Memory & Cognition Ch. 5-6

Decay Theory

Decay Theory

Suggests that info simply weakens or is lost over time if not used

The group that went to sleep (less activity/interference over time) had better recall

STUDY

Group A: Given random syllables in morning, tested on them that night

Group B: Given random syllables at night, tested on them the next morning

Interference

Forgetting is a direct result of more learning

Retroactive Interference

New learning interferes with old learning

Proactive Interference

Old learning interferes with new learning

Retroactive Interference Study

Phase 1: Dog-Roof

Experimental Group→ A-B

Control Group→ A-B

Phase 2: Dog-Desk

Experimental Group → A-C

Control Group → ——-

TEST(from Phase 1): Dog-____ (roof)

A- _____

A-_____

Control group recalls “roof” better because no retroactive interference in Phase 2

Proactive Interference Study

Phase 1: Dog-Roof

Experimental Group→ A-B

Control Group→ ———

Phase 2: Dog-Desk

Experimental Group → A-C

Control Group → A-C

TEST(from Phase 2): Dog-____ (desk)

A- _____

A-_____

Control group recalls “desk” better because no proactive interference in Phase 1

similar, more

The more _______ the info, the ____ likely interference is to occur

Response Competition

Occurs when the same cue is associated with two different responses

• Ex. cat = gato (Spanish), Katze (German)

• In a German class, your gato response will weaken as Katze strengthens

episodic

Retroactive Interference often interferes with ______ memory

Retrieval Induced Forgetting

Remembering one thing can hurt the memory of something else

Retrieval Induced Forgetting Study

STUDY

Banana

Orange

Scotch

Gin

Intermediate Study

Fruits- OR_____

Free Recall

Scotch- 56%

Gin- 56%

Banana- 40%

Orange- 81%

• Scotch/Gin = unstudied, recalled the same. When studying orange, you remember it better, banana even worse. YOU ARE SUPPRESSING THE INFO YOU AREN’T STUDYING

Part-Set Cuing Study

STUDY

List of 40 words (10 categories, 4 words in each)

TEST

Group A: Free Recall

Group B: 1 Category Cued (other 9?)

Group C: 2 Categories Cued (other 8?)

Group D: 4 Categories Cued (other 6?)

Group E: 7 Categories Cued (other 3?)

The more help participants got, the worse they performed on non-cued categories.

Lack of Encoding

You didn’t forget information, you never encoded it

ex. apple symbol

2 stage process of learning

Conscious and subconscious

Conscious Learning

Studying

Subconscious Strengthening

Information continues to strengthen even after conscious studying ends

Predictions of Consolidation

• inactivity, more

• interrupted

• prevented

• A period of mental _________ is ____ conducive to consolidation

• If _________, the trace can’t be consolidated and the item is not stored

• If consolidation is _______, item should never be recalled

Retrograde Amnesia

Cannot recall memory from directly before traumatic head event

Electroconvulsive Shock (ECS)

Rats shocked after running to safety. See if they remember safety.

• Rats who had 1-4 hours to consolidate learning the safe spot knew to run back to safe spot. those with only 20 seconds to consolidate didn’t remember

Before, After

________ Electroconvulsive Therapy, patients remembered 2023 better than 2021

________ Electroconvulsive Therapy, patients remembered 2021 better than 2023

Long Term Consolidation

Consolidation for some ECT patients took up to a year. Initially forgotten memories slowly come back

severe, further back

The more ______ the head injury, the _____ ____ the memory gap goes

Gives information uninterrupted time to consolidate

How does sleep benefit memory?

The roaches but in the box with no stimulation

Which roaches had a better memory of navigating the test space?

Item-Based Arousal Study

Patients given different words with numbers to memorize:

• Assault - 6 (Arousing)

• Tree- 2 (neutral)

• Vomit- 5 (arousing)

• Dance- 3 (neutral)

If tested immediately, neutral words recalled better.

If tested a week later, arousing words recalled better.

arousal

Consolidation is enhanced if material causes _______

Subject-Based Arousal Study

Introverts memory is enhanced by arousal

strengthen

Adrenaline can ________ memory

Propranolol

Taking directly after arousing event can dull the emotional impact of the event

It calms the amygdala which is right next to the hippocampus

Why does propranolol disrupt consolidation after traumatic events?

equal

Subjects who took propranolol after watching adrenaline-inducing video had _____ memory as those who heard a boring story

Yes, by disrupting the emotional connection to the memory

Can propranolol work for old PTSD? How?

Zeigarnik Effect

a psychological phenomenon where people tend to remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than tasks they have completed. It suggests that unfinished tasks create a state of mental tension and cognitive dissonance, which improves recall ability.

Incubation

Moving information from STM to LTM; insight

• unconsciously working on an issues

seconds to minutes

What time frame does incubation take place in?

Explicit memory

Conscious recollection of information. Direct tests of memory

Implicit Memory

Retention of information without awareness. Indirect tests of memory

Retrieval only

Does amnesia affect LTM, STM, or retrieval?

unconsciously. Lady wouldn't shake doctors hand even though she couldn’t consciously remember him pricking her last time they shook hands

Amnesiacs can _________ make new memories. What is an example of this?

word, explicit

equally, implicit

H.M. performed _______ than average on ______ memory tests.

He performed _______ as well on _______ memory tests