Unit 3 - chapter 8 (memory)

Question 1

what is memory

Answer 1

persistent learning overtime with the ability to store and retrieve information

Question 2

there measures of “persistence”

Answer 2

recall: retrieving information that isn’t currently at the front of our consciousness (ex. fill in the blanks)
recognition: identifying previously learned information (ex. multiple choice)
relearn: learning things faster the second time (studying for cumulative final exam)

Question 3

three step process for memory

Answer 3

1. encode: getting information into our brains
2. store: retaining information
3. retrieval: accessing previously learned information (that was stored)

Question 4

types of memories

Answer 4

explicit:
(declarative memory)
facts, events that you know

implicit:
procedural, priming, classical conditioning, nonassociative learning, things that you don’t necessarily need to recall it is more automatic

Question 5

encoding memories

Answer 5

three step model:

1. sensory memory: fleeting sensory input
2. short term memory: process information through rehearsal
3. long term memory: moved to long term memory for future retrieval

Question 6

implicit memory

Answer 6

automatic and procedural

• time: retracing your steps to find something you lost
• space: visualizing locations of things to remember information
• frequency: keeping track of the number of times things happen during the day

highly efficient two track mind

Question 7

explicit memory

Answer 7

• effortful
• sensory memories: powerful visual (iconic memory) and auditory (echoic memory) fleeting sensory information
• short term memory capacity versus working memory capacity
• semantic: facts and general knowledge
• episodic: personally experienced events

Question 8

effortful processing

Answer 8

• chunking: familiar and meaningful/manageable groups
• mnemonics: aids to remembering information, ROYGBV
• hierarchies: organizing things in meaningful groups/flows, notes in an outline
• spacing effect: long-term retention is better when things are learned over time
• testing effect: memory is enhanced when it is retrieved rather than just rereading, practice quiz/study/guides instead of rereading the chapter

Question 9

Long term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 9

strengthening of neuronal connections and synapses. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Question 10

brain areas

Answer 10

implicit:

• involves “ancient” brain areas
• cerebellum (classical conditioning)
• basal ganglia (motor movement)

explicit:

• involves more recent brain areas
• frontal lobes (left and right differs, past experiences)
• hippocampus (“save” button of the brain, memory consolidation, packing center)

Question 11

memories and emotion

Answer 11

AMYGDALA!!

• flashbulb memories: significant events that elicit high emotions produce memories that can be perceived as clear and precise
• but are they always right? sometimes memories will fade or change

Question 12

cues and retrieval

Answer 12

context is important!

• priming (invisible memory)
• state-dependent memory (mood magnifies memory)
• context-dependent memory (thinking about the context of a memory to clearly remember it
• serial position effect (remembering the first and last items on a list

Question 13

why do we forget

Answer 13

forgetting can happen at any stage
-encoding failure: the brain is not taking in information and the brain is not putting it into short-term memory correctly
-storage decay: still trying to figure this one out… brains may be trying to distinguish what is important between new info and old info
-retrieval failure: “tip of the tongue” feeling, you know it but you can’t remember it that minute
*has two types of interference
proactive - old learning disrupts recall of new information
retroactive - new learning disrupts recall of old information

-amnesia(s): two types:
retrograde - unable to retrieve information from the past
anterograde - unable to form new memories