Models for explaining memory Flashcards
Includes: processes of memory, multi-store model of memory, and working memory model
Memory
The process of encoding, storing and retrieving information
What are the 3 processes of memory?
Encoding, storage, and retrieval
What is the process of encoding?
The process of converting information into a form that can be used and stored by the brain.
It may be automatic or require effortful processing
What is the process of storage?
Retention of encoded information for various lengths of time.
Via associations between neural networks
What is the process of retrieval?
Recovery of information stored in brain.
If memory cannot be retrieved, it can not be shown to exist
What are the 3 characteristics of memory?
Duration, capacity, and encoding
Duration
The length of time information can be stored/held for
Capacity
The amount of information that can be stored/held
Encoding
The form information is stored in (visual/acoustic/semantic)
Sensory memory
Briefly holds incoming sensory information
Different subsystems: sensory registers (for each sense)
What is the duration of sensory memory?
0.5 to 3 seconds
What is the capacity of sensory memory?
Unlimited - but generally referred to as 3 to 7 units
Sensory memory register
Rapid encoding based on physical properties of sense/stimuli (environmental input)
Stores incoming sensory information receptors
What is the short-term memory?
A component of memory where information is retained for a brief amount of time, then some is encoded and transferred into LTM
What is the duration of short-term memory?
0-30 seconds
What is the capacity of short-term memory?
Generally 7 + or - 2 items therefore 5-9 items
What is the encoding of short-term memory?
Acoustic/auditory, visual, or semantic
What is long-term memory?
A relatively permanent store of information - over an extended period of time
What is the duration of long term memory?
Greater than 30 seconds
What is the capacity of long-term memory?
Unlimited
What is the encoding of long-term memory?
Primarily semantic, although it can be represented visually/acoustically
What are the strengths of the multi-store model of memory?
Many memory studies provide evidence to support the distinction between STM and LTM (in terms of encoding, duration, capacity)
The model can account for primary and recency effects
What are the weaknesses of the multi-store model of memory?
Model is oversimplified
It’s criticised for being a passive one-way model
Who proposed the Working Memory Model?
Baddeley and Hitch (1974)
What is the Working Memory Model?
It describes short-term memory as a system with multiple components
What 4 components are involved in the Working Memory Model?
The central executive, the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the episodic buffer
What is the central executive?
It’s responsible for controlled processing in working memory
It directs attention to relevant information, suppresses irrelevant information, and coordinates slave systems
limited capacity, modality free (coding)
What is the phonological loop?
A slave system that processes auditory information and preserves the order in which information arrives
It stores and processes the sounds of language
2 seconds worth of information, acoustic coding
What is the visuo-spatial sketchpad?
The visuo-spatial sketchpad is a slave system that processes visual and spatial information
it manipulates and processes information, represents mental maps
limited capacity, visual coding
What is the episodic buffer?
The episodic buffer is a slave system that integrates information from several sources to form a unified memory/complete representation of an event - known as an episode
*limited capacity storage system, modality free
What are the two sub-types of long-term memory?
Procedural and Declarative
What is procedural memory?
A type of long-term memory to store the way you do things - motor skills
Also known as implicit memory - it’s not a conscious retrieval process
What is declarative memory?
A type of long-term memory that stores and retrieves both personal information and general knowledge
It’s also known as explicit memory - it requires conscious effort for retrieval
What are the two sub-types of declarative memory?
Episodic and Semantic
What is episodic memory?
The memory for past personal events - linked to emotions, sensations and a particular time
What is semantic memory?
The memory for facts and information that enables us to construct meaning - based on understanding and interpretation
