Theme 3: Memory retrieval

Question 1

Craig & lockhart: levels of processing

Answer 1

-memory is the results of a series of analyses, each at a deeper level than the previous one
- the deeper the level –> more durable the memory
- memory will be important only to the extent that it induces a deeper level of processing

Question 2

elaborative rehearsal

Answer 2

rehearsal that induces a deeper level of processing

Question 3

maintenance rehearsal;

Answer 3

simple rote repetition

Question 4

problems with levels of processing model:

Answer 4

• circular assumption: deeper level of processing leds to better memory, but better memory leads to better processing
  -only focuses on encoding, not retrieval

Question 5

transfer appropriate processing

Answer 5

-a process leads to better processing not because it is deeper, but because it is appropriate for the kind of test used

Question 6

cue overload principle:

Answer 6

cue loses its effectiveness as it become associated with more and more cues

Question 7

when is memory performance best?

Answer 7

when relational processing & item specific processing both occur (so processing of the individual word but also in relation to others)

Question 8

encoding specificity principle

Answer 8

matching the encoding contexts at recall facilitates retrieval

Question 9

ecphory process according to tulving

Answer 9

process by which retrieval information is brought into interaction with stored information

Question 10

recognition failure of recallable words

Answer 10

if given the wrong cue for an item, one might fail to recall even though they do have the item stored, just in relation to another item

Question 11

context dependent memory effect

Answer 11

worse memory when tested in a different environment than where information was learned

Question 12

state dependent memory + findings

Answer 12

similar states facilitate recall
–> important finding: performance is worse when switching from unusual to normal condition, than from normal to unusual (irrespective of which condition is normal)

Question 13

brown Peterson paradigm

Answer 13

subjects are told three letters and then told to count backwards –> after 20 seconds they usually don’t remember the letters –> explanations: decay or interference

Question 14

proactive interference

Answer 14

changing a forgetting situation will decrease forgetting, however, release from PI only happens when the change is noticed

Question 15

forced choice recognition task

Answer 15

distractor versus old item –> which one was seen before?

Question 16

yes/no recognition task

Answer 16

presentation of one item at a time–> old or new item?

Question 17

how well a person can discriminate old and new items:

Answer 17

difference in average familiarity between their old and new distributions (d’ or d prime)

Question 18

familiarity value/criterion value in signal detection theory

Answer 18

beta, which estimates their tendency to guess

Question 19

how to calculate criterion:

Answer 19

hit rate (proportion of old items as judged old) and false alarm rate (proportion of new items as old)

Question 20

familiarity based recognition

Answer 20

-judgment based on how familiar a stimulus seems
-fast/automatic

Question 21

dual process theories of recognition

Answer 21

-combining familiarity based recognition + recollection
-slow and more attention demanding

Question 22

how to check for familiarity

Answer 22

-subjects study a visual and auditory list of words
-one group says yes if they remember it in either seen or heard condition (inclusion condition)
-one group only says yes if they remember heard it (exclusion condition)
–> familiarity estimate: in exclusion condition, if ‘yes’ to a seen item the judgement must be based on familiarity, not recollection.

Question 23

think/no-think paradigm

Answer 23

intentional forgetting task –> if participants successful intended forgetting = total control effect

Question 24

positive control effect & negative control effect

Answer 24

-positive control: enhanced memory for ‘think’ items
-negative control: decreased memory for ‘no think’ items
-some items do not appear in the think-no think phase –> provide baseline measurement

Question 25

fMRI support for intentional forgetting:

Answer 25

suppressing retrieval activated lateral prefrontal cortex & anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which overlap with motor inhibition regions –> stopping unwanted memories/actions engages common neural system

Question 26

which area is actively involved in intended forgetting?

Answer 26

Hippocampus –> less active in no think trials, also being less active than baseline (staring at blank screen)

Question 27

retrieval induced forgetting

Answer 27

retrieval of target information causes forgetting of related non-target information –> could be explained by both inhibition and non-inhibitory theories (overriding)

Question 28

important regions for inhibitory control:

Answer 28

ACC, dlpfc,

Question 29

retrieval practice paradigm

Answer 29

study phase –> retrieval practice –> delay –> recall test
RESULTS: words recalled in practice phase remembered better than those not recalled

Question 30

Anderson et al: neural systems underlying suppression of unwanted memories

Answer 30

Method: think/no-think paradigm + fMRI
RESULTS: active brain areas were dlpfc, vlpfc, Brodmann’s area, ACC, preSMA etc