The Memory System

Question 1

Name and describe the 4 part of the memory system
(when answering, do one part at a time
answer the first part then check the first answer)

Answer 1

Central executive:
-control centre of the working memory model
-uses the 3 other systems to control all the information moving in and out of the memory system

Phonological Loop:
-deals with auditory information from the senses
-produces the memory trace
-the memory trace triggers the motor programme that produces movement

Visuospatial sketchpad:
-used to temporarily store visual and spatial information
-Divided into 2
-The visual cache-form and colour
-The inner scribe-deals with spatial and movement information

The Episodic Buffer:
-coordinates the sight,hearing and movement information from the working memory into sequences to be sent to the long term memory

Question 2

How does information from the working memory flow to the long term memory?

Answer 2

-the working memory picks up information from the environment
-selective attention is used to filter out irrelevant information
-the working memory has links with the long term memory, sending coded information for future storage and use

Question 3

What are the features and functions of the working and long term memory?

Answer 3

Working:
-limited capacity
-can only deal with 7 items at a time
-lasts for 30 seconds

Long term:
-information is stored in the form of motor programmes
-unlimited capacity

Question 4

Strategies to aid with the store of information?

Answer 4

-Rewards:improves motivation

-Association of action you wish to learn with emotions in the memory

-Mental practice

-Breaking down/chunking: break down into sub-routines

-Focus:improves process of selective attention

-Repetition

-Chainig:linking sub-routines together