Memory Key Terms

• short-term memory (STM)

  the limited-capacity memory store. in STM, coding is mainly acoustic, capacity is between 5 and 9 items on average, duration is about 18 seconds
• long-term memory (LTM)

  The permanent memory store. Coding is mainly semantic (meaning), it has unlimited capacity and can store memories for up to a lifetime.
• coding

  The format in which information is stored in the various memory stores.
• capacity

  The amount of information that can be held in a memory store
• duration

  the length of time information can be held in memory
• multi-store model (MSM)

  A representation of how memory works in terms of three stores called sensory register, short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). It also describes how information is transferred from one store to another, how it is remembered and how it is forgotten.
• sensory register

  the memory stores for each of our five senses, such as vision and hearing. coding in the SR is visual and acoustic. the capacity of SR is huge and information lasts for a very short time
• episodic memory

  a long-term memory store for personal events. it includes memories of when the events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviours involved. memories from this store have to be retrieved consciously and with effort
• semantic memory

  a long-term memory store for our knowledge of the world. this includes facts and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean. these memories usually also need to be recalled deliberately
• procedural memory

  a long-term memory store for our knowledge of how to do things. this includes our memories of learned skills. we usually recall these memories without making a conscious or deliberate effort
• working memory model (WMM)

  A representation of short-term memory (STM). It suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub-units coordinated by a central decision-making system.
• central executive


  The component of the WMM that co-ordinates the activities of the three subsystems in memory. It also allocates processing resources to those activities.
• phonological loop

  The component of the WMM that processes information in terms of sound. This includes both written and spoken material. It's divided into the phonological store and the articulatory process.
• visuo-spatial sketchpad

  The component of the WMM that processes visual and spatial information in a mental space often called our 'inner eye'.
• episodic buffer

  The component of the WMM that brings together material from the other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands. It also provides a bridge between working memory and long-term memory.
• interference

  Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten.
• proactive interference

  forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories. the degree of forgetting is greater when the memories are similar
• retroactive interference

  forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored. the degree of forgetting is again greater when the memories are similar
• retrieval failure

  a form of forgetting. it occurs when we don't have the necessary cues to access memory. the memory is available but not accessible unless a suitable cue is provided
• cue

  a 'trigger' of information that allows us to access a memory. such cues may be meaningful or may be indirectly linked by being encoded at the time of learning. indirect cues may be external or internal
• eyewitness testimony

  the ability of people to remember the details of events such as accidents and crimes, which they themselves have observed. accuracy of EWT can be affected by factors such as misleading information and anxiety
• misleading information

  incorrect information given to an eyewitness usually after the event. it can take many forms, such as leading questions and post event discussion
• leading question

  a question which, because of the way it is phrased suggests a certain answer
• post-event discussion

  occurs when there is more than one witness to an event. witnesses may discuss what they have seen with co-witnesses or with other people. this may influence the accuracy of each witness's recall of the event
• anxiety

  a state of emotional and physical arousal. the emotions include having worries thought and feelings of tension. physical changes include an increased heart rate and sweatiness. anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations, but it can affect the accuracy and detail of eyewitness testimony
• cognitive interview

  a method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories. it uses four main techniques, all based on evidence-based psychological knowledge of human memory - report everything, reinstate the context, reverse the order and change perspective