psych memory terms and info

Sensation

The physical detection of environmental stimuli by sense organs and the conversion of this stimuli into electrochemical energy *physiological process

Stages of sensation

1. Reception 2.Transduction 3.Transmission

Reception

The detection of sensory information in the sense organs via the sensory receptors

Transduction

The changing/transformation of sensory information into electrochemical energy (happens within sensory receptors in the sense organs)

Transmission

The movement of electrochemical energy from sensory receptors (in sense organs) to the relevant component/lobe/area if the brain

Perception

The psychological interpretation/understanding of sensory information

Stages of perception

1. Selection 2. Organisation 3. Interpretation

Selection

Involves determining important information for further processing.

Anything unimportant is discarded *The brain isn’t capable of processing all sensory info therefore some must be ignored

Organisation

Selected information is categorised to allow for meaningful patterns to form

*Differs greatly between individuals based on past experiences

Interpretation

Meaning is assigned to groups of patterns and creates mental representation

*Influenced by past experiences, motive, values and context

Memory

The cognitive function through which specific information and past experiences are actively recalled

Stages of memory

1. Encoding 2. Storage 3. Retrieval

Encoding

The process of converting information or data into a specific format (eg visual or audio)

Storage

The retention of information within memory store

Retrieval

The movement of memory/information from the long-term memory back into conscious awareness

Multi-store model of memory 3 stores

1. Sensory memory/register 2. Short term memory 3. Long term memory

Sensory register 3 stages

1. Decay 2. Capacity 3. Duration

Sensory register

First memory store where the sensory information is briefly held before decaying or being transferred to the STM

Decay

The fading of memory over time

Capacity

The maximum amount of information able to be stored at a given time

Duration

The length of time the information can be stored for

2 Types of sensory memory

1. Iconic 2. Echoic

Iconic memory

Visual encoding eg. waving a sparkler in the dark and briefly experiencing an after image

Iconic memory - Decay

Rapid

Iconic memory - Duration

0.2-0.4 seconds

Iconic memory - Capacity

Unlimited

Echoic Memory

Auditory encoding of information eg. retaining the sound of word long enough to understand the whole word or phrase that has been spoken

Echoic memory - decay

rapid

Echoic memory - duration

3-4 seconds

Echoic memory - capacity

unlimited

Sensory register summary - decay duration and capacity

Rapid, 0.2-4 seconds, unlimited

Short term memory

A temporary memory store for a limited amount of information received from the sensory register and long-term store (conscious brain)

Short term memory encoding

Auditory, visual and semantic information

Short term memory duration

15-30 seconds

Short term memory capacity

5-9 pieces

short term memory decay

after 30 seconds if a control propose isn’t used to hold it for longer or allow for encoding to the long term memory

Maintenance rehearsal 2 types

Verbal and non verbal

Verbal maintenance rehearsal

Repetition of words either verbally (saying out loud) or sub-verbally (thinking words silently to yourself)

Non-verbal maintenance rehearsal

Visualising (keeping an image in your mind) or muscular (imaging how it feels to perform an action)

Short term memory important feature

Ability to actively process or encode information to the long term memory

Long term memory

A relatively permanent memory store for an unlimited amount of information that sends and receives from the short term memory

Long term memory capacity

unlimited

Long term memory duration

permanent

2 types of long term memory

1. Implicit 2. Explicit

Implicit long term memory

‘How to’ of memory. Type of memory that describes the procedural memory eg. tying shoelace, riding a bike

Explicit long term memory

Factual information that can be expressed with words. It takes a conscious effort to retrieve explicit memory

2 sub groups of explicit long term memory

1. Sematic 2. Episodic

Sematic memory

Impersonal factual knowledge eg. knowing WW1 dates

Episodic memory

Significantly personal events eg. experiencing and remembering your previous birthdays

Working memory model study info

Baddeley and Hitch 1974 Baddeley 2000

Working memory model

View that STM is dynamic storage system that is capable of simultaneously holding multiple pieces of information

Central executive WMM

A component of working memory/STM that is responsible for coordinating the slave systems as well as controlling attention given to information for decision making. *Integrates information for each slave system

3 slave systems

1. Phonological loop 2. Visuospatial sketchpad 3. Episodic buffer

Phonological loop

Temporarily processes and stores auditory information. Has 2 processors

Phonological loop 2 processors

1. Phonological store 2. Articulatory process

Phonological store

Storage for word that are heard (inner inner) (holding)

Articulatory process

Repeats heard word in a loop to allow for maintenance rehearsal (inner voice)

Visuospatial sketchpad

Stores and manipulates visual and spatial information. Used to visualise and for body perception of space (navigation)

Episodic Buffer

Temporarily stores and consolidates information from the Central executive, Phonological loop, Visuospatial sketchpad and the Long term memory

Episodic buffer Baddeley further info

Suggests that sematic memories from the LTM are integrated with the feature of working memory to produce segments (episodes)

Hippocampus

Structure of the brain (seahorse shaped) that is located deep within each temporal lobes

Hippocampus role in formation of memories

Formation of explicit memories (sematic and episodic)

Hippo campus role in the storage of memories

Temporarily stores the explicit memories before moving to the pre-frontal cortex (only for LTM)

Cerebellum

Back of the skull directly beneath the occipital and temporal lobes of the cerebrum (little brain)

Cerebellum role in memory

Forming, encoding and storing long term implicit memories.

Cerebellum role in retrieving memories

Activates relevant neural systems to retrieve an implicit memory which enables the unconscious completion of motor tasks

Amygdala

Pea sized in each temporal lobe in front of hippocampus

Amygdala role in the formation of memories

Significant role in the formation of memories associated with fear. Fearful memories can be established/encoded with fewer repetitions

Amygdala role in the storage of memories

Unlikely to store fearful memories. Strengthen episodic memories stored elsewhere

amygdala location

In each temporal lobe

Henry Molaison year

1953

Henry Molaison procedure

A radical surgery performed by William Scorville to remove his hippocampus

Henry Molaison why was it done

To reduce his sever epileptic seizures

Henry Molaison key findings

• Surgery was successful, reducing seizures

• Unable to form any new explicit/declarative memories

• Implicit memories were still intact