrator of a crime when a weapon is present as they will focus their attention of the weapon

Question 39

Cognitive interview

Answer 39

A method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories
It uses four main techniques all based on well established psychological knowledge of memory