Memory Storage and Retrieval

Two forms of explicit memories

semantic and episodic

Semantic

facts or knowledge

Episodic

experienced events

2 parts of the brain for explicit memory

frontal lobe and hippocampus

Prefrontal cortex

used for working memory

Left frontal lobe

recalling info and holding it in working memory

Right frontal lobe

recalling visual scenes

Hippocampus

save button for explicit memories

Left hippocampus

remembering verbal info

Right hippocampus

remembering visual info

Where does memory consolidation occur

transfer out of hippocampus and into the cortex

Cerebellum

forming and storing implicit memories created through classical conditioning

Basa Ganglia

memories for motor movement and procedural memories

Infantile amnesia

most adults do not remember first 4 years because hippocampus is not mature

Amygdala

part of limbic system that is provoked by stress

Memory trace

lasting physical change that occurs when a memory forms that lead to strong emotional experiences creating stronger memories or tunnel vision memories

Flashbulb memories

mental snapshots of shocking events

Long term potentiation

increased efficiency of potential neural firing after learning and remembering associations, this serves as the physical basis for memory

What occurs during learning in neurons

certain neurons release serotonin and become more efficient at signal transduction which increases the number of synapses

Synapses after long term potentiation

old memories won’t be disrupted by very recent memories may be wiped if not saved yet

Retrospective memory

memories from the past

Prospective memory

memories about future decisions

Priming

unconscious activation of certain associations to provoke a memory or response

Encoding specificity principle

cues and contexts specific to a memory will be more effective in helping recall it

State dependent memory

what we learn in one state may be more easily recalled in that same state

Mood congruency

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current mood

Recency effect

the tendency to recall the last item on the list

Primacy effect

the tendency to recall the first item on a list

Serial position effect over time

at first the recency effect is strongest then over time the primacy effect is strongest