Memory Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is memory?
An active information system that receives, organises, stores and recovers information when we need it
Define sensation.
Biological process of detecting and processing stimuli from sensory organs
What are the three steps of sensation?
- Reception
- Transduction
- Transmission
What is reception in the sensation process?
Sensory organs absorb the sensory stimuli
What is transduction in the context of sensation?
Converts stimuli into neural impulses that the brain can interpret
What is transmission in context of sensation?
Transport of neural information to the brain
What does the absolute threshold measure?
The minimum stimulus intensity that can be detected 50 percent of the time
What is sensory adaptation?
The disappearance to repetitive or unchanging stimuli
What are the three processes of perception?
- Selection
- Organisation
- Interpretation
What is the role of attention in memory?
Determines what information is allowed into the memory system, how it’s stored and the success of retrieval
What is the cocktail party effect?
The ability to focus on a single conversation while filtering out background noise in a crowded environment
What are the three processes of memory?
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
What are the three stages of the multi-store model of memory?
- Sensory memory
- Short-term memory
- Long-term memory
What is the capacity of short-term memory according to the Atkinson & Shiffrin model?
7+/-2 items
What type of memory is procedural/implicit memory?
Memory of actions and learnt skills with little effort required for retrieval
What is declarative/explicit memory?
Memory requiring conscious effort to retrieve, allowing you to ‘declare’ how things are or what you remember
What are the two types of declarative memory?
- Episodic
- Semantic
What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?
Central role in memory, spatial navigation, emotional regulation and learning; consolidates short-term and long-term memory
What does the cerebellum aid in regarding memory?
Formation and storage of implicit memories and encoding of motor skills
What is the function of the amygdala in memory?
Assists with formation of emotional memories and encoding memories from emotional events
What is retrieval failure?
Inability to retrieve specific information from long-term memory due to incorrect retrieval cues
What is proactive interference?
Old information takes over new information that is being encoded
What is motivated forgetting?
Forgetting information because of the repression of unpleasant memories
What is the levels of processing model of memory?
A model suggesting that memory which has been deeply processed has a higher chance of retrieval
