Memory Systems Flashcards
1
Q
What is Episodic memory
A
- Describing an everyday event
2
Q
What is Semantic memory
A
- Retrieving word meanings
3
Q
What is Procedural memory
A
- Remembering how to complete a specific task
- Implicit memory
- Driving a car is an example
4
Q
What is sensory memory
A
- Remembering something from the environment such as the taste of a food
5
Q
What is working memory
A
- Processing temporary information (short term)
6
Q
Affects of procedural memory
Hayes and Foster (2002)
A
- Looked at serial reaction time
- Quicker reaction time when repeating task
- Even watching someone else doing the task can decrease the reaction time
- The reaction time was slower when the sequence was random
7
Q
The case of Clive Wearing
A
- herpes encephalitis caused his amnesia
- He had damage to his hippocampus
- His procedural memory is intact
- He also still has semantic memory
- He can recognise his wife
- Unable to form new episodic memories
8
Q
Why is memory a fundamental base for cognition
A
- Perception uses memory: recognition = sensory input +prior knowledge
- knowledge is when past experiences are stored
Cognitive psychology definition:
- Memory as a storehouse
- Memory as specific contents
- Memory as a process, or set processes; encoding, storage, retrieval and also forgetting
9
Q
Obedient memory
A
- When memory is working well
- For example, semantic memory generally is reliable
10
Q
Weak memory
A
- When memory is not working so well
- Facial recognition
11
Q
Tyrannic Memory
A
- Memory which controls us
- Phobias and fears
12
Q
Photographic memory (eidetic)
A
- memory without limit
Stromeyer and Psotka (1970) said that Elizabeth - a Harvard student had photographic memory - She could merge images seen on different day’s into 3D images (it was a dot pattern)
- Stromeyer than married Elizabeth and no one else could test her memory
Merritt (1979) ‘none in a million’ - no participants found with eidetic memory.
13
Q
Spatial Memory test
Inoue & Matsuzawa, 2007
A
- Chimps outperform human participants in spatial memory test
- However, the chimpanzee wasn’t under time pressure and was able to practise unlike the human
14
Q
How do you measure forgetting
A
- Learn information
- Retention interval
- Test memory
15
Q
How do you measure forgetting
A
- Learn information
- Retention interval
- Test memory
16
Q
Ebbinghaus (1850-1909)
A
- Study memory without any meaning behind it
- For example, random letters of the alphabet
- This lead to the discovery of forgetting
17
Q
The method of saving
A
- This is states that when you repeat something for a second time and perform better then this is as a result of memory
- If it takes fewer attempts the second time to memorise information than first time, this is memory
i.e. if it takes 10 attempts the first time then 5 attempts the second time. The saving is 50%
18
Q
What is forgetting function
Ebbinghaus (1850-1909)
A
- Forgetting is initially rapid but then slows down
- (Bahrick,1984) found that if you can remember something after 3 years, you are likely to still remember it after 30 years
19
Q
What is latent memory
Blodgett (1929): maze learning in rats
A
- Hungry rats
- The exit point had a food reward
- One group was rewarded every day and the other group wasn’t rewarded until 3rd day
- Group one had better performance than group two
- However when group two were rewarded, they immediately caught up with group 1
- Thus, group 2 did have memory of the maze but had no motivation to complete the maze without food
- Latent memory, not apparent unless in the correct condition or with the correct motivation
