Unit 3 - Memory Continued

Question 1

What is memory?

Answer 1

The retention of information over time.

Let’s track our ability to remember overtime! You can make notes using your organizers.

Question 2

What are the 2 types of memory?

Answer 2

Implicit Memory
Memory without conscious recollection - memory of skills and routine procedures that are performed automatically.

Explicit Memory
Conscious recollection of facts and experiences

Question 3

What occurs in infancy?

Answer 3

Some researchers conclude that infants as young as 2-6 months can remember experiences until they are 1-½ - 2 years of age (Rovee-Collier)

However, others suggest that these memories are only implicit and that babies do not show explicitly memory until halfway through their first year of life. Then, explicit memory improves in the second year
- The hippocampus matures and the cerebral cortex (especially the frontal lobes) makes this type of memory possible

Question 4

What is infantile amnesia?

Answer 4

Most adults remember little if anything at all from the first three years of life
- Your hippocampus and prefrontal cortex is still immature at this age so overtime, we forget these memories
- By 8-9 years, we’ll forget most of these memories

Question 5

Memory during Childhood:

Answer 5

1. Short Term
   - Involves retaining information for up to 30 seconds without rehearsing the information
   With repetition & rehearsal, this strengthen in childhood
2. Working Memory
   - Interacts w/ long term memory
   - Workbench where individuals manipulate information (decisions, problem solving) to eventually store it in long term memory
3. Long Term Memory
   - Permanent type of memory that stores huge amounts of information for long periods of time
   - Becomes “autobiographical”
   (remembering events through specific time and location)

Question 6

What occurs in childhood?

Answer 6

The goal is to develop a child’s working memory because …
1. More advanced in language skills
2. Stronger ability to solve math problems
3. Can problem solve (in all aspects of life) quicker

Question 7

What occurs in adulthood?

Answer 7

Working memory & Processing speed:
- Researchers consistently find declines when it comes to working memory and processing speed
- However, can be improved through memory training!
- Moderate Exercise = Faster reaction time
- Aerobic Endurance = stronger working memory

Point: there is plasticity as you get older so don’t worry!

Question 8

Types of memory in adulthood:

Answer 8

Episodic Memory: Retention of information of the “where” and “when” of life events
- Color of walls in childhood home; what did you eat for breakfast; what were you doing on 9/11
- This falls under implicit memory

Semantic Memory: Person’s knowledge about the world (field of expertise, academic, meaning of words, important places)
- Will continue to increase through 50’s but will decline (more than episodic) around the 70’s
- This falls under explicit memory

Source Memory: Ability to remember where someone learned something (physical setting, emotional, identity of speaker)
- This falls under implicit memory

Prospective Memory: Remembering to do something in the future (taking medicine or running an errand)
- Declines significantly in late adulthood

Question 9

SHALLOW PROCESSING:

Answer 9

Encode information on basic auditory or visual levels, based on the sound, structure or appearance of a word

Question 10

DEEP PROCESSING:

Answer 10

• Encodes semantically, based on actually meaning associated with that word
• Leon means lion in greek and he was a very vicious hero