2. Memory

Question 1

Define coding

Answer 1

The format in which information is stored in the various memory stores

Question 2

Define capacity

Answer 2

The amount of information that can be held in a memory store

Question 3

Define duration

Answer 3

The length of time information can be held in memory

Question 4

Define semantic

Answer 4

Relating to meaning

Question 5

Define chunking

Answer 5

Grouping sets of digits/letters into units or chunks to improve the capacity of memory

Question 6

Define sensory register

Answer 6

The memory stores for each of our five senses. Coding is sense specific, capacity is huge and information lasts for half a second

Question 7

Define short term memory

Answer 7

The limited capacity memory store. Coding is acoustic, capacity is between 5 and 9 items and duration is between 18 and 30 seconds

Question 8

Define long term memory

Answer 8

The permanent memory store. Coding is mainly semantic, it has unlimited capacity and can store memories for up to a lifetime

Question 9

Define multi-store model (MSM)

Answer 9

A representation of how memory works in terms of three stores: sensory register, STM and LTM. Describes how information is transferred from one store to another, how is it remembered and how it is forgotten

Question 10

Define primacy effect

Answer 10

A cognitive (memory) bias that makes people remember the first information they encounter better than information they receive later on

Question 11

Define recency effect

Answer 11

A cognitive (memory) bias that makes people remember the most recent information they encounter better than the information they receive first

Question 12

Define episodic memory

Answer 12

A long-term memory store for personal events. It includes memories of when events occurred and if people, objects, places and behaviours involved. Memories from this store have to be retrieved conciously and with effort

Question 13

Define semantic memory

Answer 13

A long term memory store for our knowledge of the world. This includes facts and out knowledge of what words and concepts mean. These memories need to be recalled deliberately

Question 14

Define procedural memory

Answer 14

A long term memory store for our knowledge of how to do things, this includes our memories of learned skills. We usually recall these memories without making conscious deliberate effort

Question 15

Define working memory model (WMM)

Answer 15

A representation of short term memory. It suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub-units coordinated by a central decision making system

Question 16

Define central executive (CE)

Answer 16

The component of the WMM that coordinates the activities of the three subsystems in memory. It also allocated processing resources to those activities.

Question 17

Define phonological loop (PL)

Answer 17

The component of the WMM that processes information in terms of sound. This includes both written and spoken material. It’s divided into the phonological store and the articulatory process

Question 18

Define phonological store

Answer 18

A part of the PL which stores the words you hear

Question 19

Define articulatory process

Answer 19

A part of the PL which allows maintenance rehearsal to keep them in working memory

Question 20

Define visuo-spatial sketch pad (VSS)

Answer 20

The component of the WMM that processed visual and spatial information in a mental state often called our ‘inner eye’

Question 21

Define visual cache

Answer 21

A part of the the VSS which stores visual data

Question 22

Define inner scribe

Answer 22

A part of the VSS which records the arrangement of objects in the visual field

Question 23

Define episodic buffer (EB)

Answer 23

The component of the WMM that brings together material from the other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands of memory. It also provides a bridge between working-memory and long-term memory

Question 24

Define dual task

Answer 24

Performing two tasks at the same time that either uses both stores at the same time or different stores

Question 25

Define interference

Answer 25

Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten

Question 26

Define proactive interference

Answer 26

Forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories. The degree of forgetting is greater when memories are similar

Question 27

Define retroactive interference

Answer 27

Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored. The degree of forgetting is greater when memories are similar

Question 28

Define retrieval failure

Answer 28

A form of forgetting. It occurs when we don’t have the necessary cues to access memory. The memory is available but not accessible unless a suitable cue is provided

Question 29

Define cue

Answer 29

A ‘trigger’ of information that allows us to access a memory. Such cues may be meaningful or may be indirectly linked by being encoded at the time of learning.

Question 30

Define encoding specificity principle (ESP)

Answer 30

If a cue is to be present at encoding (when we learn the material) and at retrieval (when we are recalling it)

Question 31

Define context-dependent forgetting

Answer 31

Forgetting which occurs because the external cues at recall are different to those at the time of learning

Question 32

Define state-dependent forgetting

Answer 32

Forgetting which occurs because the emotional

Question 33

Define eyewitness testimony (EWT)

Answer 33

The ability of people to remember the details of events, such as accidents and crimes, which they themselves have observed

Question 34

Define misleading information

Answer 34

Incorrect information given to the eyewitness usually after the event

Question 35

Define leading questions

Answer 35

A form of misleading information. A question which because of the way it’s phrased suggests a certain answer

Question 36

Define post-event discussion

Answer 36

A form of misleading information. Occurs when there is more than one witness to an event. Witnesses may discuss what they have seen with co-witnesses or with other people. This may influence the accuracy of each witness’s recall

Question 37

Define anxiety

Answer 37

A state of emotional and physical arousal. The emotions include having worried thoughts and feelings of tension. Physical changes include an increased heart rate and sweatiness. Can affect the accuracy of EWT

Question 38

Define weapon focus effect

Answer 38

A witness will remember less about a crime, or the perpetrator of a crime, when a weapon is present as they will focus their attention on the weapon

Question 39

Define cognitive interview

Answer 39

A method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories. It uses four main techniques, all based on well-established psychological knowledge of memory