Week 8: Memory and memory assessment Flashcards
What is memory?
Memory is a process by which we take things that we have observed, and convert it into a form we can store, retrieve, and use.
What is the process of memory?
Encoding > storage > retrieval
What is the information processing model of memory?
A stimulus goes to the sensory registers, some information is lost and some information moves to short-term memory (STM). At STM, some information is lost and information that is rehearsed goes into long-term memory (LTM). Information is retrieved from LTM back to STM and is recalled. Information can be lost from LTM.
What is short-term memory?
It is the temporary storage of information which lasts from seconds to hours.
What is long-term memory?
It is the storage of information which is permanent and more stable than STM.
What is declarative memory?
It is the ability to store and retrieve specific pieces of information or knowledge consciously.
What is procedural or implicit memory?
It regulates change in behaviour based on experience, without the person necessarily having conscious awareness of what produced the change.
What is semantic memory?
It is the memory of general facts or concepts.
What is episodic memory?
It is the memory of information that is situational and context specific.
What is working memory?
It is a limited capacity cognitive system relating to the temporary storage and manipulation of information.
What is the phonological loop?
The storage system that actively maintains information based on its acoustic and phonemic characteristics. It decays rapidly unless rehearsed.
What is the visuospatial sketchpad?
It stores and actively maintains visual and spatial information.
What is the central executive system?
It supervises the PL and VS by regulating the flow of information, controlling attentional resources, and engaging the LTM system when required.
What is the Wechsler Memory Scale?
It is tool that assesses learning, memory and working memory, consisting of 7 subtests across 5 different domains.
What are the 5 domains for the WMS?
- Auditory memory
- Visual memory
- Visual working memory (no auditory)
- Immediate memory
- Delayed memory
What is the auditory memory index?
It measures a person’s ability to remember orally presented information.
What is the visual memory index?
It measures a person’s ability to remember visually presented information.
What is the visual working memory index?
It measures a person’s ability to remember and manipulate visually presented information in short-term memory storage.
What is the immediate memory index?
It measures a person’s ability to remember both oral and visual information immediately after it is presented.
What is the delayed memory index?
It measures a person’s ability to remember both oral and visual information after a 20-30 min delay.
What are the strengths of the WMS?
The development of the test was guided by significant research and there is a shorter version for older patients. The scoring criteria has improved, along with ease of administration, and strong psychometric properties.
What are the weaknesses of the WMS?
- Loaded too high on attention
- Removal of two trials from LM not empirically decided
- Too long
- Clinical benefit has yet to be demonstrated
- Australia adaptation but American norms
- Small clinical samples
- Battery approach to memory assessment potentially demoralising for memory impaired people
