P2 Working Memory Flashcards
A chunk is
A chunk is the basic unit of short-term memory (an item)
Working memory is limited to _____
WM is limited to 7 items (+/-2)
The Serial Position Effect refers to ____
The S.P effect refers to the U-shaped relationship between the position of the word and the likelihood that it is recalled
Primacy effect is ___
Primacy effect is a bette recall for items at the beginning
Recency effect is ___
Recency effect is a better recall for items at the end
What is the cause of the primacy effect?
The information does not have to compete with earlier items and it is repeated more often
What is the cause of the recency effect?
They are still in the working memory at the time of recall
Proactive interference (PI) is when ____
PI is when people have difficulty learning new material when previously learned material interferes with the new material
What are the four components of working memory?
- Phonological loop
- Visuo-spatial sketchpad
- Central executive
- Episodic buffer
The phonological loop ___
The phonological loop processes information about speech and temporarily stores it in a phonological form
What are the two components of the Phonological loop?
- Phonological store = it passively stores speech perception for a few seconds
- Articulatory process = an inner repetition of words that prevents us form forgetting it
Phonological Similarity Effect is ___
Phonological Similarity Effect is the reduced ability for immediate serial recall when words are phonologically similar
Word-length effect is ___
Word-length effect is the phenomenon that a series of short words is easier to remember than a series of long words
What are the two possible causes for the Word-length Effect?
- Repetition, since the effect is eliminated when participants are not allowed to repeat aloud
- Effect could not exist, since it may be about small difference with neighboring words rather than word length
The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad ___
The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad specializes is spatial and visual processing and temporary storage
What are the two components of the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad?
- Visual cache = stores information about visual shape and color
- Inner scribe = stores information about space and movements
Areas in the ____ and _____ were activated during visual processing
Areas in the occipital lobe and temporal lobe were activated during visual processing
Areas in the ___ were activated during spatial processing
Areas in the parietal lobe were activated during spatial processing
The Central Executive is ____
The Central Executive is the main component of working memory, it organizes the other three components
What are the four Executive Processes?
- Focused attention/concentration
- Dividing attention between two stimuli
- Switching attention between tasks
- Connecting to long-term memory
What are the three Executive functions?
- Inhibition function = used to ignore dominant responses and resist distraction
- Shifting function = used to shift between tasks or mental sets
- Updating function = used to monitor the contents of the working memory and to add/remove items
Dysexecutive syndrome is ___
Dysexecutive syndrome is a condition in which damage to the frontal lobes causes disturbances in the central executive
What are the Executive Processes according to Struss & Alexander?
- Task setting (planning)
- Monitoring (if performance is adequate)
- Energization (sustained attention/concentration)
Argued 4th. Metacognition
The Episodic buffer ____
The Episodic buffer provides temporary storage for integrated information from the Visuo-spatial sketchpad and the Phonological loop
What are the two core consumptions of the working-memory? (not episodic buffer)
- If two tasks use the same components, they cannot be performed successfully at the same time
- If two tasks use different component, they can be successfully performed simultaneously
What is the main limitation of the Short-Term Storage Model? (WM)
It is too simplified (no touch, taste, smell etc.)
What is the hypothesis of Barrouillet’s Simple Spans WM article?
The capacity of verbal working memory is 8 units instead of the previously thought 4
