Chapter 8 Flashcards
(55 cards)
What is memory?
the processes that allow us to record and later retrieve experiences and information.
What are the three basic processes of memory?
ENCODING
STORAGE
RETRIEVAL
Explain the three stage model of memory.
Views memory as having distinct, but interacting components (doesn’t suggest that these components are bound to a specific brain structure)
1) SENSORY MEMORY: holds incoming sensory info just long enough for it to be recognized
2) WORKING (short-term) MEMORY: holds info we are consciously aware of at any given time. Constantly works on/processes info.
3) LONG-TERM MEMORY: vast library of durable stored memories
How does information pass through the 3 stage model of memory?
sensory input to
sensory registers (in sensory memory)
moves by encoding/attention
to working memory
where it is rehearsed and then encoded to
long-term memory
What does sensory memory do?
briefly holds sensory information
What are 2 types of sensory registers in sensory memory?
ICONIC STORE: for visual information
very short duration; fraction of a second
ECHOIC STORE: for auditory information
lasts about 2 s
How is information represented in working memory?
by mental representations/memory codes
the memory code does not correspond to form of original status (words on a page are visual, but are represented in the mind phonetically)
Give a few examples of codes that may be used in the brain
VISUAL encoding
PHONOLOGICAL encoding
SEMANTIC encoding (by meaning)
MOTOR encoding (movement)
What is the limit to capacity of our short term/working memory?
7 +- 2 meaningful units
you may be able to remember 7 separate numbers, but if you clunk numbers together you can remember much more than that. Same with words/sentences
What is chunking?
combining individual items into larger units of meaning
ex thepieishot has many small units, but combine it into a sentence and you can easily remember
most effective when chunk is meaningful:
random letters can be put together to form a chunk, letters that spell a word hold more meaning and are better
What is the shelf-life or duration of a memory in working memory?
approx. 20s without rehearsal
What are 2 ways we can extend the duration of a memory in working memory? which is more effective?
1) MAINTENANCE rehearsal: simple repetition
2) ELABORATIVE rehearsal: focus on the meaning or relate it to things we know.
elaborative is more effective in converting to long term
Explain how the view of short-term/working memory has changed.
originally it was viewed as a passive component that converted and retrieved info to long-term
now considered working memory because it:
-actively processes different types of info and supports problem solving and planning and in doing so interacts with long term memory
What are the 4 components of working memory?
AUDITORY WORKING MEMORY (phonological loop)
SPATIAL WORKING MEMORY (visuospatial sketchpad)
EPISODIC BUFFER: provides temp storage for info to be integrated between different systems
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE: directs action/attention, recalls from long-term, and integrates input
What is the serial position effect?
it refers to the U-shaped pattern of memory we can recall
say we have a list of 30 words; we will recall more at the beginning and at the end if asked to recall as many as possible in any order
What are the two components to the serial position effect?
PRIMACY effect: this is at the start of the list and represents info converted to long-term
RECENCY effect: info at the end of the list that is still in short term
What are the two types of processing that translate memory to long-term?
EFFORTFUL processing: Intentional and conscious effort to do so. ex studying
AUTOMATIC processing: unintentional and requiring minimal attention.
ex recalling where on a page a piece of information is
What is the levels of processing concept?
the more deeply we process info, the better it will be remembered
structural is shallow
phonemic is medium
semantic is deepest
What is hierarchal organization?
it organizes information by order of association with each other like a tree.
What are mnemonic devices?
aids memory by organization
hierarchies
chunking
acronyms
What is dual coding theory?
states memory is enhanced if we use both verbal and visual codes
ex the word firetruck and a visual image of one
also applies to more abstract concepts but it is harder to associate them
What is a schema?
a mental framework that we develop through experience
creates a perceptual set that helps us organize and interpret info
What is expert knowledge?
the process of developing schemas
ex musical notes on a page look meaningless to someone who can’t read it. To a musician, their schemas make it easy to remember it
experts look for logical meaning
what is the associative network concept
represents memories as a massive network of associated ideas and concept
things that are strongly associated are easily recalled
