Working Memory

Question 1

Working memory

Answer 1

the stage where we store info while also processing incoming info (control centre)

Question 2

short term memory

Answer 2

holds onto limited information for a short period of time

Question 3

long term memory

Answer 3

large capacity storage system acquired throughout lifetime

Question 4

chunk

Answer 4

memory unit that consists of several components strongly associated with one another

Question 5

how many individual items can we hold in our short term memory?

Answer 5

about 5-9 items

Question 6

What did the Brown/Peterson and Peterson technique show about short term memory?

Answer 6

Short term memory is fragile, stored in seconds

inspired further study and increased support for cognitive approach

Question 7

describe the Brown/Peterson and Peterson Technique

Answer 7

asked to remember items, then given a distracting task, then tasked to recall earlier items

Question 8

What is the serial position effect/test?

Answer 8

present a list and ask people to recall the list

Question 9

What is the recency effect and what if the assumption behind it?

Answer 9

recall end of list in a serial position test

most recent information in short term memory

Question 10

what is the primacy effect and what is the assumption behind it?

Answer 10

recall for beginning of list

less competition and more rehearsal

Question 11

semantics

Answer 11

the meaning of words and sentences

Question 12

Proactive Interference (PI)

Answer 12

trouble learning new material because previously learned info keeps interfering with new learning

Question 13

what can release proactive interference

Answer 13

changing chunk type

(ABC, OIK, ALE –> 123, 492, 478) problem remembering ALE, but no problem remembering 123

Question 14

How do semantic factors influence short term memory?

Answer 14

influences the number of items we can store

Question 15

what does the # of items stored in short-term memory depend on?

Answer 15

chunking strategies and word meaning

Question 16

Describe the Information-Processing Approach

Answer 16

computer comparison, info processed in stages

Question 17

Atkinson-Shiffrin model

Answer 17

memory involves a sequence of steps (one storage to the next)

Question 18

Describe the stages of the Atkinson-Shiffrin Model

Answer 18

sensory memory–>short-term memory–> long term memory

Question 19

control processes

Answer 19

intentional strategies to improve memory

Question 20

what is sensory memory described as now?

Answer 20

Perception

Question 21

is the Atkinson-Shiffrin model still relevant?

Answer 21

No, cognitive research has since moved onto the theory of working memory

Question 22

Working memory

Answer 22

brief, immediate memory for the limited amount of material that you are currently processing

(actively coordinates ongoing mental activity)

control centre

Question 23

what are the characteristics of working memory?

Answer 23

active process

capacity and time limited

Question 23

Phonological loop

Answer 23

can process limited number of sounds for a short period of time

Question 24

subvocalization

Answer 24

silently pronouncing words when you are reading

Question 24

working memory approach

Answer 24

immediate memory is a multipart system that temporarily holds info and manipulates info while we perform cognitive tasks imagine a brain with hands working with information it receives and choosing how we perform tasks from the information

Question 25

it it easier to remember different or similar sounds in the phonological loop?

Answer 25

different

Question 26

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 26

allows magnetic field to stimulate specific location on cortex

Question 26

what brain areas are activated when storing complex, lengthy sentences?

Answer 26

left frontal lobe and left parietal lobe

Question 27

what brain areas are active with the phonological loop?

Answer 27

frontal lobe and temporal lobe in left hemisphere

Question 28

Visuospatial sketchpad

Answer 28

processes both visual and spatial info allows storage of a coherent picture of both visual appearance of objects and relative positions in a scene

Question 29

what brain areas are active in the Visuospatial sketchpad?

Answer 29

right hemisphere, occipital lobe, frontal lobe depending on task frontal and parietal lobe when attentional

Question 29

can one perform two visuospatial tasks at the same time?

Answer 29

hard to perform 2 tasks at the same time

Question 30

central executive

Answer 30

integrates info from phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, the episodic buffer, and the long-term memory

Question 31

What activities does the central executive assist with?

Answer 31

focusing attention, selecting strategies, transforming info, coordinating behaviour suppressing irrelevant info

Question 32

daydreaming and the central executive

Answer 32

takes up a lot of the central executive focus leading to more errors on tasks

Question 33

what brain areas are activated for the central executive

Answer 33

frontal lobe

Question 34

compare the executive attention network with the central executive

Answer 34

relatively the same thing. both concepts focus attention

Question 34

what are the characteristics of the episodic buffer

Answer 34

actively manipulate info so that you can interpret an earlier experience, solve new problems and plan future activities Temporary storage with limited capacity

Question 35

Episodic Buffer

Answer 35

temporary storehouse that can hold and combine info from phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and long-term memory

Question 36

working memory capacity and academic performance

Answer 36

increased academic performance with better working memory

Question 37

Working memory and ADHD

Answer 37

crucial deficits in central executive processes problems inhibiting responses leads to lack of attention in many life settings

Question 37

working memory and depression

Answer 37

difficulty with central executive tasks ruminative style= worry about things that are wrong

Question 38

working memory and anxiety

Answer 38

excessive worrying taxes working memory capacity which reduces ability to perform other tasks