Memory definitions

Question 1

What is memory?

Answer 1

An information processing system that enables encoding, storage and retrieval of information

Question 2

What is encoding?

Answer 2

Encoding – converting information to a useable form

Question 3

What is storage?

Answer 3

Storage – retaining information in memory over time

Question 4

What is retrieval?

Answer 4

Retrieval – locating and recovering stored information when needed

Question 5

What does the Atkinson-Shiffrin Multi-store Model of Memory

Answer 5

Suggested memory was made up of more than a single system
So called the multi-store model of memory

Represents memory as three components:
Sensory Memory
Short Term Store
Long Term Store

States that info passes through 3 levels of memory as it is encoded, stored and retrieved

Question 6

What is sensory memory?

Answer 6

Function: Entry point of memory where all new incoming sensory information is stored for a very brief period of time

Question 7

What is the capacity of sensory memory?

Answer 7

Capacity: Unlimited: Can store all information coming in from our sensory receptors but information fades rapidly

Question 8

What are the two types of sensory memory?

Answer 8

Iconic memory (eyes)
Echonic memory (ears)

Question 9

What is iconic memory?

Answer 9

Sensory register for incoming visual information

Question 10

What is the duration of iconic memory? Why?

Answer 10

Duration: Holds information for between 0.2 and 0.4 of a second

Just long enough for us to recognise and process the information

Question 11

What is echoic memory?

Answer 11

Sensory register for incoming auditory information

Question 12

What is the duration of echoic memory? Why?

Answer 12

Duration: Holds information for between 3 and 4 seconds

Just long enough for us to recognise and process the information

Question 13

What is short term memory?

Answer 13

Information that we pay attention to in sensory memory will be transferred to STM.

Question 14

What is the duration of STM?

Answer 14

Duration: We can hold information for 18-30 seconds

Question 15

What is the capacity of STM?

Answer 15

Capacity: Can hold 7+ 2 items of information (5-9 items)

Question 16

What is decay?

Answer 16

Occurs when information is not maintained by rehearsal and it simply fades away over time

Question 17

What is displacement?

Answer 17

Information is pushed out by new information coming in

Question 18

What is long term memory?

Answer 18

The relatively permanent memory system that holds vast amounts of information for a long period of time, possibly indefinitely.

Question 19

What is the fuction of LTM?

Answer 19

Function: to store information which can be retrieved for future use.

Question 20

What is the duration and capacity of LTM?

Answer 20

Duration: Potentially permanent
Capacity: Unlimited (very organised)

Question 21

What is implicit (procedural) memory?

Answer 21

Implicit (Procedural) = the memory of actions and skills that have been learned previously (knowing how to do something)

Question 22

What is explicit memory? (declarative)

Answer 22

the memory of specific facts or events.

Question 23

What are the two types of explicit memory?

Answer 23

Episodic and semantic

Question 24

What is episodic memory?

Answer 24

the declarative memory of specific events or personal experiences

Question 25

What is the semantic memory?

Answer 25

the declarative memory of information we have about the world

Question 26

What is the hipppocampus responsible for?

Answer 26

The hippocampus is responsible for the encoding, consolidation and retrieval of explicit memories. Processes new memories for long term storage The hippocampus does not permanently store memories.

Question 27

What is the amygdala responsible for?

Answer 27

The amygdala is responsible for the encoding and consolidation of emotional memories. These can be both explicit and implicit The amygdala does not permanently store memories

Question 28

What is the neocortex responsible for?

Answer 28

The neocortex is responsible for storing explicit memories Involved in conscious awareness (problem solving and planning) Helps retrieve long term memories

Question 29

What is the basal ganglia responsible for?

Answer 29

Basal ganglia’s roles are in encoding long term implicit procedural memories, particularly classically conditioned ones and habits Also stores classically conditioned memories the encoding of implicit procedural memories, specifically habits.

Question 30

What is the cerebellum responsible for?

Answer 30

Encodes and stores implicit procedural memories, particularly those created by classical conditioning. Encodes procedural memories (with help from basal ganglia)

Question 31

What are autobiographical events?

Answer 31

is a memory system consisting of episodes recalled from a person’s life based on a combination of episodic and semantic memories.

Question 32

What is alzheimer's disease?

Answer 32

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by gradual widespread degeneration of brain neurons, progressively causing memory decline, deterioration of cognitive and social skills and personality changes.

Question 33

What does alzheimer's disease result in?

Answer 33

Significant loss of brain neurons and build up of abnormal proteins.

Question 34

What is aphantasia?

Answer 34

Aphantasia is the inability to create mental imagery. Inability to ‘see pictures in your mind’

Question 35

What are acronyms?

Answer 35

Acronyms = pronounceable words or abbreviations formed from the first letters of a sequence of words which act as retrieval cues in the recall of more complex information.

Question 36

What is a mnemonic?

Answer 36

A mnemonic is a technique used to assist memory

Question 37

What are acrostics?

Answer 37

Acrostics = making verbal associations for items to be remembered by constructing phrases or sentences using the first letters of the information to be remembered.

Question 38

What is the method of Loci?

Answer 38

It is using a well-learned sequence of locations as a series of retrieval cues for the information to be recalled. Create a mental image of the items to be remembered and visually linking them with a particular location. When you need to remember the material, you mentally revisit each place in the sequence, retrieving from each place the image associated with it.

Question 39

What is reconstruction?

Answer 39

involves combining stored info with other avaliable info to form what is believed to be a more coherent, complete and accurate memory.

Question 40

How does mnemonics assist encoding?

Answer 40

Encoding – provide enhanced encoding by increasing elaborative rehearsal

Question 41

How does mnemonics assist storage?

Answer 41

Storage – provide better storage because links are made between the information

Question 42

How does mnemonics assist retrieval?

Answer 42

Retrieval – aid retrieval as the mnemonic acts as a retrieval cue.

Question 43

What are songlines (oral culture)?

Answer 43

A songline is a sequence of short sung narratives to assist in recall of information associated with specific locations that are linked by a path through Country.

Question 44

How does song lines assist encoding?

Answer 44

Increase Encoding – sung words are more memorable than written/spoken

Question 45

How does song lines assist storage?

Answer 45

Increase Storage – culturally significant information has emotional significance so amygdala ensures effective storage

Question 46

How does songline assist retreiveal?

Answer 46

Increase Retrieval – landmarks act as retrieval cues for recall of the information

Question 47

What are two differences about written and oral cultures?

Answer 47

Written -no cultural significance Oral- cultural significance Written- written transmission Oral- Oral transmission Written- No connection to country Oral- connection to country