Memory Keywords

Question 1

Coding

Answer 1

format in which information is stored in the memory stores

Question 2

Capacity

Answer 2

amount of information that can be held in a memory store

Question 3

Duration

Answer 3

length of time information can be held in memory

Question 4

Short term memory

Answer 4

• limited capacity (7+/-2)
• coding is acoustic
• duration is between 18-30 secs

Question 5

Long term memory

Answer 5

• permanent store
• coding is semantic
• duration potentially a lifetime

Question 6

Procedural memory

Answer 6

LTM - knowledge of how to do things, memory of learned skills (recall without conscious effort)

Question 7

Semantic memory

Answer 7

LTM - knowledge of the world, facts of the world (recalled deliberately)

Question 8

Episodic memory

Answer 8

LTM - memory of events occurred and of people, places and behaviours (recall needs conscious effort)

Question 9

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 9

MSM - needed for long term storage, when linking info to existing knowledge

Question 10

Maintenance rehearsal

Answer 10

MSM - when we repeat material over to ourselves, sufficient amount of rehearsal leads to memory passed onto LTM

Question 11

Working memory model

Answer 11

STM has different sub-units coordinated by central decision making system

Question 12

Central executive

Answer 12

coordinates activities of slave systems, allocates job roles to sub-systems

Question 13

Phonological loop

Answer 13

processes auditory information (phonological store/articulatory process)

Question 14

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 14

processes visual information in a mental space (inner eye) - visual cashe/inner scribe

Question 15

Episodic buffer

Answer 15

brings together material from other sub-systems into a single memory rather than separately - bridge between working memory and LTM

Question 16

Eyewitness testimony

Answer 16

ability to remember details of events such as crime which have been observed - accuracy of EWT can be affected by misleading info, leading questions and anxiety

Question 17

Encoding specificity principle (Tulving)

Answer 17

cues need to be present at encoding and retrieval, if cues are different this leads to forgetting

Question 18

Cue

Answer 18

trigger of information which allows access to a memory

Question 19

Retrieval failure

Answer 19

occurs when necessary cues are absent, memory is available but not accessible unless suitable cue is provided

Question 20

Retroactive interference

Answer 20

forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt recall of older memories

Question 21

Misleading information

Answer 21

incorrect info given to the eyewitness usually in post event discussion

Question 22

Multi-store model

Answer 22

• sensory register
• STM
• LTM

Question 23

Sensory register

Answer 23

• coding is iconic
• capacity is huge
• duration <30secs

Question 24

Interference

Answer 24

forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing memories to be distorted or forgotten

Question 25

Proactive interference

Answer 25

when older memories disrupt recall of newer memories