PSYC111

• The formation of long-term episodic memory is impaired Short-term memory is intact
• Long-term episodic memory is disrupted in temporal lobe amnesia but semantic memory is relatively intact
• Semantic memory refers to the memory of meaning, understanding, general knowledge about the world, and other concept-based knowledge unrelated to specific experiences.
• Habit formation is a process by which behavioral control shifts from goal dependence to context dependence.
• Procedural memory is the type of implicit memory that enables us to carry out commonly learned tasks without consciously thinking about them.
• Memory consolidation occurs when information moves from short-term storage into more permanent forms of memory over time.
• What do the amnesia findings suggest about memory organisation?

  Memory is organized into different systems or components.
• Trace decay


  a change in the biology of the memory trace
• retroactive interference
• transience memory decay


  reduced memory overtime
• blocking/retrieval failure


  inability to remember needed information
• absentmindedness/encoding failure

  reduced memory due to failing to pay attention
• absentmindedness/ encoding failure


  is the result of shallow encoding of events usually due to a failure to pay attention
• Sensory memory


  Sensory registers, lasts for 0.3 to 3 seconds
• Short-term memory


  Limited capacity (7 + 2 items), rapid forgetting
• Long-term memory


  Massive capacity, very slow (or no) forgetting
• Patient H.M. (Henry Molaison) 1926-2008
• Patient K.F. 28 years old, motorcycle accident 11 years earlier resulted in removal of left parietal subdural haematoma
• Atkinson and Shiffrin's multi-store model of memory

  • Sensory memory, short-term memory, long-term memory
• Serial position effect


  Primacy and recency effects
• Bias in encoding


  Phonetic (STM) vs semantic (LTM)
• Baddeley and Hitch working memory model

  • Central executive, visuospatial sketchpad, phonological loop, episodic buffer
• Chunking


  Grouping individual items into larger (and usually more familiar) units of meaning
• Maintenance rehearsal


  Rehearsal crucial for transfer of information into LTM
• Short-term/working memory lasts for around 15-20 seconds and has limited capacity - Miller (1956) The magic number 7 + 2
• Short-term memory is separate from long-term memory</b>
• Sensory memory lasts for 0.3 to 3 seconds
• Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1968-71) multi-store model of memory includes sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory
• The serial position effect shows primacy and recency effects in recall performance
• Bias in encoding can be phonetic (STM) or semantic (LTM)
• Baddeley and Hitch's working memory model includes a central executive, visuospatial sketchpad, phonological loop, and episodic buffer
• Chunking allows working memory to get around its limited capacity by grouping items into larger units
• Maintenance rehearsal is crucial for transferring information into long-term memory
• More than just maintenance rehearsal is required for effective long-term memory encoding