Learning Memory + Forgetting Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is memory ?
Store which we retrieve facts
What 3 functions does Medin say memeory has?
- Natrual inferences system - allows us to store a few facts + derived from others as needed
- Relate new events to prior knowledge - in order to understand them
- Deliver relevant knowledge when needed
Episodic memeory:
Specific details of events / episodes
Eg I remember when I had breakfast this morning
Semantic memeory
Our ability to store facts + categories
Procedual memory:
Memory regarding skills
Eg learning to walk
3 basic memory processes?
- Encoding > codes info + puts into memory (acoustic + visual codes)
- Storage > maintenance of info in memory
- Retrieval > recovering info from memory + bringing it into consciousness
Atkinson’s model- involving 3 stages of processing:
Sensory store»_space; info briefly held
Short-term store»_space; limited capacity
Long-term store»_space; unlimited capacity
Forgetting may result from breakdown in one or more of theses stores
Multi-store model
- memory stores form basic structure
- processes such as attention + rehearsal control flow of info between them
- main emphasis on structure
2 key characteristics of short-term store?
- Limited capacity > measures of digit span
- Fragility of storage > info decays rapidly from short-term store. Usually decays within 18 seconds. Evidence = interference effects in short-term store
Limited capacity: Digit span
- people can remember 7 +/-2 chunks of info
- chunk can improve prefomance on digit span (grouping digits togetehr eg phone number)
Fragility fo storage: decay
Preformance of recalling a triad = declines when there delay before recalling
Fragility of storage: interference effect
- other info interferes when recalling info your trying to learn/ recall
What are the two types of intefere effects?
Proactive interference: competition from previously learned info
Retroactive interference: competition from subsequently learned info
Encoding form of info:
Info in short-term memory = held in acoustic verbal code
Evidnece: asked to study letters, then copy down more that sounded similar to OG letters
- recall was worse if new letters sounded similar to OG
Indicates: acoustic similarity creates greater retroactive interference
Short-term store holds and uses verbally based code
Can retain semantic + visual codes too
Short term store overview:
Traditionally though as intermediary system between sensory and long-term memory
Has limited capacity- info easily lost from store
Info lost from decaying or interference
Evidence that info is held in variety of different codes that don’t interfere with each other > acoustic, semantic, visual
Working memory
Info processing approach: sees STM as short store of info that later transported to LTM
Hitch> diferent view: STM focuses on how info is used, not just stored
Evidnece that 7+/-2 store not sufficient:
Case study of ppl with impairments of short-term memory recall
Had digit span of 2, but othe memeory skills not impaired (problem-solving, comprehension)
She’s short-term is apart of larger system
Working memory - compromised by 3 components:
- Phonological loop; deals with rehearsal + retention of verbal; phonetic information
- Visuo-spatial sketchpad: deals with retention of visual info
- Sentra executive: supervises + regulates info in working memory
Predictions of working memory model
If 2 tasks make use of same component, they cant be successful preformed togeteher
If they make use of different component, should be okay to preform well together
Listening + talking = drastic decline in preformance
- maes use of same working memeory component
- competition for global mental resource
- increases cognitive load
Listening + doodling = some preformance decline, not as much
- makes use of separate working memeory components
- less competition for global mental resource
Neurological evidnece for 3 components of working memory:
Patients with digit span of 2 but otherwise unimpaired
Suggests part of working memory deals with recall of digit can be selectively impaired
Suggests it’s separate component
Phonological loop (component 1)
Phonological store: holds acoustic/ speech-based info for 2 secs
Articulatory control process: produces inner speech we hear
If u have to regards long set of words- retreads faster than short set
Rehearsal of verbal maintenance relies on property of phonological store for keeping 2 seconds of maintenance available
More material rehearsed - Articulatory process tries to get full access in 2 seconds
Visuo-spatial sketchpad (component 2)
Responsible for setting up + maintaining visuo spatial images
Separate from phonological loop
Evidence: asked to learn list of words> hearing irrelevant speech interferes when using phonological loop, but not when task involves visuo-spatial sketchpad
Central executive (component 3 )
Temporary activation of long-term memory
Selective attention to certain stimulus, while ignoring others
Evidnece: ppl asked to generate 1 digit every second in random. Task interrupted every 2 mins and asked to write thoughts. When they had no situation- independent thoughts, numbers = random
No thoughts= central executive not active (no organised thought= random numbers_)
When thoughts reported: Sentra executive active + organising
Forgetting rates and theories
Study:
- Ebbinghaus taught himself nonsense syllables
- re-learned after varying tike interval, from few mins to months later
Found: forgetting = initially rapid, then slows
