Models for explaining memory Flashcards

Includes: processes of memory, multi-store model of memory, and working memory model

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Memory

A

The process of encoding, storing and retrieving information

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2
Q

What are the 3 processes of memory?

A

Encoding, storage, and retrieval

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3
Q

What is the process of encoding?

A

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

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4
Q

What is the process of storage?

A

Retention of encoded information for various lengths of time.

Via associations between neural networks

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5
Q

What is the process of retrieval?

A

Recovery of information stored in brain.

If memory cannot be retrieved, it can not be shown to exist

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6
Q

What are the 3 characteristics of memory?

A

Duration, capacity, and encoding

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7
Q

Duration

A

The length of time information can be stored/held for

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8
Q

Capacity

A

The amount of information that can be stored/held

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9
Q

Encoding

A

The form information is stored in (visual/acoustic/semantic)

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10
Q

Sensory memory

A

Briefly holds incoming sensory information

Different subsystems: sensory registers (for each sense)

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11
Q

What is the duration of sensory memory?

A

0.5 to 3 seconds

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12
Q

What is the capacity of sensory memory?

A

Unlimited - but generally referred to as 3 to 7 units

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13
Q

Sensory memory register

A

Rapid encoding based on physical properties of sense/stimuli (environmental input)

Stores incoming sensory information receptors

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14
Q

What is the short-term memory?

A

A component of memory where information is retained for a brief amount of time, then some is encoded and transferred into LTM

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15
Q

What is the duration of short-term memory?

A

0-30 seconds

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16
Q

What is the capacity of short-term memory?

A

Generally 7 + or - 2 items therefore 5-9 items

17
Q

What is the encoding of short-term memory?

A

Acoustic/auditory, visual, or semantic

18
Q

What is long-term memory?

A

A relatively permanent store of information - over an extended period of time

19
Q

What is the duration of long term memory?

A

Greater than 30 seconds

20
Q

What is the capacity of long-term memory?

A

Unlimited

21
Q

What is the encoding of long-term memory?

A

Primarily semantic, although it can be represented visually/acoustically

22
Q

What are the strengths of the multi-store model of memory?

A

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

23
Q

What are the weaknesses of the multi-store model of memory?

A

Model is oversimplified

It’s criticised for being a passive one-way model

24
Q

Who proposed the Working Memory Model?

A

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

25
Q

What is the Working Memory Model?

A

It describes short-term memory as a system with multiple components

26
Q

What 4 components are involved in the Working Memory Model?

A

The central executive, the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the episodic buffer

27
Q

What is the central executive?

A

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)

28
Q

What is the phonological loop?

A

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

29
Q

What is the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

A

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

30
Q

What is the episodic buffer?

A

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

31
Q

What are the two sub-types of long-term memory?

A

Procedural and Declarative

32
Q

What is procedural memory?

A

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

33
Q

What is declarative memory?

A

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

34
Q

What are the two sub-types of declarative memory?

A

Episodic and Semantic

35
Q

What is episodic memory?

A

The memory for past personal events - linked to emotions, sensations and a particular time

36
Q

What is semantic memory?

A

The memory for facts and information that enables us to construct meaning - based on understanding and interpretation