Week 5-Short Term Memory

Question 1

What is Memory?

Answer 1

Acquire & Store; retain and retrieve information
Sensory overload-processing
Memories can be easily manipulated

Question 2

What are the three stages of learning and memory?

Answer 2

1) Encoding-Memory trace
2) Storage
3) Retrieval-Access and recovering information

Question 3

What happens in the Free Recall Paradigm?

Answer 3

Study of Memory, presenting info-string of words, retention of information, recalling it

Item Presented; Retention Interval; Recall

Question 4

How can you manipulate variables in the Free Recall Paradigm?

Answer 4

Items presented- Manipulate the number of words presented; the complexity of words; personal and emotional relevance of words; order of presentation of items; full attention when items presented?

Retention Interval- Manipulate amount of time for retention (long or short interval); use an interference task whilst trying to retain the information

Recall- Free Recall/ Cues to recall, or changing the order of recall

Question 5

What is the Serial Position Curve and what does it test?

Answer 5

Peterson & Peterson-Counting backwards, recall accuracy. The time that leads to memory decay.
Serial Position Curve- If you introduce delay- recency drops off; unstable and vulnerable to forgetting,

Recency Effect
Primacy Effect-Rehearsal Possible

Question 6

What Neuropsychological evidence is there for memory and the serial position curve?

Answer 6

Patients H.M and K.F

K.F:
-Poor short term span (digit span)
-Damage to the parietal and occipital lobe
(Storing and retaining info-double dissociation between short and long term memory)

H.M

• Patients can’t store new information in long term memory, so watches the same film over and over again; eating the same meal repeatedly because they forget they ate it
• Damage of hippocampus-hold a conversation

Question 7

Is short term memory active or passive?

Answer 7

Active (Disturbed by interruption)

Question 8

What are the brain regions used in the short term memory?

Answer 8

Frontal lobes

Question 9

How is short term memory converted to long term memory?

Answer 9

Time, concentrated effort and the absence of interference in memory consolidation

Question 10

How does short term memory work?

Answer 10

Sensory memory(Visual; auditory; other senses)—–>Attention——> short term working memory (Encoding-the process it)——> Long term memory (but an interlink of retrieval of information which can go back to short term working memory)