Topic 2: Memory

Question 1

Describe the capacity, duration and encoding of sensory memory, STM and LTM. (9)

Answer 1

Sensory memory
Capacity- unlimited
Duration- 250 milliseconds
Encoding- varies between sensory organs e.g. visual excites retinal cells, sound create vibrations in the ear

STM
Capacity- limited, 7+ or - 2 items (Miller)
Duration- 18-30s without rehearsal (Peterson & Peterson)
Encoding- mainly acoustic (Baddeley)

LTM
Capacity- unlimited
Duration- potentially forever
Encoding- mainly semantic (Baddeley)

Question 2

Outline the Multi-store model of memory (6)

Answer 2

-The multi-store model of memory (MSM) consists of three separate memory stores connected by processes that transfer information between stores.
-This includes the sensory register, attention, STM, rehearsal, LTM and retrieval.
-The sensory register is the place where sensory information is briefly (250 milliseconds) held at each of the corresponding brain areas.
-If a person’s attention is focused on one of the sensory registers, the data is transferred to short-term memory (STM) which has limited duration (18-30s) and capacity (7+ or - 2 items), and is used for immediate tasks.
-Repetition keeps information in STM, but eventually such repetition will create a long-term memory (LTM). This is called maintenance rehearsal.
-LTM is potentially unlimited in duration and capacity.
-Retrieval is the process of getting information from LTM and passing it back through STM for use.
-STM is mainly encoded acoustically, whereas LTM is mainly semantically.

Question 3

Outline the working memory model. (6)

Answer 3

-The WMM proposed by Baddeley and Hitch (1974) describes how STM functions in real-time cognitive tasks. It highlights STM as an active process (hence working memory), made up of a multi-store system rather than a unitary store.
-This includes the central executive and its slave systems.
-Central executive involved in decision making. Coordinate our performance when doing multiple things simultaneously. Focus attention within the system. Limited capacity. Process info in any modality e.g. visual, auditory etc…
-Articulatory or phonological loop (slave system) involves auditory info split into two parts: Articulatory control system (inner voice) and phonological store (inner ear). Limited capacity (length of time it takes to say words). Encoded articulatory/phonologically.
-Visuospatial sketchpad (slave system) handles visual/spatial info, including perception of movement and control of physical actions. Split into two parts: the visual cache, which stores info about visual items, and the inner scribe, which stores object arrangement in the visual field. Limited capacity. Encoded visually.
-Episodic buffer is an extra storage system that holds both visual and acoustic info, integrating info from the central executive and other slave systems. Maintains a sense of time sequencing (recording events). Limited capacity. Encoded multi-modally.

Question 4

State and outline the three types of LTM, and state the main difference. (3)

Answer 4

The main difference between episodic or semantic memory and procedural memory is the effort required to recall information. Conscious (explicit) memory such as episodic and semantic requires more effort than unconscious (implicit) memory such as episodic.

Episodic - Explicit memory for personal experiences of events, including the specific details, context and emotions felt e.g. remembering that you felt nervous for your first day of school

Semantic - Explicit memory for facts and knowledge such as knowing an equation

Procedural - Implicit memory for physical skills, and such memories become automatic from repeated practice.

Question 5

Outline and state evaluation points for research in LTM. (16)

Answer 5

AO1
-Episodic and semantic, Tulving 1980s

AO3
Against
-Population validity, validity and ethics
-Difference between semantic and episodic is unclear

AO1
-Procedural, Clive Wearing

AO3
For
-Rich detailed data

Against
-Generalised

Question 6

Define forgetting.

Answer 6

The failure to retrieve memories.

Question 7

State and explain the two types of interference. (2+2)

Answer 7

Proactive interference is when past learning makes learning something in the future more difficult. This is because the original memory interferes with the formation of new memories associated with it.

Retroactive interference is when learning something new makes it harder to remember past learning. This is because the formation of new memories interfere with the original memory associated with it.