Unit 3 AOS 3 Flashcards
(14 cards)
3 key processes of memory
Encoding: Converting info into a usable form
Storage: Rataining info for a period of time
Retrieval: Accessing info that has previously been stored
Atkinson shiffrin model of memory
proposes that there are multiple levels to memory and in order to store info for a long period of time, sensory info must pass through three independant stores that function simultaneously and interact eith eachother to process info.
sensory memory shot term memory and long term memory.
Sensory memory: is the entry point for sensory info that filters out unnecessary info and stores info long enough so we can perceive the world as continuous
Capacity unlimited and duration is 0.2-4 seconds
Short term memory: Actively manipulates encoded information, so it remains in concious awareness
capacity 5 to 9 items (can be more through chunking) and duration 12-30 secs (can be enhanced through rehearsal
Long-term Memory: Stores info that has been semantically encoded for future use
capactiy is unlimited and duration is relatively permanent
Types of Long-term Memory
Explicit Memory: Memory that is conciously or intentionally recalled through semantic memory(facts, general knowledge) and episodic memory(personal experiences).
Implicit Memory: Memory that is unconciously or unintentionally recalled trough procedural memory(Simple motor responses) and classically conditioned resoinses.
Roles of specific regions of the brain in Long-term Memory
Neocortex: Stores explicit memories, usually in areas relevant to specific sensory processing and Also links together & gathers different components of a memory during retrieval.
Basal ganglia: Encodes implicit memories to do with habits and encodes and initiates complex well-practised sequences of movement.
Hippocampus: Forms and retrieves explicit memories, consolidates explicit memories, transfers new memories to relevant parts of the brain for permanent long-term storage and interacts with amygdala to link emotions to memories.
Cerebellum: Coordinates fine muscle movements, regulates posture and balance and encodes and stores implicit simple memories of motor skills and classically conditioned simple reflexes (eye blink, leg movement or head turn).
Amygdala: Forms and regulates implicit, emotional based memories related to fear and/or aggression also links emotions to explicit memories in hippocampus.
Consolidation
The process by whicha temporary memorynis transformed into a more stable, long-lasting form.
Declarative memories
Declarative memories involve the long-term memory of specific facts and events, most of which can be stated or ‘declared’.
categorised into:
Episodic memory: contains memories of distinct personal events (or episodes) that are associated with a particular time and place.
Semantic Memory: refers to the organised factual knowledge that you possess about the outside world
Retrieving autobiographical memory
Autobiographical memory is a memory system consisting of episodes recalled from a person’s life, based on a mixture of episodic and semantic memory. Autobiographical memory links past events together into a personal history. Through reconstruction we combine stored information with other available info to form what is believed to be a more accurate memory.
Constructing possible imagined futures
Episodic future thinking involves projecting yourself forwards in time to pre-experience an event that might happen in your personal future. Involves a process of active construction of events that have not yet occurred but that is based on past events and knowledge.
Mental time travel involves the capacity to mentally reconstruct past personal events and imagine possible future scenarios.
Episodic memory provides the episodic elements such as people and place. Semantic memeory provides a context or framework for constructing and organising the episodic future thinking.
Alzheimers disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the progressive widespread deterioration of brain neurons, causing memory loss, decline in cognitive skills and personality changes.
Early stage (2-4 years):
Forgets recently read material
Forgets where valuables have been placed
Has trouble managing money
Middle stage (2-10 years):
Experiences delusions, compulsions
or repetitive behaviour
Needs assistance with getting dressed
Has trouble learning new things
Late stage (1-3 years):
Has significant personality and behaviour changes
Loses ability to hold a conversation
Cannot remember family members and loved ones
Causes of Alzheimer’s disease
Amyloid plaques occur when beta-amyloid proteins build up. This abnormal build-up forms plaques between the synapses of neurons, and so interfere with communication.
Neurofibrillary tangles occur when protein builds up inside the neuron and are associated with cell death. This interferes with the flow of information travels within and between neurons, disrupting communication.
There is a lack of the important memory neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Alzheimer’s disease systematically destroys the
neurons that produce acetylcholine.
Brain atrophy occurs. Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles progressively damage neurons, which die, causing the brain tissue to shrink.
Aphantasia
Aphantasia is a phenomenon in which people are
unable to visualise imagery.
Symptoms
* if you were to ask a person with aphantasia to
imagine something, they would not be able to
experience any sort of mental image to
accompany this knowledge.
* Struggling to remember or ‘relive’
autobiographical events
* Having difficulty imagining future or hypothetical
events
* Having problems with factual memory
* Dreaming less
* Decreased imagery involving other senses like
sound or touch
* Trouble with facial recognition
Causes
It has been suggested that areas involved in visual imagery, such as the visual cortex, may be underactive.
* People with aphantasia do experience mental
imagery but can’t access the image in their
conscious thoughts.
* Aphantasia can be congenital (present from
birth) or can be acquired (due to brain injury or
significant psychological event).
Mnemonics
A mnemonic is any technique used for improving or enhancing memory. A mnemonic device adds information to organise the material in
long-term memory and to make it easier to locate and retrieve.
Mnemonics in written cultures: A written culture is one where info and stories are shared and preserved through the processes of reading and writing.
Method of loci: involves committing a familiar location or sequence of locations to
memory as a retrieval cue, and visually linking these locations with information that needs to be recalled.
Acronym: An acronym involves using the first letter of each word to be remembered to create a pronounceable word or name. each letter acts a retrieval cue.
Acrostic: Acrostics are phrases (or poems) where the first letter of each word functions as a
cue to help with recall. The first letter of each word acts as a retrieval cue. (never eat soggy weetbix)
Mnemonics in oral cultures: An oral culture is a culture that involve people who
communicated vital information and spread stories via word of mouth.
Song lines are sung narratives of the landscape that weave across the country and enable every significant place in Aboriginal Dreamings to be remembered.
Displacement decay and rehearsal
Decay: the fading away of information in short-term memory when not maintained by rehearsal
Rehearsal: the conscious manipulation of information to keep it in short-term memory(maintenance rehearsal) for longer or to transfer it to long-term memory(elaborativer rehearsal)
Displacement: adding new single items to short-term memory by pushing out old items
