PSY1020 Memory

Question 1

What is Memory

Answer 1

Memory is the process by which we take something we have observed (encountered) and convert it into a form we can store, retreive and use

Question 2

3 processes of memory

Answer 2

• Encoding
• Storage
• Retrieval

Question 3

What are mental representations

Answer 3

A mental model of a stimulus or category of stimuli

Question 4

Types of Mental Representations

Answer 4

• Sensory (eg: visual or sound)
• Verbal (information stored in words)
• Motoric (motor actions, eg: swinging a tennis racket)

Question 5

The Mind as a computer model

Answer 5

1. sensory registers (limited duration, potentially unlimited capacity)
2. Short term memory
3. Long term memory

Question 6

Sensory Registers

Answer 6

Hold information about perceived stimulus for a fraction of a second after the stimulus disappears.
One sensory register for every sensory system
-Iconic storage: momentary storage of visual info
-Echoic storage: momentary storage of auditory info

Question 7

Short Term Memory

Answer 7

limited capacity (7 chunks plus or minus 2)
limited duration (20-30 seconds)
in theory info can be kept for an infinite amount of time by repeatedly rehearsing (until interrupted) - verbalising or thinking about the info

Question 8

Long Term Memory

Answer 8

The representation of facts, images, actions and skills that may persist over a lifetime

• potentially limitless in duration and capacity
• LTM deficit: person shows normal working memory but can not transfer info to LTM

Question 9

Retrieval

Answer 9

extracting information from the Long Term Memory

Question 10

Serial Position Curve

Answer 10

supports existence of STM vs LTM

• Primacy effect reflects LTM
• Recency effect reflects STM

Question 11

Evolution of Memory Model

Mind as Brain

Answer 11

• no longer thought of in terms or serial processing model
• no longer thought of in terms of processing like a computer
• now thought to be comprised of a number of modules which are discrete and interdependent (parallel processing)
• recognised remembering is not always conscious or retroactive

Question 12

Working Memory

Answer 12

a component of STM

• temporary storage & processing of info used to:
  1. solve problems
  2. respond to environmental demands
  3. achieve goals
• Deficit: person has memory span of 2 digits, but normal LTM

Question 13

3 memory systems of Working Memory (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974)

Answer 13

1. Central Executive - flow and processing of info, limited capacity, rehersal, reasoning, multitasking
2. Visual Memory Store (or Visuospatial Sketchpad) temporary image, 20-30 seconds, as well as info about location and nature of object (eg: mentally rearranging furniture)
3. Verbal Memory Store (or phonological loop) verbalising items, limited capacity (represents ALL of STM in the original model, active when using rehearsal to temporarily hold onto information)

Question 14

Episodic buffer

Answer 14

temporary limited capacity store allows various components of working memory to integrate information
-interface between working memory and long term memory

Question 15

Working Memory

Answer 15

• thought to be directed by the Pre-frontal cortex

- easily accessed, but limited in capacity

Question 16

Verbal and Visual Working Memory

Answer 16

activate different cortical regions of the brain - demonstrating the interdependence of different components of working memory

Question 17

Chunking

Answer 17

the use of knowledge from LTM to group info into larger units to increase the capacity of working memory

Question 18

LTM Storage Overview

Answer 18

2 types - Declarative (facts and events) and Procedural (for the ‘how to’ of skills and procedures

Question 19

LTM Declarative memory - 2 forms of storage

Answer 19

• Semantic: general world knowledge or facts

- Episodic: memories of specific events which is autobiographical in nature

Question 20

LTM Expression Overview - 2 forms

Answer 20

• Explicit Memory: expressed through conscious recollection (eg: phone numbers)
• Implicit Memory: expressed in behaviour but does not require conscious recollection (eg: driving a car)

Question 21

LTM Explicit Memory - 2 forms

Answer 21

• Recall: spontaneous conscious recollection of information from LTM (eg: responding to open ended question in an exam)
• Recognition: identification of something previous seen or learned (eg: responding to multiple choice question in exam)

Question 22

Memory consolidation

Answer 22

much of the process of storing memory happens in the medial temporal lobe

Question 23

Encoding in LTM

Answer 23

storage of info requires encoding
the type and level of encoding influences accessibility:
1. Shallow: focuses on physical characteristics
2. Deep: focuses on the meaning of the stimulus

Question 24

Context and Retrieval

Answer 24

Context and Mood provide retrieval cues

Question 25

Spacing

Answer 25

superiority of memory for information rehearsed over longer periods

Question 26

Mnemonic devices

Answer 26

systematic strategies for retrieval and to enhance memory, eg: - Method of Loci - visual imagery tool - SQ4R: Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review, Write

Question 27

How LTM is organised

Answer 27

- organised in clusters of info related in meaning - semantic networks of association - nodes may contain thoughts, images, smells, emotions or any other info - mnemonic devices allow one to add concepts to existing networks

Question 28

Hierarchical storage

Answer 28

like a filing cabinet - important things at the front

Question 29

Schemas

Answer 29

organised clusters of knowledge extracted from previous events

Question 30

Daniel Schacter - 7 sins of memory

Answer 30

1. Transience - fade with time 2. Absent-mindedness - need to pay attention to remember 3. Misattribution - source amnesia 4. Suggestability - thinking we remember 5. Bias - distortions in recall 6. Persistence - recurring memories 7. Forgetting - inability to remember

Question 31

Accuracy of long-term memory

Answer 31

Memory is subject to errors and biases -memory can be primed -memory is altered by emotional factors Eyewitness testimony can be manipulated by leading questions

Question 32

Flashbulb memory

Answer 32

- vivid memories of exciting or highly consequential events - dependent on adrenaline - rarely 100% accurate - degree of accuracy decreases and time increases

Question 33

Theories of forgetting

Answer 33

usually occurs due to deficits in encoding and retrieving - pseudo forgetting - encoding never occured - ineffective encoding - shallow (phonemic rather than semantic level)

Question 34

Decay theory - theory of forgetting

Answer 34

fading neural trace weakened with disuse

Question 35

Interference theory - theory of forgetting

Answer 35

conflict between new and old memories -Proactive - old interferes with new -Retroactive - new interferes with old stronger theory than decay theory

Question 36

Motivated forgetting - theory of forgetting

Answer 36

implies forgetting can avoid painful memories

Question 37

Amnesia

Answer 37

- Retrograde - losing memories prior to damage | - Anterograde - losing memories after damage

Question 38

Memory Summary

Answer 38

- Memory initially conceived of as STM and LTM - now recognised as comprising of multiple types of memory - Rehearsal, maintenance or elaborative helps transfer info from STM to LTM stores - memory is a reconstructive process that mingles representations of actual experience with general knowledge