Chapter 7: Long Term Memory Encoding Retrieval And Consolidation

Question 1

Define encoding

Answer 1

The process of acquiring info and transferring it into LTM

Question 2

Define retrieval

Answer 2

The process of transferring info from LTM into WM

Question 3

Discuss the process of encoding

Answer 3

Maintenance rehearsal: repeating info without any consideration of meaning or connection with other info

Elaborate rehearsal: remembering info by considering meaning or making connections to other info.

Levels of processing theory: states that memory depends on the depth of processing that an item receives
+ Shallow processing involves little attention to meaning
+ Deep processing involves close attention focusing on an item’s meaning and relating it to something else.

Forming visual images
Paired associate learning

Linking words to yourself
Self reference effect: memory is better if you are asked to relate something to yourself.

Generating information
Generation effect: enhances learning and retention

Organising information
Retrieval cue: a word or other stimulus that helps a person remember info stored in memory

Question 4

Discuss the process of retrieval

Answer 4

Testing effect: enhanced performance due to retrieval practice.

Enactment effect: refers to the notion that when you do something with an object you will be more likely to remember the object later

Retrieval cues: stimuli that help remember info stored in memory.

• cued recall
• free recall

Matching conditions of encoding and retrieval
* Retrieval can be increased by matching the conditions at retrieval to the conditions that existed at encoding
- encoding specificity: states we encode info along with it’s context or matching context in which encoding and retrieval occur.
Context reinstatement: going back to event

• state dependent learning: learning that’s associated with a certain internal state like mood or state of awareness. matching internal mood present during encoding and retrieval.
  Mood congruent memory: refers to the correspondence between memory content and current mood state.
• transfer appropriate processing: matching the task involved in encoding and retrieval

Question 5

Define consolidation

Answer 5

Is the process that transforms new memories from a fragile state in which it can be disrupted to a more permanent state in which they are resistant to disruption

Synaptic consolidation takes place over minute to hours involving structural changes at synapse

• experience causes changes at synapse.
• cells that fire together wire together
• long term potentiation: enhanced firing of neurons after repeated stimulation.

Systems consolidation takes place over months or years involves gradual reorganization or neural circuits within the brain.

• the hippocampus is important in forming new memories
• standard model of consolidation: proposes that incoming info activates a number of areas in the cortex and activation is distributed across the cortex because memories commonly involve many sensory and cognitive areas
• major mechanism of consolidation reactivation is the process in which the hippocampus replays the neural activity associated with a memory.
• hippocampus controlled binding process has been referred to as cross cortical consolidation.
• retro grade amnesia: the loss of memory for events that occurred before injury
• graded amnesia: where it tends to be most severe for events that happened just before the injury and to become less severe for earlier events.

Question 6

Discuss the multiple trace model of consolidation

Answer 6

The hippocampus is involved in retrieval of episodic memory even if they originated long ago.

Response of hippocampus decrease over time which occurs when memories that have lost episodic character and are now more semantic in nature

Question 7

How does the relationship between consolidation and sleep enhance memory?

Answer 7

Sleeping after learning eliminate environmental stimuli that may interfere with consolidation.

Consolidation appears to be enhanced during sleep and that sleep doesn’t just enhance episodic and procedural memory but also that it’s selective in the sense that it strengthens those memories that are relevant to us.

Salience tags: attached to memories during or shortly after encoding during initial selection process.

Question 8

Describe the relationship between retrieval and reconsolidation

Answer 8

Reconsolidation is the process of updating memory. when a memory is retrieved it becomes fragile like it’s original formation and needs to be consolidated again and is at this point where a retrieved memory can be changed strengthened or erased.

Question 9

What are some effective studying techniques

Answer 9

Elaborate: thinking about what you are reading and giving it meaning by relating it to other things that you know.
Association is forming a link between 2 or more things.
Elaborative interrogation: involves asking why questions to prompt an explanation for a stated fact.

Generate and test
Testing requires active involvement with the material. It shows what you know and increases your ability to remember what you know later.

Organise
Creating a frame work that helps relate some info to other info to make material more meaningful and strengthen encoding.

Take breaks
Study on a number of shorter sessions than trying to learn everything at once. Called spacing effect

Avoid illusion of learning
Fluency
Familiarity effect
Highlighting