Psych Exam 5

Memory

A group of related mental processes that are involved in acquiring, storing, and retrieving information

encoding

Putting information into memory

storage

Retaining information in memory

retrieval

recalling or using previously encoded and stored information

levels of processing

Memory can also be conceptualized from a processing standpoint

shallow, intermediate, deep

what are the levels of processing?

shallow processing

notice some physical features

intermediate processing

notice patterns and a little more detail

deep processing

think about meaning

semantic encoding

process of actively relating new information in a meaningful way to knowledge that is already in memory (most difficult)

visual imagery encoding

process of storing new information by converting it into mental pictures

organizational encoding

process of categorizing information according to the relationships among a series of items

in the form of a biochemical (neurotransmitter) code

how are memories formed?

most influential memory model

information-processing

Atkinson and Shiffrin

who developed the information-processing model?

suggests that memory operates in a series of stages

what is the information-processing model?

sensory memory

can hold vast amounts of sensory stimuli for a sliver of time

short-term memory

can temporarily maintain and process limited information for longer periods

about 30 seconds if no distractions

how long is short-term memory?

long-term memory

has essentially unlimited capacity

can hold onto information indefinitely

how long is long-term memory?

function of sensory memory

Used to perceive the world as continuous, rather than as a series of disconnected visual images or disjointed sounds; slightly overlap with one another

iconic memory

Visual impressions that are photograph-like in their accuracy but dissolve in less than a second

George Sperling

who studied iconic memory?

sensory memory

what stage of memory is iconic memory a part of?

auditory sensory memory (AKA echoic memory)

a brief memory that is like an echo

up to three or four seconds

how long does echoic memory last?

about 1/4 to 1/2 of a second

how long is visual sensory memory?

George Sperling; partial report technique

who first measure visual sensory memory and how?

eidetic memory

Ability to “see” an image or object sometimes long after it has been removed from sight with amazing specificity

children

who does eidetic memory primarily occur in?

echoic memory

Exact copies of the sounds we hear

about 1-10 seconds

how long does echoic memory typically last?

perfect pitch

what is an example of echoic memory?

maintenance rehearsal

Technique of repeating info to be remembered, increasing the length of time it can be held in short-term memory

short term, working memory

Provides temporary storage of information transferred from sensory and long-term memory

about 20-30 seconds

how long is short term, working memory?

if distracted

when does maintenance rehearsal not work well?

info loss may be due to

decay, interference from new or competing infod

decay

fading away of information

chunking

Grouping numbers, letters, or other items into meaningful subsets as a strategy for increasing the quantity of info that can be maintained in short-term memory

the serial position effect

Tendency to remember items at the beginning and end of a list better than the items in the middle

two parts to serial position effect

primary effect and recency effectp

primary effect

the tendency to recall the first items in a list

recency effect

the tendency to recall the last items in a list

capacity of short term memory can be increased by…

chunking

working memory

the active, conscious manipulation of temporarily stored information

Alan Baddeley

who publsihed the best-known model of working memory?

four main components, each can function independently

what are the features of the best-known model of working memory?

4 components of working memory

phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central executive, episodic buffer

phonological loop

responsible for working with verbal information for brief periods of timevi

visuopatial sketchpad

where visual and spatial data are briefly stored and manipulated

central executive

directs attention, asks plans, coordinates activities, determines what information is used and what is ignored

episodic buffer

forms the bridge between memory and conscious awareness

working memory

what does social media pose a threat to?

long term memory

what type of memory provides quick retrieval with little effort?

explicit memory

A type of memory you are aware of having and can consciously express in words or declare, including memories of facts and experiences

implicit memory

A memory of something you know or know how to do, which may be automatic, unconscious, and difficult to bring to awareness and express

procedural memory

The unconscious memory of how to carry out a variety of skills and activities wh

implicit

what type of memory is procedural memory?

semantic memory

The memory of information theoretically available to anyone, which pertain to general facts about the world

semantic

what type of memory is the hardest to explain?

episodic memory

The record of memorable experiences or “episodes’ including when and where an experience occurred

episodic

what type of memory is fragile, can be influenced, and is at risk for the formation of false memories?

flashbulb memory

thought to involve the recall of very specific details or images surrounding a significant, rare, or vivid event

flashbulb

what memory is thought to be more vivid and accurate than normal memories?

gradually decays over time, emotionally charged but not necessarily more accurate than memories of more common events

what does research demonstrate about flashbulb memories?

flashbulb memory

what is this question an example of?

“What do you remember from when you heard about 9/11?

the encoding specificity principle

When conditions of retrieval are similar to conditions of encoding, retrieval is more likely to be successful; You’re more likely to remember things if the conditions under which you recall them are similar to the conditions under which you learned them

self-reference effect

applying information to yourself

visual imagery

what enhances encoding?

Emotion, Motivation, and Personality

what plays a role in both storage and retrieval of memories?

dependent memories

Tendency to remember information more easily when the retrieval occurs in the same setting in which you originally learned the information

taking a test and remembering where the professor stood when giving the information during lecture

example of visual imagery enhancing encoding?

mood congruences

Memory is facilitated when physiological and psychological conditions are similar at time of encoding and retrieval. Retrieval is also easier if content of memory corresponds to present and emotional state

when you're in a positive mood, you’re more likely ro recall positive memories

example of mood congruences?

when the encoding and retrieval occur in similar contexts

when are context-depended memories easier to access?

Godden and Baddeley; learn list of words underwater and on dry land

who conducted the experiment for the encoding specificity principle and what was it?

the inability to retrieve previously available information

forgetting

retrieval

the process of accessing and retrieving stored information in long-term memory

retrieval clue

a clue, prompt, or hint that can help trigger recall of a stored memory

what demonstrates the difference between information that is STORED in LTM versus information that you can ACCESS

retrieval problems

priming

stimulation of memories as a result of retrieval cues in environment

Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM)

An uncanny ability to recollect an abundance of detail pertaining to autobiographical experiences

remember almost every day of their lives

what can people with HSAM do?

interfere with other cognitive activites

what can intense recollection (such as HSAM) do?

focus on items that need your attention and it clears the way for new memories

what does forgetting allow you to do?

tip of the tongue experience (TOT)

involves the sensation of knowing that specific information is stored in long-term memory but being unable to retrieve it

one

how many TOT experiences per week?

first letter and number of syllables, produce words with similar meanings and sounds

whatcan people accurately identify about half of the time during a TOT?

90%; few minutes

how often and quickly of TOT experiences resolved?

one neuron is off-sync with others and all are required to retrieve information

why do TOT experiences occur?

first began to study forgetting by using nonsense syllables

what did Hermann Ebbinghaus do?

determine how much info was forgotten after different lengths of time

what was Herman Ebbinghaus’ goal?

Ebbinghaus

who created the famous forgetting curve?

how well the material was encoded in the first place, how meaningfuf the material was, and how often it was rehearsed

what does how quickly we forget material depend on?

encoding failure

never got into long-term memory

storage failure

memory decay

retrieval failure

TOT

decay theory

when a new memory is formed, it creates a MEMORY TRACE (a distinct structural or chemical change in the brain)