SAC prep 1

Question 1

What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory? Give three examples of each.

Answer 1

Implicit memory is unconscious, meaning that it does not require intentional, deliberate recall whereas Explicit memory is the conscious retrieval of memory. Example of explicit memory :remembering past events, knowing facts about presidents of America and remembering things to do in future. Example of implicit memory: skiing ,driving a car or playing guitar.

Question 2

Where are, according to current thinking, implicit memories stored?

Answer 2

Cerebellum

Question 3

Name the two major physical changes in the brain that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 3

Amyloid plaques (proteins that form among axon terminals and interfere with communication between neurons) typify Alzheimer’s disease. 
In addition, patients’ brains have neurofibrillary tangles (an abnormal build-up of protein inside the neurons) and these are associated with the death of brain cells

Question 4

What region of the brain, very important in processing memories, is first affected in someone with Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 4

Hippocampus .When the cells are lost here, it causes the brain to atrophy (shrink) and
the damage to the temporal lobes means that the hippocampus becomes isolated. This is probably why there is early memory loss

Question 5

What does misidentification mean?

Answer 5

Misidentification occurs when a witness incorrectly states that someone was involved in an event.

Question 6

Why do we say a testimony given by an eyewitness can be fallible?

Answer 6

Testimony given by a witness can be fallible due to its reconstructive nature of memories. The witness builds on their own expectation ,created by past experiences, stories and own current feelings.

Question 7

What is the difference between a random sample and a convenience sample? Give an example of each.

Answer 7

Random sample is a sampling procedure that ensures every member of the population of research has an equal chance of being selected as a participant for a study whereas convenience sampling involves selecting participants who are readily available without any attempt to make the sample representative of the population.
For example:
Random: choosing participants via a random list generated via a computer
Convenience :sample: people who want to volunteer to be involved in an experiment

Question 8

What is the difference between quantitative data and qualitative data? What type of data is being presented in the question above?

Answer 8

Qualitative data refer to descriptions of the characteristics of what is being studied whereas Quantitative data refer to measurements meaning the numerical information about the variables being studied. Quantitative data

Question 9

What is a control group and what is the purpose of a control group?

Answer 9

The control group consists of the participants who are not exposed to the IV – they do not receive the treatment. The purpose of the control group is to use it as a basis for comparison with the experimental group

Question 10

What is an experimental group and what is the purpose of an experimental group?

Answer 10

the group of research participants which is exposed to the independent variable. The purpose of an experimental group is to compare the results with the control group so that the effects of the independent variable can be determined

Question 11

What is long-term depression?

Answer 11

It refers to Long term weakening of the synaptic connections resulting in less effective transmission. Lack of stimulation causes the post synaptic neurons become less responsive.

Question 12

What is long-term potentiation ?

Answer 12

Long term potentiation is long term strengthening of the synaptic connections resulting more effective synaptic transmission .Increase in stimulation causes the post synaptic neuron to become more responsive.

Question 13

What is one similarity between LTP and LTD?

Answer 13

Both involve long lasting changes to the synaptic connections and the structure of neurons and Both play an important role in neuroplasticity.

Question 14

Why are LTP and LTD both important in the process of memory formation?

Answer 14

Long term potentiation is important in process of memory information as it makes us less likely to forget information.
Long term depression is also useful in the process of memory information as it helps to ‘de-clutter’ our brain and makes memory formation for other memories more efficient and can also help to remove/block information that is unwanted or inappropriate

Question 15

What is the key neurotransmitter involved in the process of LTP?

Answer 15

glutamate

Question 16

What is the key neurotransmitter involved in the process of LTD?

Answer 16

Less glutamate as compared to the amount in Long term potentiation

Question 17

In what part of the brain would you expect LTP to mostly occur? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer 17

Hippocampus as it has a role in memory and learning.

Question 18

What does the phrase memory at the neural level mean?

Answer 18

It means that when a memory is formed strengthening and weakening of synaptic connection occurs.

Question 19

What is one similarity and two differences between anterograde and retrograde amnesia?

Answer 19

Difference
Anterograde amnesia is inability to encode and store new memories whereas retrograde amnesia is the inability to recall previously stored memories before the accident.
retrograde amnesia it is likely that it can be treated whereas anterograde amnesia is unlikely to be treated.
Similarity
In both the cases, the explicit memories get damaged, while their implicit memories remain intact.

Question 20

What was the cause of HM’s anterograde amnesia? In your answer include what part of his brain was removed during his surgery. What was the main effect on HM’s memory?

Answer 20

Removal of portions of both his temporal lobes was the cause of HM’s anterograde amnesia. The surgery damaged both of hippocampus (located in medial temporal lobe) and as hippocampus plays a role in consolidating memories , this damage to the hippocampus led him to be unable to form new explicit memories and therefore suffer anterograde amnesia.As a result of the surgery. However, he had full recollection of his life before the operation and was still able to form implicit memories.

Question 21

What is the difference between state-dependent and context dependent cues?

Answer 21

Context dependent cues refer to the learner’s external environment (the context) in which the memory was formed whereas state dependent cues refer to the internal environment which are factors within the person – in other words, the physiological and/or psychological state that they were in at the time of learning.

Question 22

What was the key finding research by Elizabeth Loftus indicated about the memories of an eyewitness?

Answer 22

The key finding of the research was that memory is easily distorted by questioning techniques and information acquired after the event can merge with original memory causing inaccurate recall or reconstructive memory.

Question 23

what is meant by recall and its three types

Answer 23

Recall: to reproduce information with the fewest retrieval cues. (e.g. short answer or extended response type questions often require that we have a detailed knowledge of the topic being assessed).
There are three types of recall
Free recall: not required to recall information in any particular order-just plain retrieval of information.
Serial recall: reproducing information in the order in which it was learnt
Cued recall-using cues /hints to retrieve information stored in memory

Question 24

What is recognition?

Answer 24

Recognition: to identify the correct information from among alternatives -

Question 25

What is relearning ?

Answer 25

Relearning-learning information again that has previously been learned and stored in LTM - most sensitive measure.

Question 26

What is the difference between elaborative and maintenance rehearsal? Give an example of each method if someone wanted to remember the number plate – 1OY 3DJ . Why should a student who is studying for a test use elaborative rehearsal method as opposed to maintenance rehearsal?

Answer 26

Maintenance rehearsal is a strategy for keeping information in short-term memory or for moving it into long-term memory by simply repeating it over and over, but not trying to form meaningful connections between the new information and other information which is already in memory whereas elaborative rehearsal is a method of encoding memories by making meaningful associations between new information and old or familiar information. Maintenance rehearsal can be relating the number of the plate over and over again and elaborate rehearsal can meaningful associations such as a birth date. elaborative rehearsal is useful as opposed to maintenance rehearsal as it creates cues to help us locate and retrieve information from LTM at a later which elaborative rehearsal does not.

Question 27

What is a leading question? Give an example of a leading and non-leading question to demonstrate you understanding of this term.

Answer 27

Leading question is a question that, because of the way it is phrased, suggests what the answer should be. It is possible for misinformation to be implanted in the witness’s memory. This misinformation can gradually take on greater significance for the witness until they begin to believe that the implanted information is a genuine memory Example of a leading question “did you see the bus” suggest that there was a bus Example of a non-leading question “did you see a bus” does not suggest there was a bus

Question 28

Give examples of research that supports these types of cues to our LTM.

Answer 28

Context dependent cues refer to the learner’s external environment (the context) in which the memory was formed whereas state dependent cues refer to the internal environment which are factors within the person – in other words, the physiological and/or psychological state that they were in at the time of learning. An example of a research is where people were tested their recall ability on different context for hearing and recall and on same context and hearing for recall. People who had same context for hearing and recall had much a higher recall as compared to group with different context for hearing and recall. The research suggested that having same context while learning and recall leads to better retrieval of memory form LTM.

Question 29

What is the serial position effect?

Answer 29

Serial position is where the immediate free recall of items at the beginning or at the end of a list are remembered better than those in the middle of the list.

Question 30

what is primacy effect?

Answer 30

Primacy effect is superior recall for items at the beginning of a list compared to items in the middle of the list. The primacy effect occurs because we tend to rehearse and pay attention to the first few words in a list a lot more than the other word.This causes us to encode them quite well which means that often these first few words move from STM to LTM through rote/repetition or elaborative rehearsal.

Question 31

what is recency effect?

Answer 31

Recency effect is superior recall for items at the end of a list compared to those in the middle of the list. The recency effect occurs because the words in the list we have just read are still in our short term memory(due to the duration of STM).

Question 32

Where are, according to current thinking, explicit memories stored?

Answer 32

They are stored accordingly to their specialized lobes.

Question 33

What is the role of the neurohormone adrenaline in the consolidation of emotionally arousing experiences like fear?

Answer 33

If this hormone is present in the bloodstream during a highly emotional experience like fear , then it might enhance the encoding of the event. In some instances, this can be helpful, such as learning to avoid a dangerous situation in future. However, in other circumstances it can be a problem, such as in the case of P.T.S.D, which is a condition where victims suffer symptoms such as sleep disturbances and flashbacks due to a traumatic event.