Unit 2 - Memory Flashcards
what is memory
explains how we acquire, retain, and recall information
what is short term memory
the ability to remember events in the last 15 seconds
how long do we hold information in short term memory
15-30 seconds
how many items can we remember in STM
7 plus or minus 2
example of good short term memory
a person hears a phone number read aloud and can repeat it back accurately after hearing it just once
what does poor short term memory indicate
that a person has trouble retaining information in mind
what is working memory
refers to the ability to actively manipulate items in STM
working memory example
if a person tells you a sequence of numbers, instead of just repeating them like in a test of STM, you would be expected to repeat them in reverse order as a WM test
real life application of working memory
mental maths (manipulating numbers in your head)
what activities does working memory allow
reasoning, learning, comprehension
which disorder indicates a heavily impaired STM
Alzheimers
what is chunking
combining a number of items into a single chunk, to enhance remembering
what is phonological loop
responsible for temporary storage
two parts of phonological loop
- phonological store (inner ear)
- articulatory rehearsal process (inner voice)
what is phonological store
temporarily holds speech based information. it retains auditory information for about 1-2 seconds
what is articulatory rehearsal process
involves the active repetition of verbal information to keep it in working memory
example of phonological store
as you listen to phone number being repeated, phonological store allows you to retain information long enough to write it down
example of articulatory rehearsal process
to keep the number from fading from your memory you may repeat it in your head
why is rehearsal important
if we don’t rehearse the information, it won’t be stored into long term memory
what does rehearsal do
it strengthens neural networks, making content easier to recall later
what is maintenance rehearsal
repeating the information over and over, either verbally or in your head
what is elaborative rehearsal
re organising new information in a meaningful way (e.g. creating rhymes or visual images)
what is encoding
how objects and events become represented in memory
what does deeper processing mean for memory
creates stronger memories which are remembered better
what are the three processes of memory
- registration
- storage
- retrieval
what is implicit learning
learning without conscious awareness
types of long term memory
- declarative (explicit)
- non-declarative (implicit)
what is episodic memory
the ability to remember events from your life, including details such as date and time
what is semantic memory
storage of general knowledge and facts which are not linked to specific events
what is declarative memory
explicit memory includes the conscious recall of facts and events (episodic and semantic memory)
what is non-declarative memory
implicit memory involves remembering skills and habits, often unconsciously remembered
what is priming memory
when seeing or hearing something makes it easier to remember later on, unconsciously
what is procedural memory
helps you remember how to perform tasks without thinking about it (e.g. riding a bike)
what is the modal model (Atkinson & Shriffin, 1968) of memory
describes memory of consisting of three stages, which information linearly flows through
what are the three types of memory according to the modal model
- sensory memory
- short term memory
- long term memory
what is sensory memory
the initial stage of memory which holds sensory information such as sights and sounds
how long does sensory memory hold information
less than a second
what is the dual task paradigm
research methods which requires participants to complete two tasks simultaneously
what type of amnesia does Clive Wearing have
both retrograde and anterograde amnesia
what is retrograde amnesia
affects the ability to recall past memories
what is anterograde amnesia
prevents from forming new memories
how is Clive wearings memory span affected
he has a very short memory span, of about 7 to 30 seconds
who is patient k.f.
suffered brain injuries after a motorbike accident which caused significant memory impairments
what memory deficits did k.f. display
severe impairment in STM, verbal information. his long term memory was intact
what is millers law
proposes that a person can hold 7 plus or minus two items in STM
what is chunking
improving memory by grouping items into larger chunks, to remember more
what is word length effect
people tend to remember shorter words better
what is (Ebbinghaus, 1885) forgetting curve
how information is lost over time if there is no attempt to retain it
what are nonsense syllables
meaningless combinations of letters such as DAX or JEF
what did Ebbinghaus find about relearning
he found that it is easier to relearn old information than to learn new information
what is everyday memory
- autobiographical memory
- prospective memory
- eyewitness memory
what is autobiographical memory
LTM for events of ones own life, but not the same as episodic memory
what is autobiographical memory responsible for
- flashbulb memories
- childhood amnesia
- reminiscence bump
what are flashbulb memories
detailed and vidvid long lasting memories for important and dramatic life events
what mood disorder is a form of flashbulb memories
PTSD
what is childhood amnesia
adults report few memories before age 3
what is reminiscence bump
memories from adolescence or early childhood are recalled best
prospective memory
remembering to do something in the future
two types of prospective memory
- event based
- time based
what mood disorder can be related to poor prospective memory and poor inhibitory control
OCD
what is eyewitness memory
the recall of events by individuals who have witnessed them
example of eyewitness memory
a person who witnesses a robbery and when they get asked to describe the robber the witness might remember details such as the robbers clothing and height but if shown a misleading photo lineup may identify an innocent as the robber
what is false memory
distorted recollection of an event that did not occur or was remembered inaccurately
what is amnesia
severe long term memory impairment - usually episodic memory
what is Alzheimers
severe deficit in episodic memory
what does Badderleys working memory model consist of
- central executive
- phonological loop
- visuospatial sketchpad
- episodic buffer
what is the central executive
responsible for coordinating and managing different components of WM
what is episodic buffer
integrates information from phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and LTM into a single episode
what is visuospatial sketchpad
handles visual and spatial information, allowing us to manipulate images and navigate through space
what is the two stage theory (Jack & Hayne, 2010)
suggests that memory retrieval involves two distinct processes
what are the two stages of memory retrieval
- encoding stage
- retrieval stage
what is the encoding stage
where information is processed and stored
what is the retrieval stage
where individuals recall or recognise stored information
what is the life script theory
suggests that people have a mental guide of important life events such as getting married or graduating
how does two stage theory explain remembering
remembering requires proper encoding and ability to retrieve it
what is the life script theory (Rubin & Berntsen, 2003)
suggests that people have a mental guide of important life events
example of the life script theory
the common expectation that people will graduate from high school in their late teens, go to college, start a career in their early twenties, get married in their late twenties to early thirties, and have children shortly afterward.
what is autobiographical memory according to Conway (2005)
explains how people store and recall personal memories
what is the multi process theory
suggests that memory involves different processes and systems for storing and recalling various types of memories
what types of memories are included in the multi process theory
- episodic memory
- semantic memory
- procedural memory
what factors influence memory according to the multi process theory
- context
- attention
- emotions
(T or F) Human memory works like a video camera, accurately recording the events we see and hear so that we can review and inspect them later.
False
T or F People suffering from amnesia are unable to learn anything new.
True
T or F Memory can be localised to different regions of the brain.
True
T or F Memories of extreme events are imprinted in our minds (i.e. “flashbulb memories”), never to be forgotten.
False
T or F Long-term memory is infinite.
T
T or F Hypnosis can help retrieve forgotten memories.
F
T or F some people have photographic memories.
F
T or F People suffering from amnesia typically cannot recall their own name or identity.
False
T or F Most forgetting happens immediately after the event
True
