Week 3 MSM (learning and cognition 2)

Question 1

What is memory?

Answer 1

A set of storage systems and processes for encoding, storing, and retrieving information acquired through our senses and for relating this information to previously acquired knowledge

Question 2

Memory is the mental representation of

Answer 2

knowledge within memory systems stored within neural networks of the brain.

Question 3

Proposal of Multi-Store Model of Memory Theory

Answer 3

The model was first proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) in the early days of the “cognitive revolution’.

Question 4

MSM stores

Answer 4

• Memory consists of three “stores” (think systems in terms of the terminology I have been using).
  1. Sensory memory
  2. Short-term memory (working memory).
  3. Long-term memory.

    * The three stores can be distinguished based on how long memory is retained (duration), and how much information can be stored (capacity).

Question 5

Encoding

Answer 5

The processes involved in attending to and acquiring information from experiences and mental processes

Question 6

Encoding aids in the:

Answer 6

• Registration of information in sensory regions of brain
  * Attention to elements of an experience
  Interpretation and integration of experience with prior knowledge

Question 7

Storage

Answer 7

Encoding produces representations of information that are consolidated in memory traces stored in networks of neurons throughout the brain.

Question 8

Storage aids in:

Answer 8

• Different kinds of memories are stored in different networks.
  
  • Storage capacity and duration differ between the different memory systems.

Question 9

Retrieval

Answer 9

• “Remembering”, “knowing” and ”doing”
  
  • Everything from personal reminiscence of past experiences, recalling facts, executing practiced motor skills, to conditioned responses.
  • Explicit and implicit retrieval processes
  • A reconstructive and (sometimes) error-prone process that changes the memory trace through ‘reconsolidation’ after retrieval.

Question 10

Encoding Storage and Retrieval Diagram

Question 11

Sensory Memory

Answer 11

• A temporary, sensory-based representation of input received through sensory channels.
  
  • Provides a buffer (‘holding area’) between early sensory processes and later cognitive processes.
  • Only some of the information stored in sensory memory will be retained.

Question 12

Iconic Memory is

Answer 12

visual memory

Question 13

Echoic Memory is

Answer 13

auditory memory

Question 14

Capacity and Duration of

Answer 14

• Brief duration (decays quickly)
  * Large capacity (relative to STM).

Question 15

Sperling’s Study aim of Sensory Memory

Answer 15

George Sperling (1960) used a series of ingenious experiments to determine the capacity and duration of iconic memory

Experiment, 4 students & colleagues of Sperlings

Question 16

Sperling Study 1:

Answer 16

Shown 12 letters for ~50 milliseconds

Asked to write down as many letters as they could recall

Question 17

Sperling Study 2:

Answer 17

Shown 12 letters, then a tone (high, medium or low) would sound which indicated the line of letters which they should recall

Question 18

Sperling Results

Answer 18

Suggests that the image of all the letters was stored in iconic memory after the image left the screen, but not for very long (ie unlimited capacity, duration of 0.3 seconds)

	* Sperling found that participants could name only 4 of the letters on average.
	* However, they reported feeling like they briefly had access to a visual image of the entire display, but that it faded more quickly than they had time to read the letters.
	* It was as if the information was being read from a rapidly decaying (fading) icon.....

Question 19

Iconic Memory Capacity explored in Sperling

Answer 19

• Sperling felt that the full-report method was likely to have underestimated the true capacity of the iconic trace.
  
  • He devised the partial-report method that I describe in the following slides to test his theory that the capacity of the visual icon was much greater than just 4 items

Question 20

Iconic Memory Duration explored in Sperling

Answer 20

• A simple modification of the partial report method allowed Sperling to estimate the duration of the iconic trace.
  * He systematically varied the retention interval between turning off the stimulus array and presenting the cue for which line to report.
  * He found that memory performance reduced to one item after approximately 500 milliseconds (half-a-second).

Question 21

Overarching of Sperling

Answer 21

• Sperling’s methods provide an elegant demonstration of using behavioural measures to test theories about the properties of an internal cognitive process.
  • Sperling’s full report method was intended to provide a measure of visual sensory memory capacity. However, the results underestimated the capacity of visual sensory memory because: the time required for verbal reporting of more than 3-4 letter names exceeded the duration of the iconic trace
  • Part of the development of cognitive-behavioural methods and theories, and rejection of radical Behaviourism.
  • The duration of the iconic memory trace is approximately 500 milliseconds