Theme 3: Memory retrieval Flashcards
Craig & lockhart: levels of processing
-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
elaborative rehearsal
rehearsal that induces a deeper level of processing
maintenance rehearsal;
simple rote repetition
problems with levels of processing model:
- circular assumption: deeper level of processing leds to better memory, but better memory leads to better processing
-only focuses on encoding, not retrieval
transfer appropriate processing
-a process leads to better processing not because it is deeper, but because it is appropriate for the kind of test used
cue overload principle:
cue loses its effectiveness as it become associated with more and more cues
when is memory performance best?
when relational processing & item specific processing both occur (so processing of the individual word but also in relation to others)
encoding specificity principle
matching the encoding contexts at recall facilitates retrieval
ecphory process according to tulving
process by which retrieval information is brought into interaction with stored information
recognition failure of recallable words
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
context dependent memory effect
worse memory when tested in a different environment than where information was learned
state dependent memory + findings
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)
brown Peterson paradigm
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
proactive interference
changing a forgetting situation will decrease forgetting, however, release from PI only happens when the change is noticed
forced choice recognition task
distractor versus old item –> which one was seen before?
yes/no recognition task
presentation of one item at a time–> old or new item?
how well a person can discriminate old and new items:
difference in average familiarity between their old and new distributions (d’ or d prime)
familiarity value/criterion value in signal detection theory
beta, which estimates their tendency to guess
how to calculate criterion:
hit rate (proportion of old items as judged old) and false alarm rate (proportion of new items as old)
familiarity based recognition
-judgment based on how familiar a stimulus seems
-fast/automatic
dual process theories of recognition
-combining familiarity based recognition + recollection
-slow and more attention demanding
how to check for familiarity
-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.
think/no-think paradigm
intentional forgetting task –> if participants successful intended forgetting = total control effect
positive control effect & negative control effect
-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
fMRI support for intentional forgetting:
suppressing retrieval activated lateral prefrontal cortex & anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which overlap with motor inhibition regions –> stopping unwanted memories/actions engages common neural system
which area is actively involved in intended forgetting?
Hippocampus –> less active in no think trials, also being less active than baseline (staring at blank screen)
retrieval induced forgetting
retrieval of target information causes forgetting of related non-target information –> could be explained by both inhibition and non-inhibitory theories (overriding)
important regions for inhibitory control:
ACC, dlpfc,
retrieval practice paradigm
study phase –> retrieval practice –> delay –> recall test
RESULTS: words recalled in practice phase remembered better than those not recalled
Anderson et al: neural systems underlying suppression of unwanted memories
Method: think/no-think paradigm + fMRI
RESULTS: active brain areas were dlpfc, vlpfc, Brodmann’s area, ACC, preSMA etc
