Week 8 Autobiographical Memory Flashcards
what is an autobiographical memory
memory from specific experiences in our lives (episodic and semantic)
important characteristics of autobio memories
multidimensional (senses, location, emotion) - individual components play a role in retrieval
we remember some better than others
the self and the brain
prefrontal cortex: processing info about the self
hippocampus: recall
memory over the life span + reminiscent bump
good for recent years and in young adulthood/adolescence
why is memory for adolescence good
self image hypothesis: Memory enhanced for events that occur as a person’s self image/life identity is being formed
cognitive hypothesis: Periods of rapid change followed by periods of stability cause stronger encoding of memories
cultural-life-script hypothesis: Distinguishes between a person’s life story (events in life) and a cultural life script (culturally expected events that occur at a particular time in the life span)
emotions are associated with memory, what part of the brain in particular
amygdala - gives boost to consolidation and encoding of events/info
stress shows more consolidation
flashbulb memory
personal significance
memory for the moment of learning about an emotional/suprising/significant event
often how you HEAR about it
very vivid
timeline of childhood amnesia
adults: cant remember before 3/4
starts around 7
like adults by 10
what causes childhood amnesia
many changes in brain that young
-refining neural networks/structure
experience world differently that young - harder to access memories
as you develop more sense of self/independence, the way you store autobiographical info changes
-shift in creation of memories
what can cause childhood memories to persist
emotion (family lore)
story telling (parents help with this) - social component to memory
evolutionary advantage (dont get hurt again)
how do others/partners help us remember (socially distributed cognitive systems)
cue information
bits of info in each person
recalling info together gets more info than individual (socially distributed cognitive systems)
how could emotion affect memory
attentional focus/intensity
encoding depth/elaboration
degree of rehearsal
consolidation
affect/emotion acts as retrieval cue
flashbulb memories have been shown to be iffy, what is reliable or nonreliable about them
details iffy
basic ideas reliable
what do flashbulb memories depend on
prior knowledge
personal importance
emotional state
overt rehearsal/storytelling
what is hypermnesia and what brain region is it associated with
super memory for autobiographical memories
large caudate nucleus
way they organize is linked to OCD
narrative rehearsal hypothesis
The idea that memory can be affected by what happens after the event
We may remember events not because of a special mechanism, but because we rehearse these events after they occur
affects flashbulb memories
repeated recall in the context of flashbulb memories
the technique of comparing later memories to memories collected immediately after the event
narrative rehearsal hypothesis
the idea that memory can be affected by what happens after the event
we may remember events not because of a special mechanism, but because we rehearse these events after they occur
What is meant by the constructive nature of memory?
Memories are constructed based on what actually happened plus additional knowledge, experiences, and expectations.
What is source monitoring?
The process of determining the origins of our memories, knowledge, or beliefs.
What is a source monitoring error?
A: Misidentifying the source of a memory (also called source misattributions).
How does constructive memory relate to source monitoring errors?
A: When remembering, we retrieve information and try to determine where it came from, which can lead to errors.
What is the illusory truth effect?
Why does it happen
Repetition of a statement increases the likelihood it will be judged as true.
illusion of fluency
What is pragmatic inference?
Expecting information not explicitly stated, based on experience (e.g., “The baby stayed awake all night” → “The baby cried all night”).
ways real world knowledge affects memory
culture
making inferences
schemas
false recall and recognition (theme words)
What is the misinformation effect?
Misleading post-event info (MPI) can alter how people later describe an event.
affects memory but also other characteristics of the event
struggle with exceptional memory
cluttered blackboard
not good at reasoning/filling in blanks
how do we ‘create’ childhood memories that didnt actually happen
hear event you dont remember
wait
causes event to emerge in your mind
what can contribute to false memories
time between exposures
familiarity
What assumptions are made about eyewitnesses?
They clearly saw the event and can accurately describe it.
What is weapon focus?
A: Attention drawn to a weapon, reducing focus on other details.
misidentification of perpetrators from lineups (repeated lineups) can be caused by
familiarity and source monitor error
post-identification feedback effect
Increased confidence in an ID after receiving confirming feedback. (nod from police officer)
What are better lineup procedures?
Informing witness suspect may not be present
Using similar fillers
Blind administrator
Recording confidence immediately
What is a cognitive interview?
A method that allows the witness to talk freely, recreating the context to enhance recall with less suggestion.
Why do false confessions happen?
Mild suggestions and fake evidence can convince someone they’re guilty.
What’s a safeguard against false confessions?
Recording all interrogations.
What is the Proust effect?
Memories unlocked by taste or smell (e.g., crayons, food).
What are MEAMs?
Music-enhanced autobiographical memories—emotional, involuntary memories triggered by music.
can help Alzheimers patients
we perceive flashbulb memories as very __
vivid
new suggested name for flashbulb memories
memories of personal circumstances
