Memory Flashcards
four models of memory
information processing approach
parallel distributed processing model
levels of processing approach
traditional 3 stage memory model
what are the 3 basic processes of memory? what is it comparable to?
memory is a process (similar to a computer)
basic processes are
encoding (make it meaningful, typing and putting in info)
storage (saving and storing it - short term)
retrieval (long term - editing and resaving and reworking it)
how is memory distributed across the brain?
distributed across a wide network of interconnected neurons located in various locations in brain
when activated - network works simultaneously (parallel manner) to process info
hippocampus and many other regions (auditory, visual, sensory, etc) are important and work together to form memories
what are the levels of processing?
memory depends on the degree or depth of processing occuring
shallow processing = little memory (superficial)
deeper processing = greater memory (really thinking, have retrieval cues)
what are the 3 stages of memory?
short term memory (STM)- retains 30 seconds or less (unless renewed)
long term memory (LTM) - relatively permanent - can store things in long term memory that we can’t retrieve (oliver sack’s case where woman recalls old irish folktales)
sensory memory - very short period
sensory memory>STM>LTM
what is the 3 stage model?
the traditional model and the leading model in memory research
offers convenint way to organize the major memory processes
what is the flow of info through the memory system?
- sensory input
- sensory memory (unattended info is lost - ex. in crime scene you don’t know color of shirts)
- attention leads to short-term memory (unrehersed info is lost)
- encoding leads to long term memory (some info may be lost over time - can retrieve this info if wanted)
*encoding with retireval cues will help you remember
what is the only way we remember stimulation that enters our sensory memory?
- recieves attention in conscious experiencing of one or more sensory modalities
- held and maintained in STM (working memory)
- encoded and stored in LTM
- can be retrieved from LTM with appropriate cues
how long does sensory memory store stimuli?
stores a BRIEF copy (less than 3 seconds) that register during sensory processing (product of transduction)
what are the 2 types of memory involved with sensory memory?
iconic memory = transduced/ encoded visual snapshot or “icon” and lasts less than 1 second
visual memory unless performing rehersal
echonic memory = lasts for at least several seconds
auditory
why is not storing everything in our memories important?
we would be overwhelmed if we remembered everything - cluttered brain
what is short term memory known as? what are the 3 parts of this memory?
three part working memory
- visuospatial sketchpad - where things are visually stored (ex. waiting on tables)
- phonological rehearsal loop - auditory method so it can be stored
- central executive - overseer, organizing, what is meaningful? how is it coordinated?
what does the STM store? what does it require?
stores 7 (plus or minus 2) noticed items for up to 30 seconds (longer with “rote” or “maintenance” rehersal)
requires ATTENTION and has limited capacity
what helps increase STM capacity?
chunking bits of info
facilitates encoding and transfer to LTM (facilitates “consolidation” of info in STM to LTM)
allows for better memory and better chance of retrieval because memory is an ACTIVE process
ex. listing off 20 numbers in class
what are the primary and recency effects?
most likely to remember the first and last items given
STM
what is LTM?
long term memory
enduring recollection of recent and remote past
what are the different types of long term memory?
explicit memory = conscious recall
implicit memory = without conscious recall
kind of remember but can’t completely recall - linked with other memories and evokes emotions
what are 2 types of explicit memory?
semantic memory = facts and general knowledge
episodic = personally experienced events
what are the 2 types of implicit memory?
procedural memory = motor and cognitive skills
ex. riding bike, tying shoes, professional sports - know how to do something but don’t know how to explain it
priming = enhanced identification of objects or words
ex. hints allow us to improve ability to remember
what is the difference between recognition and recall?
recall = intentionally bringing explicit info to awareness (more advanced task)
recognition = encoding an input and matching it to a stored representation
ex. multiple choice on tests
how do we encode explicit LTMs?
elaborative rehearsal needed to create meaningful “chunks” and “heirarchies”
must go beyond rote rehearsal to “deeper” processing (meaningful and self-relevance)
in elaborative rehearsal you create a rich “semantic network” - makes it meaningful and when something links you back to the info
main points from old man memory video
old man repeats his stories again and again, has no problem repeating a list of words, knows old street names but not new ones, doesn’t remember girl’s name that he has met many times
problem? can’t record new memories BUT remembers things before his brain was damaged
temporal lobe and hippocampus damaged - he doesn’t remember anything new, good explicit memory and has some implicit memory
*hippocampus CRUCIAL for new memories and LTM (not where long term memories stored)
what was the craik and tulving experiment in 1975?
list of words were presented, one at a time, followed by one of the 3 mental tasks
- visual judgement, acoustic judgement, and semantic judgement (what something means)
results in later recognition memory task - 10 vs 50 vs 80% accuracy
more thought and meaning = more meaninful
how is the explicit LTM organized?
in semantic networks
the activation of one concept (mental grouping of items that share common properties) leads to priming of semantically related concepts
this makes subsequent retrieval more probable
how things are linked together (ex. red>fire>fire engine>house)
