Task2 - LTM & Consolidation

Question 1

What’s the effect of repetition on respectively semantic and episodic memories?

Answer 1

It strengthens semantic and weakens episodic memory.

Question 2

Semantic & Episodic memories depend on the functioning of…

Answer 2

the medial temporal lobes

Question 3

What is a main division between kinds of memory?

Answer 3

Semantic vs Episodic

Question 4

Name some differences between semantic and episodic memory.

Answer 4

Episodic mem. Is personal, whereas semantic memory does not depend on the memory being experienced by you personally.

Question 5

What is it called when a memory cannot easily be communicated?

Answer 5

Nondeclarative memory

Question 6

What are implicit memories?

Answer 6

Memories that you are not aware of.

Question 7

Are implicit memories dependent on the medial temporal lobes?

Answer 7

No.

Question 8

Explain the standard theory of memory consolidation.

Answer 8

• Hippocampus is the central relay station (teacher)
• Especially at night, the HC coactivates cortical areas related with a memory, so the memory is consolidated over time through neural plasticity.

Question 9

If the std. theory of memory consolidation is true, this leads to the assumption of what kind of amnesia?

Answer 9

graded retrograde amnesia: older memories are remembered more, since they are more deeply consolidated.

Question 10

Explain the multiple trace theory of memory consolidation.

Answer 10

Same as std. theory, but the HC is a constant part of the process. (No HC-independent stage)

Question 11

Why is the HC a constant part in the multiple trace theory?

Answer 11

The HC has a place coding system and is thus very important in episodic memories. In this theory, semantic memories are just episodic memories, that are stripped of their context.

Question 12

What does the word “multiple” in multiple trace theory entail?

Answer 12

Multiple because: after each retrieval, a memory has to be reconsolidated in a new trace.

Question 13

What does the “levels-of-processing effect” say?

Answer 13

That the more thoroughly you think about something (the deeper the level of understanding) the better this information is encoded in your memory

Question 14

Memory retrieval works best, if the situation at retrieval of information is similar to that of the time when the information was initially encoded. What is the name of this phenomenon?

Answer 14

Transfer-appropriate processing effect

Question 15

Name three kinds of recall

Answer 15

free recall, cued recall, recognition

Question 16

What is the desirable difficulties phenomenon?

Answer 16

Testing with a high level of difficulty strengthens our recall ability efficiently.

Question 17

What is “passive forgetting”?

Answer 17

Natural forgetting that occurs over time.

Question 18

Name at least 5 sources of memory loss

Answer 18

Passive forgetting, directed forgetting, interference, source monitoring error, amnesia

Question 19

Define “interference”.

Answer 19

When content of a memory overlaps with that of another, which weakens both memories.

Question 20

What are the two subtypes of interference?

Answer 20

Proactive interference and Retroactive interference. Pro: when old information hinders the encoding of new information; Retro: When old memories are “overwritten” by new information

Question 21

What is “Anterograde Amnesia”

Answer 21

When after an injury no new memories can be formed

Question 22

Patient HM

Answer 22

• Discovered by Brenda Milner, operated by Scoville
• in 1933, at age 27, HM had a surgery that removed removed parts of his medial temporal lobes including the HC
• trying to cure his epilepsy
• This left him unable to form new memories. However, he could still remember some childhood memories and learn new skills

Question 23

What is the organization effect and the experiment that showed its existence?

Answer 23

• > If information can be organized together in some way (by content or some other unifying factor), it is more easily remembered.
• > Experiment: Reading a short text with vs without context. -> Participants who knew the topic beforehand remembered much more of what has been read.

Question 24

Where is the Hippocampus located?

Answer 24

In the medial temporal lobe, posterior to the Amygdala