chapter 6: memory part 1 Flashcards
(48 cards)
define memory
process of using information that was obtained in the past in order to generate some cognitive function in the present
what are the three components of memory and explain them
encoding
storage
retrieval
define capacity
measure of how much information a system can hold
define duration
measure of how long information remains in memory
name the three kinds of memory in the modal model of memory
sensory memory
short-term memory
long-term memory
what is the purpose of the sensory memory
to hold info in place before it can be selected for further processing
for how long do sensory inputs stay in the sensory memory
~ 1 second
short-term memory is capable of producing ___ , such as repeating a phone number someone has just told you or responding to a recall task
behavioral output
define maintenance rehearsal
mental repetition of info in short-term memory which allows info to be regenerated in order to prolong its duration
how long can memories stay in LTM
up to a lifetime
- can decay over time
whatever you are thinking about right now is occupying your ___ memory
a. sensory
b. short-term
c. long-term
d. none of the above
b. short-term
what is the process that moves information from sensory memory to short-term memory
attention
what is persistence of vision
retention of an image of an object/event for a brief period after it is no longer present
after the initial transduction of sensory information, for how long can info be retained within our NS
250 milliseconds
describe the toy called thaumatrope
disk with drawing on both sides
- when spun, illusion of seeing both images at the same time
define memory consolidation
time-dependent process by recent learned experiences are turned into LTM
how is memory represented in the brain? which brain regions are activated
hippocampus
- points toward area of the cortex involved in what’s included in memory
how does consolidation affect the brain activity of a memory
memory becomes a stable cortical pattern
- independent from hippocampus
in absence of rehearsal, what is the duration of the STM
20-30 seconds
define echoic memory
brief memory of a sound
- held for ~3 sec
define haptic memory
very brief memory of touch
define iconic memory
high-capacity/short-duration form of visual memory
~1 sec
differentiate between positive and negative afterimage
when you fixate smt and look away
pos: original image is preserved
neg: colors are reversed compared to original
describe Sperling’s (1960) experiment that tested the duration of sensory memory
Visual display: 3*4 letters
2 conditions:
- whole report: recall after “beep”
- partial report: 3 diff “beep” sounds at diff delays (0.1-1 sec)
Sensory capacity is large, but short period of time (<1sec)
