Memory 1: Intro and sensory memory Flashcards
(30 cards)
What did Neisser think that cognition starts with?
Starts at perception (result of sensory input)
Perception is interpretation of sensation
Cognition as processes resulting from sensory input
What is the computer model of the brain?
Brain as series of analysers and processors: input, processing flow, and output
What did Gibson (Ecological theory of perception) think perception equaled?
Perception = sensation, no cognition involved at all
Thus, thought that perception must be investigated in a natural environment
What is object affordance?
Objects are recognised because they offer their meaning and function to us automatically - already at the level of sensation
What did Gregory (constructive theory of perception) think cognition starts with?
Perception
How did Gregory define perception?
Perception is indirect and a constructive process of hypothesis testing
As perception is based on individual factors, incorrect hypotheses can be formed, which leads to perceptual errors
What did Gregory believe that sensory input was subject to? What implications does this have for the processing flow of information?
Sensory input is subject to perceptual interpretation, which is guided by internal factors like knowledge, context, expectation.
That would mean that the processing flow of information is not linear and sequential - rather, top-down cognitive processes externally modulate cognitive processes in the processing flow of information.
How do cognitive psychologists develop theories?
1) Hypotheses about cognitive processing mechanisms -> form model or theory that has testable predictions
2) Empirical evidence supports or falsifies model/theory (only ever temporarily valid)
What kinds of experimental methods are used in cognitive research?
Valid, reliable, objective method that produces data: qualitative and quantitative methods, behavioural measures, neuropsychological (double dissociation) and genetic approaches
Neuroscientific techniques:
- Structural (MRI) and functional (fMRI) brain imaging, electromagnetic methods (TMS, EEG)
What does a fully functioning memory system require?
The capacity to encode, store and retrieve information?
What is primary and secondary memory? (William James - 1890)
- Primary memory - momentary state of consciousness (sensory or short term)
- Secondary memory - knowing something but not knowing how we know it, but with the knowledge that we have known it before (long term)
What is the modal model of memory by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)?
EV stimulus -> sensory memory -> short term memory -> long term memory
What are problems with the modal model of memory?
How does retrieval work when the flow of information is strictly serial?
There has been subsequent neuropsychological evidence that the model struggles to explain
What are positive aspects of the modal model of memory?
It acknowledges distinct types of memory stores (STM/LTM), and there is EMPRICAL EVIDENCE for the existence of its components.
How does sensory memory allow for illusory motion?
Illusory motion (e.g. flip book of galloping horse) – sensory memory stores incoming visual info long enough to bridge the gap between separate static images
What allows us to have a continuous perceived image of the world even when we move eyes between locations or blink?
Sensory memory
What does it mean to say that sensory memory storage is modality specific?
Memory stored in the same way it is encoded (iconic memory for visual input, echoic for auditory input)
What is the duration of sensory memory?
Very short duration of retaining (evidence from Sperling and Crowder) - <1 second for iconic memory, and around 2 second for echoic memory
What is the capacity of sensory memory?
Large capacity - up to 9 items
Sperling’s (1960) partial report experiment on iconic memory - what happened in the whole report condition?
Whole report
- 12 letters presented for 50ms
- Retention time
- Free recall – report as many letters as possible
- Around 4 letters reported at recall
- This shows items are fading away during retention before they can be reported
- Shows baseline capacity of sensory memory
Sperling’s (1960) partial report experiment on iconic memory - what happened during the partial report condition?
- 12 letters presented for 50ms
- Retention time
However, told to only recall 1 of 3 lines (4 letters)
During retention time, an auditory cue (500ms) with variable delay (0-1 sec) from stimulus onset indicates which of 3 lines should be reported
During retention interval before auditory cue (variable delay), maintenance of 12 letters because line is unknown during this time – how quickly do these decay?
How many letters were retrieved from no cue delay, short cue delay and long cue delay for the partial report condition of Sperling’s iconic memory experiment?
1) No cue delay (0ms) – 3/4 letters retrieved (9/12 overall)
2) Short cue delay (300ms) – 2/4 letters retrieved (6/12 overall)
3) Long cue delay (1000ms or 1 sec) – 1.3/4 letters retrieved (4/12 overall)
- Basically, cue arrives early, shorter retention time, more can be recalled, and vice versa
What did Sperling find the duration of iconic memory to be?
- Iconic memory decays within a second
- Retention time of 1 sec in partial report matches whole report performance
- Total capacity = 9/12 letters (or 3/4 letters), number of recalled letters decreases as a function of duration of retention period, 1 sec retention time – capacity of iconic memory is reached
What is involved in Crowder’s (1971) Speech suffix effect experiment on echoic memory?
- Audible presentation of 9 digits in random number order
- Task – repeat 9 digits in correct order (auditory cue (suffix) prompts recall at end of trial)
- 2 conditions – non-verbal recall cue (buzzer), OR verbal recall cue (spoken word: recall)
- Measures proportion of correctly recalled digits as a function of their serial position (their place on the order they were read out in) when recall prompted with buzzer or verbal cue
