Memory - 3

Types of events in the Brain: Working Memory

Neurons store the working memory by continue firing when the ‘scene’ isn’t there anymore

Delayed-Response Task in monkey shed light on this by letting

monkey use working memory while research recorded AP in frontal cortex

The Delayed-Response task Monkey experiment

• Monkey sees where food is (left or right), some neurons fire many AP if food is on the right/left (depend on the neuron’s preferences)

• During delay (a scene is set in front of the monkey) - same neurons keep firing AP even tho the food isn’t there

Neurons convey not only the location the monkey sees but

also the location the monkey has in working memory

Memory are not

a neutral record (video recording) of smth that happend in the past

Memories are

Selective (some parts are left out)

Demonstration with pennies

Most people have seen pennies many times, but people still find it hard to recognize the correct writing on the pennies (proves memories are selective)

Memory are also

actively constructed - using various info. sources (brain’s assumptions)

Drawing Task

• memorize images then later draw them from memory

  • Group 1 and 2 have different label for the same pics

The drawing task results in

The drawings of the 2 groups were different because the brain uses the label to help the memory reconstruct the images (bias towards the labels)

*further proves the brain uses current info. to actively construct memory

Flashbulb memories

when people report vivd and detailed episodic memories of emotionally charged events

Flashbulb memories aren’t

accurate, only seem accurate to the person

When comparing everyday memories, flashbulb memories

don’t have a higher number of correct recalled but stronger belief that the memory is accurate

The accuracy of memories has consequence in the justice system, especially regarding

eye witness testimony

cognitive psychologists recommend

Any lineup should be serial (one suspect after the other) rather than simutaneuos (a spread with all suspects at the same time)

people tend to pick the option that is

the best match or next best match to their memory even tho they know the correct answer might not be there

So showing the pics one by one is the best option bc

you don’t know which photo will be next, you can’t directly compare to find the best match (use pure memory)