memory quiz

memory

the ability to store and retrieve information over time

what makes smt memorable?

novelty (newness), repetition, association, emotional resonance

what are the 3 key functions of memory?

encoding, storage, retrieval

encoding

process by which we transform what we perceive, think, or feel into an enduring memory

storage

the retention of encoded information over time

retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory storage, brought to awareness

what are the 3 processing stages?

sensory storage, short term memory, long term memory

sensory storage

FLEETING memory activated by 5 senses. moves to short-term if important enough

iconic memory

visual momentary sensory memory (<0.5sec)

echoic memory

auditory momentary sensory memory (3-4sec)

short-term memory

activated memory that holds a few items for a brief time

long-term memory

relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system that includes knowledge, skills and experiences

what happens info info is rehearsed through elaborative rehearsal rather than maintenance rehearsal?

more likely to be transferred from short-term memory to long-term

elaborative rehearsal

making associations, using memory aids

maintenance rehearsal

repeating information

working memory can hold x chunks for y seconds

x=7 +-2, y=18-30

chunking

organization of items into familiar manageable units (i.e. phone #s)

short term memory is __ memory

working memory! the CENTRAL EXECUTIVE integrates information from the phonological loop and visuospatial sketch pad to your long term memory

semantic encoding

process of actively relating new information in a meaningful way to knowledge that is already in memory (i.e. drawing personal experiences)

visual imagery encoding

process of storing new information by converting it into mental pictures (i.e. memory palace)

organizational encoding

process of categorizing information according to the relationships among a series of items (i.e. creating a hierarchy)

visual judgment

attending to show the word looks (shallow processing)

rhyme judgement

attending to the word sound (shallow processing)

semantic judgment

thinking about a word’s meaning (deep processing)

self reference effect

people's tendency to better remember information when that information has been linked to the self

hippocampus

brain structure important for learning and memories

who is HM??

he had a removal of his hippocampus. after the operation he still had his short term memory but no long term memory. couldnt remember anything that happened AFTER the surgery

what did HM have?

anterograde amnesia

anterograde amnesia

unable to transfer info from STM to LTM for anything after ur brain surgery

retrograde amnesia

unable to retrieve old memories/information (b4 surgery)

long term memory

holds information for hours/days/months/years; can even recall items from there when havent thought about it in years

consolidation

process by which memories become STABLE in the brain. takes time though but recalling helps

reconsolidation

memories can become vulnerable to disruption when they are recalled, requiring them to be consolidated again

what helps consolidation?

sleep!!! your brain needs to soak the info up and get ready to become a sponge too

spacing effect

the tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention

distributed practice

longer practice and rest periods leads to better long-term recall (i.e. studying 3 days before an exam)

massive practice

produces speedy short-term learning and feelings of confidence, but not long term retention (i.e. all nighter before an exam)

rehearsal

process of keeping information in WORKING MEMORY by repeating it

next in line effect

person in a group has DIMINISHED RECALL for words of others who spoke immediately before/after them. this deficit reflects a failure in encoding

serial position effect

immediate recall of a list of items is best from the beginning and end of the list, worst in the middle

primacy effect

info at the beginning of a list better remembered than stuff in middle

recency effect

info at the end of a list is better remembered than stuff in the middle

who is karl lashley?

unsuccessfully tried to locate the area in the brain where engrams/memory traces were stored. concluded massed action

massed action

memories are stored and consolidated throughout all parts of our brain.

Long term potentiation (LTP)

increased firing efficiency of potential neural firing, strengthen of synapses; believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory. more serotonin released when learning so synapses become more efficient at transmitting signals

explicit (declarative) memories

require effortful processing (conscious recall, requires effort and intention); processed in HIPPOCAMPUS and FRONTAL LOBE

implicit (nondeclarative) memories

automatic processing (without conscious recall); processed in cerebellum and basal ganglia

semantic memory

facts and knowledge (improves with age); explicit

episodic memory

personally experienced events (declines with age); explicit

procedural memory

automatic skills (i.e. reading, riding bike); implicit

priming

conditioned associations (i.e. previous experience influences ur interpretation of the event); implicit

space, time, frequency

spatial awareness (driving home); implicit

flashbulb memories

vivid recollection of where you were when an event occurred that was significant to them (emotion triggered); amygdala engages memory

frontal lobes

executive functions, explicit memory

basal ganglia

associations, implicit memory, procedural memorya

amygdala

emotion related memory information

cerebellum

coordinates movement, implicit memory

hippocampus

formation of new memories, explicit memory, episodic memories

metamemory

awareness of our own thoughts towards a task to help control our learning (self monitoring/control)

memory retrieval cues

recognition is easier than recall because it provides retrieval cues

encoding specificity principle

cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping recall

context-dependent memory

improved recall of info when the context present at encoding and retrieval are the same (i.e. physical settting)

mood-congurnet

mood states affect memory (i.e. remember more pleasant events when u feel happy)

state-dependent memory

memory for a past event is improved when the person is in the same biological or physiological state (i.e. tired, awake) as when the memory was initially formed

the forgetting curve is __

exponential! first few days, memory loss is biggest. then it kinda evens out to set foundational knowledge

Hermann Ebbinghaus

forgetting curve guy with 2300 syllables

why do we forget??

retrieval failure - interference (faulty cues), absentmindedness, blocking (tip of tongue), motivated forgetting (can block out smt that makes u anxious like hw)

proactive inference

old blocks new

retroactive interference

new blocks old

retrospective memory

memory of people/events/words (episodic and semantic memories, for example)

prospective memory

remembering to remember/remembering to perform an intended action (remembering to buy eggs bc u ate them all at breakfast). LIKED TO RETROSPECTIVE MEMORY

source amnesia

involves faulty memory for how/when/where info was learned

reconsolidation in memory construction errors

when we call up a memory, it is replaced by new, slightly modified version

misinformation effect

incorporating false info into one’s memory

retrograde amnesia

unable to recall events that occurred before brain surgery. new is fine tho. usually temporary

infantile amnesia

brain systems required to encode and retrieve specific events are not adequately developed to support long-term memory before age 3

repression

self-censored memories as a defense mechanism

shallow processing

cognitive processing that is superficial

deep processing

focuses on meaningful properties, use effortful processing strategies like mnemonics