short and long term memory Flashcards

1
Q

Distinctions between two types of memory in the late 19th century (theorists)

A

Sigmund Freud & William James

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2
Q

Freud on memory

2 layers

A

surface (transitory)
vs.
deep (permanent)

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3
Q

James on memory

2 things

A

primary (stream of consciousness)
vs.
secondary memory

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4
Q

what are the three basic memory systems?

3 memory systems

A
  • sensory memory
  • short term/working memory (RAM)
  • long-term memory (hard drive)
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5
Q

sensory memory: general charactersitics

3 characteristics

A
  • large capacity
  • literal record of perceptual experience
  • but lost quickly (transient)
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6
Q

sensory memory: visual -> what is iconic memory?

A

iconic memory or ‘visual sensory register’ holds visual input for 250 msec
- representation is pre-categorical (literal record of precept)

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7
Q

sensory memory: auditory -> what is echoic memory?

A

echoic memory or auditory sensory register holds auditory input for 2-3 seconds

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8
Q

what was Sperling’s 1960 iconic memory research?

A

whole report procedure
- flash a matrix of letters and digits for 50 milliseconds
- identify as many items as possible

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9
Q

short term memory general characteristics:

3 characteristics

A
  • duration
  • capacity
  • how information is coded
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10
Q

what is the primary effect?

A

the tendency to recall earlier words

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11
Q

what is the regency effect?

A

the tendency to recall later words

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12
Q

what causes primacy and regency gradients?

2 points

A
  • Primacy gradient – First few items can be rehearsed alot and so more likely to move into long-term memory
  • Recency gradient - last few items of the list are still in STM when you start to write the list down
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13
Q

What type of code is used to remember over the short term?

2 points

A
  • Short-term memory thought to be based on a
    verbal (“phonological”) code
  • STM is like one’s “inner voice”
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14
Q

Evidence for phonological coding in short-term memory

A
  • Phonological similarity effect – words that ‘sound’
    alike more poorly recalled than dissimilar
    sounding words
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15
Q

what is the word length effect?

A

recall of words is worse for longer words than for shorter words

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16
Q

when is the word-length effect eliminanted?

A

it is eliminated if phonological coding is prevented through ‘articulatory suppression’ (e.g., counting or
repeating an irrelevant word, “the, the, the…”)

17
Q

Classic (or “modal”) memory model

A

Atkinson and Shiffrin’s (1968) 3-Stage Model

18
Q

short-term memory summary:

3 points

A
  • limited duration
  • limited capacity (4-5 chunks)
  • relies on a phonological code
19
Q

duration of long-term memories:

A
  • memories that are present after 3 years are likely to be well-preserved 30 years later
20
Q

what did Paivio’s dual code theory suggest?

A

Paivio’s dual code theory suggested that imageable words can be encoded in visual as well as non-visual forms (e.g., semantic)

21
Q

what is explicit memory?

A

when retrieval of a memory is deliberate/requires conscious recollection (declarative memory)
- short-term memory can also be explicit

22
Q

what is implicit memory?

A

when behaviour/performance indicates that memories are being retrieved in the absence of a deliberate, conscious, attempt to retrieve them e.g.
- procedural memory
- recognising the meaning of common words

23
Q

what are episodic memories?

A

memories for experiences/events

24
Q

what are semantic memories?

A

general knowledge about the world

25
episodic vs semantic long-term memory
26
What is the evidence for the hierarchical structure of semantic memory?
Speed of responding to questions about semantic concepts differs according to number of ‘vertical’ steps required through the network
27
What is the evidence for spreading activation through that hierarchy?
Semantic priming
28
long-term memory summary: | 4 points
- (possibly) has limitless capacity - very long duration - better when we can rely on multiple different codes - evidence that semantic memory is organised as a hierarchically structured network