W7L1 - Cognitive Theories of Memory

Question 1

Does implicit memory = procedural memory?
Does explicit memory = declarative memory?
Which one is more meaningful in study of amnesia?

Answer 1

Implicit/Explicit Memory:

• Set of memory tasks
• Do not measure cognitive theory

Procedural/Declarative Memory:
- Derived from dissociable cognitive theories

procedural/declarative distinction

Question 2

What is procedural memory and what is it supported by

Answer 2

• Storage of skills, important for motor performance

- Supported by memory systems independent of hippocampal formation

Question 3

What is declarative memory and what is it supported by

Answer 3

• Accumulation of facts/data derived from learning
  experiences
• Processed by various processing systems (which feed hippocampal formation - due to relational nature of hippocampal formation, declarative memory is relational)

Question 4

What are the 4 models of memory

Answer 4

A: Serial Models

1. ) Atkinson-Shiffrin Model
2. ) Levels of Processing Model
3. ) Tulving’s Model

B: Parallel Model
4.) Parallel Distributed Processing Model

Question 5

1.) Atkinson-Shiffrin Model

Answer 5

(Incoming info)
1.) Sensory Memory > Info not attended to lost
(attended)
2.) STM/Working Memory > forgetting
(rehersal)
(encoding + retrieval) 
3.) LTM > Forgetting

Question 6

2.) Levels of Processing Model

Answer 6

• Information retained based on level of
  processing it has undergone

1. ) Shallow-deep continuum
2. ) Maintenance vs. Elaborative rehearsal

Question 7

3.) Tulving’s Model

Answer 7

Same template as Atkinson-Shiffrin Model (STM-LTM)

LTM
– Procedural
– Episodic
– Semantic

Question 8

4.) Parallel Distributed Processing Model. How are memories activated and how is learning conducted

Answer 8

Memory = Activation of connections in different
areas (distribution) simultaneously (parallel) [PATTERN OF ACTIVATION]

Learning = Strength of connection between relevant sites is changed

Question 9

Breakdown memory into its components

Answer 9

1) LTM = Declarative (Facts) + Procedural (Skills)

2. ) Declarative = Episodic & Semantic

Question 10

What is episodic memory

Answer 10

Knowledge of an event/ fact with the ADDITIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS that we have thought of or experienced it before
(mental time travel)

Question 11

Tulving’s conceptualisation of EPISODIC memory in extension of atkinson. What is it

Answer 11

• Conscious recollection of one’s personal past
• Re-experience (via. autonoetic awareness) previous experiences and project similar experiences into the future

Autonoetic awareness = highly personalized feeling of (re)experiencing oneself in the autobiographical past or present

Question 12

Tulving’s conceptualisation of episodic memory in extension of atkinson. What does it operation of episodic system depend on.

Answer 12

Operations depend on semantic and other forms of memory

• Shares neural mechanisms and cognitive processes with other systems
• Specific mechanisms/processes not component of any other system

Question 13

How independent is Semantic-Episode based on Squire and Zola. What is it dependent on and what is their evidence?

Answer 13

Entirely parallel within delcarative memory = No dissociation

• Dependent on the hippocampal system. Damage results in equal impairment to episodic and semantic

Evidence: Amnesic patients have equal difficulties with
‘event’ and ‘fact’ memory (HM)

Question 14

How independent is Semantic-Episode based on Tulving

Answer 14

Share many features but are not parallel systems

Serial Parallel Independent (SPI) Hypothesis

Question 15

What is the SPI Hypothesis

Answer 15

Semantic needed to encode in Episodic (Extension of semantic)

Encoding into semantic memory relies on
semantic system

– Retrieval is independent, can be supported by
either system or both

Question 16

Dissociation/Double dissociation in Tulving’s Model

Answer 16

Encoding;
Semantic: Single Dissociation. Affects both semantic and episode
Episodic: Double Dissociation. Affects episodic but does not affect semantic.

Retrieval
Semantic and Episodic: Double Dissociation

Question 17

Vargha-Khadem et al. 1997 Overview of the kids what kind of impariments do they have

Answer 17

Investigated 3 patients who had suffered very
early bilateral medial temporal lobe injury

• Abnormally small bilateral hippocampi
• Relatively intact extra-hippocampal temporal lobe

Question 18

Vargha-Khadem et al. 1997 Results. What does it tell us about episodic memory.

Answer 18

• Impaired memory function (episodic) vs intellectual capacity (semantic) = dissociation

Episodic relies on hippocampal circuit (Fits within SPI model)

Question 19

Is procedural memory affected in amnesic patients?

Answer 19

Not generally affected

Question 20

What does activation of declarative memory lead to. Can activation of declarative memories be independent of…?

Answer 20

• Activation of declarative memory = Activation of
  related memories

This activation can be activated independent of environment