memory: processes and systems Flashcards
faculty by which info is encoded, stored and retrieved when needed =
memory
what are the 3 primary processes of memory?
encoding, storage, retrieval
the process of inputting info into memory and either enters the memory system or slips away =
encoding
encoding can be an ____ process
active
what is needed for info to be encoded?
attention to the information
the process of storing info into memory so it is either preserved for recollection in future of forgotten =
storage
the process of outputting info from memory and can be intentional or unintentional =
retrieval
talk about the case study of clive wearing and how he demonstrated that not all memories are the same
musician/conductor who lost the ability to form new memories as his hippocampus and brain tissue was damaged. lost ability to know what what happening for more than 1 min at a time. lost episodic memories but retained his procedural memories (musical abilities)
what 2 features are used to categorise memories?
time and content
describe the modal model of memory for time
input > sensory memory > STM > LTM
LTM > STM
modality specific storage of input from the senses =
sensory memory
iconic memory =
visual impressions
echoic memory =
auditory impressions
why is sensory memory difficult to measure in ppts?
it has a very brief duration so in studies ppts typically don’t have time to report their sensory memory retrieval before it has disappeared
attention to info moves from sensory to STM =
short term memory
give some features of STM
intermediate memory storage. short duration (30-60ms), held in STM for as long as attention lasts, active rehearsal helps, info lost gradually
what is the capacity of the STM?
5-9 info elements
what factors influence the capacity of the STM?
type of info, attentional limits
system that controls the processing and activation of the info held in the STM =
working memory
boosted by active rehearsal and chunking
retroactive interference =
when new info interferes with the storage or retrieval of old info
proactive interference =
when old info interferes with the storage or retrieval of new info
LTM =
info can be transferred from STM > LTM and retrieved from LTM > STM
what someone can retrieve from LTM at a given time is _______
limited
LTM has unlimited ______ and _______
duration and capacity
what is the difference between declarative and non-declarative memories?
declarative = explicit, memories you are aware of and can express.
non-declarative = implicit, memories difficult to bring into awareness and express
what are the 2 different types of declarative memories?
episodic and semantic
what are the 2 different types of non-declarative memories?
procedural and other (conditioning/priming)
episodes of your life you remember, includes contextual info (where/when they occurred) =
episodic memory
some episodic memories are _________
autobiographical (allow mental time travel along timeline to particular episode)
general word facts but don’t have contextual info, contribute to other cognitive abilities =
semantic memory
what is the key difference between episodic and semantic memories?
episodic have contextual info about the formation of the memory whereas semantic doesn’t
procedural memory =
skills, habits
memory processes and memory systems are not ______ _______
mutually exclusive
how is the WM used to manipulate info in STM
active rehearsal and chunking, current thoughts, retrieving and transferring info to and from LTM
what is the difference between STM and WM?
STM is the passive store for brief retention of info whereas WM is storage and controlled processing of info in the present moment
does STM or WM have the shorter duration?
WM has a shorter duration of about 3s
what is the WM capacity?
3-5 info elements
what model was the first to describe the features of the WM?
Baddeley’s model of working memory
what are the subsystems involved in the working memory model?
central executive, visuospatial sketchpad, phonological loop, episodic buffer, LTM
responsible for the storage of visual and spatial info in working memory
visuospatial sketchpad
how is the phenological loop similar to the visuospatial sketchpad?
operates in the same way but as a storage subsystem for verbal info
how does the phenological loop work?
verbal info is stored in a loop and then replaced by new verbal info as it comes in
what allows information to be stored for a longer period of time in the phonological loop?
an articulatory control process that allows for the rehearsal of verbal info
most errors occur when recalling items that sound alike. what effect is this?
phonological similarity effect
when memory recall is effected by word length this is called the?
word length effect
longer words show lower recall rates than shorter words. why is this?
more time is passing during rehearsal with longer words
part of the WM system that holds episodic memories as an overflow for the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad?
episodic buffer
how does the episodic buffer work?
briefly stores episodic memories with visual and verbal codes integrated from the other 2 subsystems, binding of features occurs automatically, link between WM and LTM
manager, controls the flow of info between subsystems and controls which part of the system is the current focus of attention
central executive
coordination of info, working memory = what brain area?
frontal cortex
spatial and episodic memory storage = what brain area?
temporal cortex
implicit and emotional memory formation = what brain area?
amygdala
explicit memory formation = what brain area?
hippocampus
implicit memory formation = what brain area?
cerebellum
