PSY1020 Memory Flashcards
Year 1, Semester 2 - A
What is Memory
Memory is the process by which we take something we have observed (encountered) and convert it into a form we can store, retreive and use
3 processes of memory
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
What are mental representations
A mental model of a stimulus or category of stimuli
Types of Mental Representations
- Sensory (eg: visual or sound)
- Verbal (information stored in words)
- Motoric (motor actions, eg: swinging a tennis racket)
The Mind as a computer model
- sensory registers (limited duration, potentially unlimited capacity)
- Short term memory
- Long term memory
Sensory Registers
Hold information about perceived stimulus for a fraction of a second after the stimulus disappears.
One sensory register for every sensory system
-Iconic storage: momentary storage of visual info
-Echoic storage: momentary storage of auditory info
Short Term Memory
limited capacity (7 chunks plus or minus 2) limited duration (20-30 seconds) in theory info can be kept for an infinite amount of time by repeatedly rehearsing (until interrupted) - verbalising or thinking about the info
Long Term Memory
The representation of facts, images, actions and skills that may persist over a lifetime
- potentially limitless in duration and capacity
- LTM deficit: person shows normal working memory but can not transfer info to LTM
Retrieval
extracting information from the Long Term Memory
Serial Position Curve
supports existence of STM vs LTM
- Primacy effect reflects LTM
- Recency effect reflects STM
Evolution of Memory Model
Mind as Brain
- no longer thought of in terms or serial processing model
- no longer thought of in terms of processing like a computer
- now thought to be comprised of a number of modules which are discrete and interdependent (parallel processing)
- recognised remembering is not always conscious or retroactive
Working Memory
a component of STM
- temporary storage & processing of info used to:
1. solve problems
2. respond to environmental demands
3. achieve goals - Deficit: person has memory span of 2 digits, but normal LTM
3 memory systems of Working Memory (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974)
- Central Executive - flow and processing of info, limited capacity, rehersal, reasoning, multitasking
- Visual Memory Store (or Visuospatial Sketchpad) temporary image, 20-30 seconds, as well as info about location and nature of object (eg: mentally rearranging furniture)
- Verbal Memory Store (or phonological loop) verbalising items, limited capacity (represents ALL of STM in the original model, active when using rehearsal to temporarily hold onto information)
Episodic buffer
temporary limited capacity store allows various components of working memory to integrate information
-interface between working memory and long term memory
Working Memory
- thought to be directed by the Pre-frontal cortex
- easily accessed, but limited in capacity