P1: Memory Flashcards
Describe an experiment conducted investigating the coding in STM and LTM
Method: Memorise - acoustically similar/dissimilar words - semantically similar/dissimilar words Found: -STM = acoustic, LTM = semantic
Describe 2 experiments conducted investigating the capacity of STM
Method: Memorise digit span, 4 numbers increasing
Found: (1887)
Immediate recall = 9.3 numbers, 7.3 letters
Method: Everyday observations e.g. 7days in a week
Found:
STM memory =7(+/-2), can be upgraded via chunking
Describe an experiment conducted investigating the duration of STM
Method: 24 students given constant e.g.YCG n 3 digits to count back from
Found:
STM without rehearsal = 18-30s, recall in 3s = 80%
recall after 18s = 3%
Describe an experiment conducted investigating the duration of LTM
Method: Americans asked to recognise 50 yearbook photos n recall name of graduate class Found: after 48yrs = 70% n free recall test was even worse
Evaluate the study about coding in STM n LTM
- No meaningful data used = artificial material ∴ cannot generalise. More meaningful data in STM = semantic maybe
Evaluate the studies about capacity of STM
- Temporal validity: old study = lack a control over extraneous ∴ not valid ∵ confounding variables but we know its true n supported now
- STM overstated: study reviewed suggested 5 items more accurate vs 7. cap is 4 chunks
Evaluate the study about Duration of STM
- Artificial Material = low ecological validity but we do try to remember useless shit sometimes e.g. phone number or licence plate
Evaluate the study about Duration of LTM
+ Ecological validity = Real life memories studied but no control over confounding variables
Describe the Multi-store memory model in detail
plus on another sheet draw the skeleton model
–Stimulus -> Sensory Registor(SR)
5 stores(for each sense), Duration: V short(half a sec), Capacity: High(∵ lots of cells), Coding: Varies on the sense
–Sensory Registor(SR) -> STM
V little goes to memory unless attention is paid = transfer to LTM
–STM: Limited Capacity(5-9), limited duration(18-30s) unless rehearsed, Coding: Acoustic
–STM -> LTM
Rehearsal = STM unless long enough = LTM
LTM: Unlimited Capacity, lifetime duration, semantic coding
Evaluate the Multi-store memory model
+ Research Support:STM n LTM coding = we mix up similar acoustic words in STM ∴ separate n independent
- Multiple STM stores: KF case study(Amnesia),reads digits n memorise but cannot hear n memorise ∴ theory incomplete
- Artificial Materials: Meaningless syllables/constants = lack ecological validity. Everyday we assign value to everything
- Oversimplifies LTM: Research suggests LTM is not unitary. Multiples sections.e.g.semantic, episodic…
Describe and explain the 3 types of LTM stores
- Episodic Memory:Stores life events. Like a diary. Time stamped. Conscious effort made to recall. Multiple elements woven into 1.e.g. ppl,place
- Semantic Memory: Stores world knowledge. Like a dictionary. Not time stamped. Less personal, more general knowledge.
- Procedural Memory: Stores motor skills, unconscious recall without effort
Evaluate the types of LTM stores
+ Case Study(Episodic): Clive Wearing(Amnesia) Plays piano, understand what a piano is. cannot remember kids name
- Lack of control(Clinical Studies): Hard to pinpoint nature of LTM for Clive Wearing
+ BrainScans: PET Scanner found Episodic n semantic memory in prefrontal cortex via doing shit = good validity
+ Real-life application: allows specific treatments to be developed = helps society.e.g. Old ppl with mild cognitive impairments
Describe the Working Memory Model, Plus draw on another sheet the skeleton model
–Central Executive(CE): ‘attention process’ = monitors data. allocates slave systems, v limited storage
–Phonological Loop(PL): Preserves auditory info + order
Phonological Store: Stores words heard
Articulatory Process: Allows maintenance rehearsal
– Visuo-spatial sketchpad(VSS): Stores visual n spatial info.
Visual Cache: Stores visual data.
Inner Scribe: Records arrangement of obj in visual field.
–Episodic Buffer(EB): Temporary storage for all. Maintains time sequencing n integrates all info from other stores
Evaluate the Working Memory Model
+ Research Support(KF patient): STM = weak. PL damaged, but visual process = normal ∴ visual n acoustic = separate stores. But only 1 case study. V unique + big lack of control
+ Research Support(Dual-task) for VSS: 2 visual tasks= hard. 1 visual n 1 verbal = easier ∵ not competing for same resources ∴ VSS =real so MSM model = false
- CE Lack Clarity: CE undefined. Just labelled ‘attention’. not fully explained
+ Brain Scans: Tasks involving CE done = activity in prefrontal cortex. Harder task = x2 activity there ∴ CE has a physical form
Explain the reason for forgetting in terms of interference
–Interference theory:2 pieces of info are in conflict.
Occurs when new cannot access memory in LTM.
–Proactive Interference(PI): Old interferes with new
Old stores make new info hard to store
–Retroactive Interference(RI): New interferes with old
New overwrites old info.
