Unit 3/Part 5: Memory Flashcards
(91 cards)
Explain the Atkinson Shiffrin multi-store model.
This model propose 3 types of memory; sensory, short-term and long term).
What is encoding?
Putting information into correct format for brain to process (e.g electrochemical energy)
Define memory.
An active information-processing system that encodes, stores and retrieves information.
What’s the difference between iconic and echoic memory?
Iconic memory is based on visual sensory information, whereas echoic is based on auditory sensory information. Iconic can last for up to 0.3 seconds and tends to fade rapidly, whereas echoic can last for up to 3-4 seconds and doesn’t fade as fast.
What is the capacity of iconic and echoic memory?
Both have unlimited capacity.
Explain why iconic has a shorter duration than echoic memory.
Because for iconic we constantly have to be visually aware of what’s happening in front of us, whereas auditory memory is longer so we can retrieve it, pay attention to it and respond.
Outline the direction and capacity of short term memory.
12-30 seconds and 7+-2 items.
How does STM differ from sensory memory?
It differs in that the direction is slightly longer, however the capacity isn’t unlimited unlike sensory memory.
What function does STM play in our ability to remember things?
We retrieve information from our LTM to sit in STM so we can evaluate and understand information that we’re working on at a given moment.
What is chunking?
The grouping together of individual items to form a single unit or ‘chunk’ to increase STM capacity.
What is an example of chunking?
A mobile phone number is 10 individual digits outside STM capacity. 0-4-1-7-6-3-9-7-8-4. To overcome this individual digits are grouped to form 3 units that’s within STM capacity 0417-639-784.
What is maintenance rehearsal?
Repeating information over and over again (without adding detail) to increase duration of STM e.g. Hold it for longer than 30 seconds.
What is an example of maintenance rehearsal and how is it useful?
Rote learning, which is repeating times tables over and over again. It’s useful at increasing duration of STM and may lead to info being eventually transferred to LTM.
What’s the limitation of maintenance rehearsal?
Capacity of STM is being filled (can’t think of anything else while repeating) and info in LTM is unlikely to be deeply encoded or have cues for retrieval.
What is elaborative rehearsal?
Remembering new information by adding additional detail or linking with other information. It’s superior to maintenance in that information is more deeply and meaningfully encoded and cues and links are available for retrieval.
What is the duration and capacity of LTM?
According to the A-S model LTM has a potentially unlimited capacity and duration.
What system is info in LTM believed to be organised in?
A semantic network; a hierarchy of nodes connected by links.
What are the two main types of LTM?
Procedural memory and declarative memory.
Define procedural memory.
Refers to knowledge of skills, habits, or actions (‘how to’ knowledge)
Define declarative memory.
Refers to memory for facts and events. This is further divided into episodic and semantic memory.
Define episodic memory.
Refers to memories of particular events and is often autobiographical, such as birthdays, your first day of school or your first romantic kiss.
Define semantic memory.
Refers to memory for facts, worldly knowledge or general knowledge.
What is the semantic network theory?
A theory that explains how info is organised and retrieved in LTM. It suggests info is stored via meaning and interconnected. There are 3 main features of a semantic network:
- The info is stored via nodes.
- The nodes are connected via links (the shorter the link the more meaningful the connection and quicker the retrieval)
- nodes are organised in a hierarchy
Explain the spreading activation theory.
Explains how info is retrieved from the semantic network. It suggests a question will activate a node, usually high in the hierarchy. In turn, via links, more and more nodes will be activated like wildfire. This process will start slowly and become quicker over time.