MSMOM LTM Flashcards
what is the LTM?
-long term memory
-stores info for long periods
-not passive
how is info coded in the LTM?
-involves the form in which LTMs are stored
-coding will be stronger the deeper the level of processing
-with verbal material , coding is mainly semantic
research on coding in the LTM
-frost 1972 - 16 drawings, 4 categories (animals, clothing, vehicles, furniture), differed in visual orientation (eg angle), order of recall suggests p’s used visual and semantic coding
evaluate the coding of the LTM
-its hard to see how smell and taste could be coded semantically, and logically songs would be coded acoustically, supporting the idea of different forms of encoding
-different types of LTM involve different brain areas, which research suggests code in different ways
what is the capacity of the LTM?
-unlimited
-info can be lost due to decay or interference, not due to a lack of capacity
research on the capacity of the LTM
-Anokhin 1973 - the number of possible neural connections in the brain is 1 followed by 10.5 million kilometres of noughts, ‘no human yet exists that can use all the potential of their brain’
evaluate the capacity of the LTM
-assumed to be limitless, as research hasn’t found a finite capacity
-may be an evolutionary basis of LTM, Fagot & Cook 1996 showed pigeons can memories 1200 picture response associations, baboons haven’t reached their capacity at 5000 associations, suggesting an enlarged memory capacity has a survival value
what is the duration of the LTM?
-potentially a lifetime
-longer lifespan if they’re well coded
-doesn’t have to be rehearsed to remember
research on the duration of the LTM
-Bahrick et al 1975 - 400 p’s, aged 17-74, had a set of photos and names, some of which were ex-school friends. those who left school in the past 15 years identified 90% of faces and names, those who left 48 years ago identified 80% of names and 70% of faces, suggesting memory for faces lasts longer
evaluate the duration of the LTM
-sometimes info appears to be lost, may be a problem with accessibility
-the type of testing techniques can affect findings, recall is often better when asking p’s to recognise stimuli rather than getting them to recall it
briefly evaluate the multi store model of memory
-first cog explanation, inspired future research
-considerable research supporting the idea of separate stores
-supported by amnesia cases (they either lose STM or LTM, not both)
-serial position effect supports the idea of separate stores (words at the start and end of a list re better recalled)
-over-simplified, assuming there are single STM and LTM stores
-Cohen 1990 - memory capacity can’t be measured only by amount of info, as some info is easier to recall regardless of the amount
-primarily focuses on the structure, ignoring the processes
