Psychology - Memory

Question 1

Memory

Answer 1

The storage and retrieval of information acquired through learning.

Question 2

Encoding

Answer 2

Converting information into a useable form so that it can be entered and then stored for later use.

Question 3

Storage

Answer 3

Retaining information in memory over time.

Question 4

Retrieval

Answer 4

Locating and recovering the stored information from memory when needed so that we can use it.

Question 5

Sensory memory

Answer 5

has unlimited capacity, sensory memory is the entry point for memory and is held for a short amount of time.

Question 6

Iconic memory

Answer 6

Visual sensory memory that lasts for 0.2-0.4 of a second.

Question 7

Echoic memory

Answer 7

Stores sounds for 3-4 seconds it is auditory sensory memory.

Question 8

Short term memory

Answer 8

Short term memory has a limited storage capacity.
It is also known as ‘working memory’.
It helps store information while you work on it.
Duration: 12-30 seconds
Capacity: 7 +or-2 (5 or 9 items)
Information is lost through decay (fading) or displacement (pushed out by new information).

Question 9

Improving short term memory

Answer 9

Rehearsal: The process of doing something so that information can be retained in memory and then retrieved.

Maintenance rehearsal: Involves simple, repetition of information being remembered so it can be retained. Going over and over it!

Elaborative rehearsal: Attaching meaning to what is to be remembered.

Question 10

Long term memory

Answer 10

Information is encoded and stored.
As long as you have correct cues information can be retrieved.
Information in long term memory is encoded by its meaning, semantically and stored in semantic networks.
Duration: unlimited
Capacity: unlimited

Question 11

Procedural

Answer 11

Memory of how to do something, actions and skills can be physical or intellectual learned by conditioning and practicing. (riding a bike, brushing your teeth)

Question 12

Declarative

Answer 12

Memory of specific facts or events

Episodic: memory of life events, autobiographical. (first kiss, wedding day, child birth)

Semantic: information we have about the world, areas of expertise, academic knowledge, important places, meaning of words, famous people or events. (facts that do not rely on specific time or place)

Question 13

Implicit

Answer 13

Unconscious + unintentional. You don’t have to pay attention to them (how to) they are procedural memories.

Question 14

Explicit

Answer 14

Consciously + intentionally recalled. They are declarative memories (episodic and semantic)

Question 15

Context dependant

Answer 15

Where were you at the time?
External
Environmental cues they can be physical landmarks, sounds, smells
(the smell of a candle that reminds you of your nanas apple pie)

Question 16

State dependent

Answer 16

How you feel?
Internal
Physiological (temperature, really cold/really hot) or phycological state (happy, sad, angry)

Question 17

Amnesia

Answer 17

Is the loss of memory either ‘partial’ or ‘complete’, ‘temporary’ or ‘permanent’.

Question 18

Anterograde amnesia

Answer 18

Can be partial or complete.

Events that occur after the injury, damage is often done to the hippocampus as a result of brain injury.

You cannot transfer information from your short term memory to your long term memory.

Short term memory still works.

Can retrieve memories from long term.

Can learn new skills (procedural memory).

Question 19

Neurodegenerative disease

Answer 19

Dementia is a general term that refers to disorders affecting higher mental functions.

• Loss of memory, both short term and long term
• Includes loss of intellect, rationality and social skills
• Progressive and irreversible cognitive decline
• 2nd leading cause of death in Australia.

Question 20

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 20

• The most common form of dementia
• Occurs mostly in old age and is gradual sever memory loss, confusion, Impaired attention, disordered thinking and depression.
• Involves both retrograde and anterograde amnesia.
• Hippocampus and prefrontal cortex damage.

Question 21

Causes of Alzheimers disease

Answer 21

Amyloid plaques

Neurofibrillary tangles

Both disrupt normal organisation of and communication between brain cells they also have low levels of acetylcholine.

Question 22

Amyloid plaques

Answer 22

Proteins that form clumps of insoluble plaque in and around the neuron inhibiting communication between neurons.

Question 23

Neurofibrillary tangles

Answer 23

These tangles look like twisted fibres and inhibit transport of essential substances throughout the neuron.
This failure of the transport system is believed to eventually kill the neuron.