Key Terms

Question 1

Short Term Memory

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Long term memory

Answer 2

The permanent memory store in LTM. Coding is mainly semantic. It has unlimited capacity

Question 3

Coding

Answer 3

The format in which memories are stored or laid down in the memory stores

Question 4

Capacity

Answer 4

The amount of information that can be stored

Question 5

Duration

Answer 5

The length of time information can be stored for

Question 6

Multistore model

Answer 6

A linear model or representation of how memory works in terms of three stores - sensory register, STM and LTM. It describes how information is transferred from one store to another and how some memories disappear e.g decay

Question 7

Sensory register

Answer 7

The memory store for each of our five senses, e.g vision - iconic store and hearing - echoic store. The capacity of the sensory register is huge - we take in all sorts of sensory information at once. However duration is less than half a second.

Question 8

Maintenance rehearsal

Answer 8

When we repeat items to ourselves again and again

Question 9

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 9

Linking information to past knowledge and making it meaningful e.g turning a list into a rhyme you already know

Question 10

Episodic memory

Answer 10

An LTM store for personal events - e.g a holiday or party, Memories have to be consciously recalled and are time stamped

Question 11

Semantic memory

Answer 11

An LTM store for knowledge of the world, These facts have to be consciously recalled but are not time-stamped

Question 12

Procedural memory

Answer 12

An LTM store for knowledge of how to do things - e.g riding a bike. We do not consciously recall them

Question 13

Working memory model

Answer 13

A representation of STM only that suggests STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information - visual and verbal

Question 14

Central executive

Answer 14

The key component of WMM that coordinates activities of three subsystems and allocates tasks

Question 15

Phonological loop

Answer 15

The compenent of the WMM that processes sounds. Divided into phonological store (inner ear) and articulatory process (inner voice)

Question 16

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 16

The component of the WMM that processes visual information - our inner eye

Question 17

Episodic buffer

Answer 17

The component of the WMM that brings together material from other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands. It provides a bridge between WM and LTM.

Question 18

Interference

Answer 18

Forgetting because one memory blocks another, often because they are similar

Question 19

Proactive interference

Answer 19

Forgetting because a past memory disrupts the recall of a new memory. More common when memories are similar

Question 20

Retroactive interference

Answer 20

Forgetting because a new memory disrupts a past memory. More common when items are similar

Question 21

Retrieval failure

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Cue

Answer 22

A trigger of information that allows us to access memory

Question 23

Eye witness testimony

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Misleading information

Answer 24

Any incorrect information given to eyewitnesses after an event. This could be questions or dicussion that may actually alter the eye witnesses’ memory of events

Question 25

Leading question

Answer 25

A question that beacuse of the way it is phrased, suggests a certain answer