Memory key terms (paper 1)

Question 1

Short-term memory (STM)?

Answer 1

The limited capacity memory store. In STM coding is mainly acoustic (sounds), capacity is between 5 and 9 items on average, duration is about 10 seconds.

Question 2

Long-term memory (LTM)?

Answer 2

The permanent memory store. In LTM, coding is mainly semantic (meaning) it has unlimited capacity and can store memory up to a lifetime.

Question 3

Coding?

Answer 3

The format in which information is stored in the various memory stores.

Question 4

Capacity?

Answer 4

The amount of memory that can be held in the various memory stores.

Question 5

Duration?

Answer 5

The length of time memory can be stored in memory.

Question 6

Multi-store model (MSM)?

Answer 6

A representation of how memory works in three stores called the sensory register, short-term memory and long-term memory. It also describes how memory can be transferred from one store to another, which is what makes some memories last and some memories disappear.

Question 7

Sensory register?

Answer 7

The memory stores for each one of our 5 senses, such as vision and hearing. Coding in the iconic sensory register is visual and in the echoic sensory register is acoustic. The capacity of sensory registers is huge and information lasts for a very short amount of time.

Question 8

Episodic memory?

Answer 8

• A long-term memory store for personal events.
• It includes memories of when the events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviours involved.
• Memories from this store have been retrieved consciously and with effort.

Question 9

Semantic memory?

Answer 9

• A long-term memory store for our knowledge of the world.
• This includes facts and and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean.
• These memories usually need to be recalled deliberately.

Question 10

Procedural memory?

Answer 10

-A long-term memory store for our knowledge of how to do things.
- This includes our memories of learned skills.
- We usually recall these memories without effort.

Question 11

Working memory model?

Answer 11

• A representation of short-term memory.
• Suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using subunits co-ordinated by a central decision-making system.

Question 12

Central executive?

Answer 12

• The component of the working memory model that co-ordinates the activities of the three subsystems in memory.
• Also allocates processing resources to those activities.

Question 13

Phonological loop?

Answer 13

• The component of the working memory model that processes information in terms of sound.
• This includes both written and spoken material.
• Divided into phonological store and the articulatory process.

Question 14

Visuo-spatial sketchpad?

Answer 14

The component of the working memory model that processes visual and spatial information in a mental space often called our ‘inner eye’.

Question 15

Episodic buffer?

Answer 15

• The component of the working memory model that 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.

Question 16

Interference?

Answer 16

Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten.

Question 17

Proactive inference?

Answer 17

• Forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories.

Question 18

Retroactive interference?

Answer 18

Forgetting occurs when the newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored.

Question 19

Retrieval failure?

Answer 19

• A form of forgetting.
• It occurs when we don’t have the necessary cues to access memory.
• The memory is available but not accessible unless a suitable cue is provided.

Question 20

Cue?

Answer 20

A ‘trigger’ of information that allows us to access a memory.

Question 21

Eyewitness testimony?

Answer 21

The ability of people to remember the details of events, such as accidents and crimes, when they themselves observed.

Question 22

Misleading information?

Answer 22

Incorrect information given to an eyewitness usually after the event.

Question 23

Leading question?

Answer 23

• A question which, because of the way it is phrased, suggests a certain answer.
• E.g “Was the knife held in his left hand?” —> this leads to the person to think thats where the knife was.

Question 24

Post-event discussion?

Answer 24

Occurs when there is more than one witness to an event. Witnesses may discuss the event which may influence the accuracy of each witness’s recall of events.

Question 25

Anxiety?

Answer 25

A state of emotional and physical arousal. The emotions include having worried thoughts and feelings of tension.

Question 26

Cognitive interview?

Answer 26

• A method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories.
• It uses four main techniques, all based on evidence - psychological knowledge of human memory - report everything, reinstate the context, reverse the order and change perspective.