Memory Flashcards
Define memory
The process by which we retain information about events that have happened in the past.
Define short term memory
Memory for immediate events
Define long term memory
Memory for events that happened in the past
Define capacity
How much information can be stored in memory
Define Duration
The amount of time that information is stored in memory
Define Coding
The way information is changed and represented in memory
What is the duration, capacity and coding for short term memory?
Duration: 18-30 seconds
Capacity: 7+-2 chunks
Coding: Acoustic
What is the duration, capacity and coding for long term memory?
Duration: Potentially infinite
Capacity: Potentially limitless
Coding: Semantic
What are acoustic words?
Words which sound the same
What are semantic words?
Words which mean the same
Who proposed the Multi Store Memory Model?
Atkinson and Shiffin
What are the types of long term memory?
Episodic Memory
Semantic Memory
Procedural Memory
Describe episodic memory
A long term memory store for personal events. It includes memories of when the event occurred and of the people, objects, place and behaviours involved. Memories from this store have to be retrieved consciously and with effort. e.g. the first day of school
What are the 3 element of episodic memory?
specific detail of the event, the context and the emotion
Describe semantic memory
A long term memory store for our knowledge of the world. This includes facts and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean. They usually also need to be recalled deliberately. e.g. the capitals of countries.
Describe procedural memory
A long term memory store for our knowledge of how to do things. Its an action, muscle or skilled based memory. We usually recall these memories without making a conscious or deliberate attempt. e.g. riding a bike
Describe the working memory model
It is a representation of short term memory. It suggests the short term memory is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub units coordinated by a central decision making system.
Define Central Executive.
Co-ordinates the activities of the three subsystems in memory. It also allocates processing resources to those activities.
Define the Phonological Loop
The component of the working memory model that processes information in terms of sound. This includes both written and spoken material. Its divided into the phonological store and inner voice
Define the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
The component of the working memory model that processes visual and spatial information into mental space often called our inner eye
Define the Episodic Buffer
It brings together material from the other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands. It also provides a bridge between working memory and long term memory.
What research demonstrates the capacity of STM?
Miller in 1956 suggested that short term memory contains seven plus or minus two individual items.
He noted that things come in sevens like 7 days of the week. This suggests that the capacity of STM is about 7+/-2.
However, Miller also noted that people can recall 5 words or letters. They do this by chunking.
What research demonstrates the duration of STM?
Peterson and Peterson in 1959 conducted a lab experiment in which 24 participants each had to recall trigrams. To prevent rehearsal participants were asked to count backwards in threes of fours from a specified random number until they saw a red light appear. Participants were asked to recall trigrams after intervals of 3,6,9,12,15 and 18 seconds. He found that the longer the interval delay the less accurately trigrams were recalled.
What research demonstrates the duration of LTM?
Bahrick in 1975 found that 90% of the participants were able to correctly match the name and faces 14 years after graduating and 60% of the participants were able to correctly match the names and faces 47 years after graduating.
