Psychology of memory and learning

Question 1

What are the 3 stages of memory?

Answer 1

1. Encoding
   - Attention
   - Repetition allows easier retrieval
2. Storage
3. Retrieval
   - State dependent
   - if the environment is the same then it may help you remember

Question 2

Which model is used for the structure of memory?

Answer 2

Atkinson-Shiffrin Model (1968)

Question 3

What is implicit memory?

Answer 3

• memory (non-declarative/procedural)
• e.g. motor skills “draw the shape”
• MEMORY FOR SKILLS

Question 4

What is explicit memory?

Answer 4

• (declarative)
• e.g. verbal skills “describe the shape”
• MEMORY FOR FACTS

Question 5

What is the primary recency effect?

Answer 5

• most people remember the 1st and last thing said

Sensory information - sensory store - Short term (working memory) - Long term (Storage)

Question 6

What is short term memory?

Answer 6

• AKA working memory
• temporary store
• decays rapidly
• no changes to synapses
• infor can be retained for 30 seconds
• Need to attend to a stimulus
• Encoding occurs but limited capacity chunks
• Info is active when conscious
• Limited capacity
• It is usually found that we can only store around 7 +/- 2 pieces of information in memory
• chunking – grouping bits of info to make remembering easier

Question 7

Short term memory consists of 3 things. What are they?

Answer 7

• Central Executive: we call ‘ATTENTION’
• Phonological Loop: holds information in a speech-based form
• Visuo-spatial sketchpad: specialised for holding visual and spatial information

Question 8

What is long term memory split into?

Answer 8

• Declarative

- Non-declarative

Question 9

What is declarative?

Answer 9

FACTS:

• Semantic - facts about the world e.g. capital of France is Paris
• Episodic – facts about you

Question 10

What is non- declarative?

Answer 10

• Procedural – you learn it and now you just do it e.g. walking

Question 11

What is long term memory?

Answer 11

• can last for life
• large capacity
• need to conslidate information
• involves hippocampus of the brain
• information needs to be retrieved

Question 12

How do you retrieve information?

Answer 12

• might need cues
• when encoding information, repeat information
• organise information when stored
• be in the same place/emotional state as when you learnt it

Question 13

What is forgetting?

Answer 13

• decay
• displacement
• retrieval failure
• interference.

Question 14

What happens in amnesia?

Answer 14

• motor and perceptual skills are preserved
• Semantic knowledge (general knowledge) is fine
• Episodic memory (personal) is disrupted.

Question 15

What is anterograde?

Answer 15

• Anterograde: inability to learn new things

Question 16

What is retrograde?

Answer 16

• inability to remember old memories before the injury

Question 17

When are patients more likely to remember things?

Answer 17

• info at start and end
• statements patient think are important
• less information to remember
• short words and short sentences
• organised info
• repeated info
• higher IQ