Theories of Memory
Short Term Memory
Long Term Memory
Forgetting & Retrieval
Biology of Memory
100
What are the two theories of memory? and describe them.
1. Information-Processing View-Memory proceeds in 3 stages 1.encoding 2. storage 3.retrieval 2. Levels of Processing View- views the distinction between STM and LTM is a matter of degree rather than being different kinds of memory and is based on how incoming information is processed. -Processing info from perceptual to conceptual
100
What is short term memory? How much information can be stored in it?
It is the 2nd stage of memory in which 7+ or -2 bits of information can be stored for periods of time
100
What is Long Term Memory? and its characteristics
It is the 3rd stage of memory. It is the storage of information thats kept for long periods of time. -long lasting - no capacity limitation -organized -information is indexed(cues can bring up LTM) -More durable than STM
100
Who invented the forgetting curve and what are some of the characteristics of forgetting
Ebbinghaus(1885) - we forget the most info within the first 20 minutes after learning it - forgetting can occur at any stage in the information-processing view -forgetting can also occur if we encode or store info wrong
100
What are the key players in memory? and which one plays an important role in the creation of new memories?
Thalamus Occipital Lobe Frontal Lobe Hippocampus- very important in the creation of new memories especially long term memory
200
What are the stages of the information-processing view?
-Memory proceeds in 3 stages 1.encoding 2. storage 3.retrieval
200
What is conscious memory?
When you are aware of the memory
200
What are the three types of Long Term Memory? and describe.
Procedural- memory of motor movements and skills,(how you do things) Semantic(Declarative)- memory or meaning, (what is something or what does it mean?) Episodic(Declarative)- memory for specific experiences that can be defined in terms of time and space,(when and where did it happen)
200
What are the two theories of forgetting and describe them.
decay theory- forgetting occurs as the memory trace fades over time. it affects sensory register and STM but not really LTM. Time is a bad explanation. Interference Theory- forgetting occurs because similar memories interfere with the storage or retrieval of new info. Maybe what causes forgetting in LTM.
200
What is Retrograde Amnesia? What is Anterograde Amnesia?
Retrograde Amnesia is the inability to retrieve old long term memories before the damage occured Anterograde Amnesia is the inability to retrieve to store new info in Long Term Memory, you cant learn any new information. You have problems with transferring info from STM to LTM
300
What are the two types if information processing? and some characteristics
1. shallow-level-perceptual... 2. deep-level-semantic.... better memory is created when processed here -flashbulb memory- a snapshot of a moment usually linked with strong emotions -false memories-memories of an event that didn't happen -weapon focus-witness will focus on the weapon used during the crime and less attention on everything else -von resttorft- an unusual item in a series will be remembered
300
What is chunking and give an example!
Chunking is grouping individual bits of information into larger chunks of information. ex: 5869973180.....586.997.3180
300
Episodic Memory Characteristics
-stores personal episodes -info is organized with chronological markers -susceptible to forgetting -we don't lose info we just can't access it with given cues -tip of tongue phenomenon
300
What are the two types of interference? and give an ex. of each
Proactive Interference- created by memories from prior learning -ex: trying to remember something recent but past is interfering Retroactive Interference- Interference created by memories from later learning.
300
What is Hebbs Theory? and what are engrams?
He believed that engrams are near the synaptic gaps engrams are partially understood memory in the brain that us the biological basis of memory. the things that code your learning in your brain
400
Define Sensory Register and the characteristics
-It is where sensory information is registered and translated. -It is the 1st stage of the memory in which an exact image of each sensory experience is held briefly until it can be processed. -very brief about 1/4 of a second -no capacity limit -assumed each sense has its own sensory register
400
What happens if we do not use mental repetition for information?
We start to forget the information stored.
400
Semantic Memory Characteristics
-stores facts -concepts are organized in associative network -spread of activation model -recency effect -primary effect -Serial Postion effect
400
What is the State Dependent Memory and who discovered it? What is the context effect and who discovered it?
Eich,weingarther, stillam and gillan(1975) When people took thc and learned new info they best remembered them when they took thc again. When people learned new info sober they best remembered them sober. The context effect was than founded by godden and badly. if you learn words underwater you'll best remember them underwater.
400
What is Synaptic Facilitation?
It is the process by which neural activity causes structural changes in the synapses that facilitate more efficient learning and memory.
500
What sensory registers have studies examined?
Visual- iconic memory... about 250 ms Auditory- echo memory... about 2-4 seconds
500
What is the Peterson & Peterson Experiment? And what did we learn from it?
It provied information on how long information is stored in our STM. Had people remember a combination of 3 constants(LRP) Than had them count backwards by 3's(18,15,12,9) Than had them recall the combination of constants We learned that we lose information after 30 seconds, but this is a good thing because we don't need to remember everything forever and it prevents the brain from overloading.
500
Describe Spread of activation model, recency effect,primary effect, and serial position effect.
Spread of activation model- when asked a question those concepts are activated and the nearby concepts are also activated Recency effect- recalling info at the end of a list Primary effect- recalling info at the beginning of a list Serial Position effect- immediate recall of items listed in a fixed order is often better for items at the beginning and end of the list than for the items listed in the middle
500
What is repression? What is the reconstruction theory&schema? What are some forms of reconstruction theory?
Repression is the mental pushing of memory into the unconscious typically emotionally negative memories...it is very controversial. The memory may be false when retrieved. Reconstruction theory is when info is stored in LTM sometimes changes overtime to fir our beliefs,knowledge and expectations our schemas. Schemas are our general knowledge of how the world works. You can use better cues to retrieve memories such as: Mnemonic devices, Peg-word method, and Method of Loci
500
Memory and Eyewitness Testimonies...
depending on how a question is asked you will get a different answer leading questions eye witness testimonies aren't all that reliable
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