WEEK 9 - Memory Part 1 Flashcards
What is the “passivist” theoretical approach to memory?
When the registering of information, its storage, and its retrieval is done passively. It occurs without us having any influence on the process, as if humans are machine-like and somewhat removed from the process.
What is the “activist” theoretical approach to memory?
We actively influence our memories whereby our personal histories, personality, current mood, and so on can influence the memory process. The activist view sees memories as an “intersection between actual experience and interpretation” and considers the role of an individual’s imagination and possible reconstruction of events.
What is cognitive psychology?
Revolves around the acquisition and use of knowledge. It is a relatively young area that was “born” in the 1960’s. A defining characteristic of cognitive psychology both historically and still today, is to view people as information processors.
What do cognitive psychologists typically focus on?
Language, problem solving, decision making, learning and memory.
How do psychologists see memory?
As both a sequence of cognitive processes, as suggested by the information-processing, levels-of-processing and transfer- appropriate processing approaches, and in terms of underlying brain activity, as suggested by the parallel distributed processing and multiple memory systems approaches.
What is memory?
Memory refers to the processes that are used to acquire, store and later retrieve it for use. It also allows us to:
- Learn about the things in our environment that promote survival
- Avoid those things that may harm us and is the retention of information over time
What is a memory illusion?
Our brains will often go beyond the available information to make sense of the world.
The impressive capacity of human memory depends on the operation of a…?
Complex mental system
The mathematician John Griffith estimated that in an average life time, each of us will have stored ____ times as much information as can be found in all the volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica?
500 times
What are the THREE basic memory processes?
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
What is encoding? (Basic memory process)
Where you first encode the information and then put that information into memory using memory modes, such as:
Acoustic memory
Visual memory
Semantic memory
What is an acoustic memory?
Also known as auditory memory, acoustic memories represent information as sequences of sounds, such as a tune or a rhyme
e.g if you see a billboard that reads ‘Kev’s Going-Out-of-Business Sale’, you might encode the sound of the words as if they had been spoken
What is a visual memory?
Consists of the representation of information as pictures
e.g a billboard with the letter’s ‘Kev’s Going-Out-of-Business Sale’, and the image of the letters as they were arranged on the sign are remembered
What is semantic memory?
The representation of experience.
E.g you saw an advertisement while watching the cricket
OR
You remember that a car was parked in your neighbours’ driveway just before their house was robbed
What coding system are Indigenous Australian children more likely to employ in a memory task than European children?
Visual coding system
What are mnemonics?
Learning aids that enhances recall. E.g schemes to remember math.
What are the two types of processing information during encoding called?
Automatic Processing
Effortful processing
What is Automatic Processing?
Typically done without conscious awareness and relies on the encoding of details such as time, space, frequency and the meaning of words.
E.g, whilst you are at work a colleague asks, “What did you have for lunch today?”.
This is something you could probably answer fairly easily because it was a recent event, and they asked you in the same environment that you had lunch, such as the office. In addition, perhaps you tend to have the same lunch most work days! All of these factors together would make the process easy to encode this information, without you having to go to any particular effort.
What is Effortful Processing?
Refers to encoding that requires a lot of work and attention in order to store, and later retrieve that information when you need it.
E.g, studying for exams!
There are many strategies to do this, each usually requiring quite a bit of effort on your part in order to make sure you encode the right information, understand the information, and can recall it when you need it (i.e. during your exam).
What is the key with encoding?
To turn new information into something meaningful.
What is Storage? (Basic memory process)
-Where you maintain the information over time that you encoded in the memory - it’s similar to filing a hard copy document on a shelf, or an electronic file stored within an online folder.
There are three types of long-term memory which are:
o Episodic
o Procedural
o Semantic
Note: It is important to sleep to consolidate learning specially the day after learning. Crucial for long term memory.
What is an episodic memory?
A memory of an event that happened while one was present. As a general rule, people report episodic memories by saying, ‘I remember when …
What is a semantic memory?
A type of memory containing generalised knowledge of the world.
For example, knowing that football is a sport
What is a procedural memory?
A type of memory containing information about how to do things. Procedural knowledge often consists of a sequence of movements that are difficult or impossible to put into words.
Example #1 - riding a bike or tying your shoe laces.
Example #2 - a gymnast might not be able to describe the exact motions in a particular routine.
Example #3 - Playing piano
Accordingly, teachers of sports, music, dance and other skills usually prefer to first show their students what to do rather than describe how to do it.
Why type of memory has developmental and cultural differences?
Episodic memory.
Why can’t we recall memories from the first two or three years of our lives?
Due to the delayed development of hippocampal– neocortical connectivity.
Is the recollection of episodic, semantic, and procedural (types of long-term memory) intentional or unintentional? (aka implicit or explicit?)
Can be both!
BUT procedural memory usually operates implicitly.
What are explicit memories?
When you consciously and intentionally try to remember something.
Example: a memory where you went on vacation or the correct answer to an exam question.
What are implicit memories?
The unintentional recollection and influences of prior experiences.
For example, if you were to read this chapter a second time, implicit memories from your first reading would help you read it more quickly the second time. This improvement in performance is called priming and is automatic, and it occurs without conscious effort.
What types of memory does playing tennis involve?
All three types!
Episodic
Semantic
Procedural
What is priming?
An automatic, unconscious improvement in performance
e.g reading a book chapter for the first time, and then rereading a second time much quicker.
What is retrieval? (Basic memory process)
When you locate information stored in memory and bring it into consciousness. Here you recover the information.
What are the two types of retrieval tests?
Recall - retrieve it from memory without much help. This is what is required when you answer an essay test question or do a crossword puzzle.
Recognition - retrieval is aided by clues, such as the response alternatives given on multiple-choice tests and the questions that were asked on the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? TV show. Accordingly, recognition tends to be easier than recall.
What are the 3 R’s necessary to measure memories?
Recall
Recognition
Relearning
If any of the above fails, forgetting will occur.
