PSY08101 Applied Memory 24-25 - Copy

PSY08101 Cognitive Psychology 1

Main Text: Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2020). Cognitive Psychology: A Student’s Handbook (8th ed.). Psychology Press. Chapters 8, 6-7.
Additional Reading: Baddeley, A., Eysenck, M. W., & Anderson, M. C. (2015). Memory (2nd ed.). Psychology Press. Chapters 11-13, 16-17.

Components:
- Central Executive: Oversees and coordinates
- Slave Systems:
  - Episodic Buffer: Integrates information from different sources
  - Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad: Manages visual and spatial information
  - Phonological Loop: Processes auditory information, including speech

Types of Long-term Memory:
- Declarative (Explicit):
  - Episodic: Events and experiences from one’s life
  - Semantic: Facts and knowledge about the world
- Non-Declarative (Implicit):
  - Procedural: Skills and tasks
  - Priming: Exposure to one stimulus influences response to another

Autobiographical Memory:
- Involves self-related events, distinct from episodic memory, may include semantic memory.
- Contains unique phenomena such as:
  - Flashbulb Memories: Detailed recollections of significant events (Brown & Kulik, 1977).
  - Childhood Amnesia: Few memories from before age 3.
  - Reminiscence Bump: Enhanced recall from adolescence and early adulthood.

Characteristics:
- Vividness, detail, longevity
- Perceived as more accurate but can be distorted
- Example Study: Pezdek (2003) and 9/11 post-event recall.

Few memories before age 3.
Theories:
- Two-stage theory:
  - Absolute and relative amnesia based on age and cognitive development.
- Neurogenic hypothesis emphasizes the role of developing Hippocampus.

Peak memories from the ages of 10 to 30, influenced by life scripting and cultural expectations.

Definition: Remembering to perform intended actions in the future.
Model Process:
- Intention Formation, Retention, Monitoring for Cues, Retrieval, and Execution.
Types:
- Event-based: Easier with external cues.
- Time-based: Organized around timed actions.
Issues with Prospective Memory: Context, stress effects, and mental health.

Influences:
- Confirmation Bias: Memory shaped by pre-existing beliefs (e.g., Hastorf and Cantril).
- Misinformation Effect: Post-event information alters memory accuracy (Loftus & Palmer).
- Weapon Focus: Attention narrows on significant objects (Biggs et al., 2013).
Identification Challenges:
- Unconscious transference and other-race effects influence eyewitness reliability.
- Importance of lineup structure (simultaneous vs sequential).
- Cognitive Interview techniques enhance recall by mentally reinstating context.

Examples:
- Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm shows associative memory errors.
- Misleading information creates false memories.

Types:
- Retrograde Amnesia: Loss of past memories.
- Anterograde Amnesia: Inability to form new memories.
Conditions Leading to Amnesia: Trauma, medications, infections, and significant illnesses.

Types of Dementia include Vascular and Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s: Characterized by neurodegeneration and episodic memory loss. Treatments focus on managing symptoms (e.g., acetylcholine inhibitors).

Distinctiveness: Use unique associations (e.g., von Restorff effect).
Mnemonics: Like pegword systems and method of loci to enhance recall.
Testing Effect: Retrieval practice enhances memory retention (Roediger & Karpicke).
Studying Methods: SQ3R strategy, concept maps, and imagery for deeper cognitive processing.
Traits of Memory Experts: Differences in brain activity and exceptional strategies for memory improvement.