Module 7.1 - Memory Sytems Flashcards
memory
the capacity to retain and retrieve information
memory provides us with our sense of _____
identity
stores
retain information in memory without using it for any specific purpose
what is similar to a computers hard drive?
stores
control processes
shift information from one memory store to another
sensory memory
a memory store that accurately holds perceptual information for a very brief amount of time
iconic memory
500ms
echoic memory
5-10seconds
attention
a control process that selects which information will be transferred on to short-term memory
______ is often thought of as a ‘spotlight’
attention
change blindness
change blindness paradigm demonstrates the rapid decay of sensory memory
short term memory
a memory store with limited capacity and a limited duration (less than a minute)
true or false: we cant measure the capacity of long term memory, but we can measure the capacity of short term memory
true
short term memory is compared to what? why?
a workbench with approx. 7 items on it. when a new item is put on the bench, another one falls off
the capacity of short term memory is ___ units
7 units
is there a way to increase the information stored in short term memory?
yes, through chunking
chunking
organizing smaller units of information into larger, more meaningful units
encoding
the transferring of information from short term memory to long term memory
long term memory
a memory store that holds information for extended periods of time, if not permanently
true or false: long term memory has capacity limitations
FALSE: long term memory has no capacity limitations
serial position effect
the tendency for people to recall the first few items from a list and the last few items, but only an item or 2 from the middle
what 2 things does serial position effect consist of?
primary effect and recency effect
proactive interference
a process in which the first information learned occupy memory, leaving fewer resources left to remember the newer information
retroactive interference
when the most recently learned information overshadows some older memories that have not made it into long term memory
rehearsal
repeating information until you do not need to remember it anymore
working memory
a model of short term remembering that includes a combination of memory components that can temporarily store small amounts of information for a short period of time
phronological loop
a storage component of working memory that relies on rehearsal and that stores information as sounds, or as an auditory code
visuospatial sketchpad
a storage component of working memory that maintains visual images and spatial layouts in a visuospatial code
we use _______ to chunk visual information
feature blinding
episodic buffer
a storage component of working memory that combines the images and sounds from the other 2 components into coherent, story-like episodes
_____ increase memory capacity
narratives
central executive
the control centre of working memory; it coordinates attention and the exchange of information among the 3 storage components
what does central executive forcus attention on?
components that are goal- or task- relevant
declarative memories
memories that we are consciously aware of and that can be verbalized, including facts about the world and ones own personal experiences
what is another name for declarative memories?
explicit memories
episodic memories
declarative memories for personal experiences that seem to be organized around ‘episodes’ and are recalled from a first person (I or my) perspective
semantic memories
declarative memories that include facts about the world
non-declarative memories
actions or behaviours that you can remember and perform without awareness
what is another name for non-declarative memories
implicit memories
procedural memories
a non-declarative memory involving previously performed patterns of muscle movements (motor memory)
conditioning
when a previously neutral stimulus is paired with a US, thus becoming a CS
priming
previous exposure to a stimulus will affect and individuals later responses, either to that same stimulus or to something related to it
semantic networks
an interconnected set of nodes, with more related items having a stronger connection
semantic networks can explain ______ and mimics networks in the brain
priming
long term potentiation (LTP)
the enduring increase in connectivity and transmission of neural signals between nerve cells that fire together
true or false: cells that fire together, wire together
true
consolidation
the process of converting short term memories into long term memories in the brain
where can consolidation occur?
at the level of small neuronal groups or across the cortex
the _______ is involved in memory consolidation
hippocampus
reconsolidation
when the hippocampus functions to update, strengthen, or modify existing long term memories based on new information
the _______ is critical for spatial memory
hippocampus
patient H.M.
had initial brain damage from a bike accident at age 9. suffered from intractable epilepsy in his teens and early 20’s. on sept 1 1953, underwent a bilateral resection (removal) of his temporal lobes-including the hippocampus.
what happened after patient H.M.s resection?
his seizures ceased, his IQ went up 14 points but he had a form of amnesia
amnesia
a profound loss of at least one form of memory
true or false: patient HM could learn new procedural memories and be classically conditioned but he could not form new episodic memories.
true
true or false: memories involve different sensory cortices in the brain
true
cross cortical storage
memories are stored in networks across the cortex, particularly in the frontal lobes
working memory involves the _______ cortex
prefrontal cortex
infant amnesia
few people can remember events earlier than age 3 or 4
true or false: the brains memory systems are fully developed in childhood
FALSE: the brains memory systems are NOT fully developed in childhood
________ is involved in formation of emotional memories
amygdala
true or false: patients with severe anxiety disorders involving recurrent memories (e.g., PTSD) show greater amygdala activity
true
psychogenic amnesia
the causes of forgetting are psychological such as the need to escape feelings of embarrassment, guilt, shame, disappointment, and emotional shock
traumatic amnesia
the forgetting of specific traumatic events, sometimes for many years
traumatic amnesia is very ______
controversial
