Psychology Chapter: Memory Systems

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of sensory memory?

To hold information for later recall.

To process and identify incoming stimuli. (correct)

To transfer information to long-term memory.

To store information indefinitely.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of short-term memory?

Limited capacity of approximately 7 bits.

Information can be retained for an indefinite amount of time. (correct)

Highly susceptible to interruption or interference.

The conscious part of the memory system.

What is the primary difference between maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal?

Maintenance rehearsal is an unconscious process while elaborative rehearsal is a conscious process.

Maintenance rehearsal involves repeating information while elaborative rehearsal involves linking new information to existing knowledge. (correct)

Maintenance rehearsal focuses on deeper processing while elaborative rehearsal is superficial.

Maintenance rehearsal is more effective than elaborative rehearsal in transferring information to long-term memory.

Which type of memory is MOST likely to be affected by encoding failure?

Long-term memory. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'distributed rehearsal'?

Rehearsing information in short, frequent intervals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between memory and perception?

Memory is dependent on perception. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates the concept of 'automatic processing'?

Remembering what you ate for dinner last night. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a primary component of the information processing theory of memory?

Forgetting. Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest about the reliability of long-term memory?

Items in long-term memory can be altered or lost over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of elaborative rehearsal in terms of memory?

To enhance the accuracy and permanence of stored information in long-term memory. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis?

The way we think, perceive, and experience the world is independent of language. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a basic element of language?

Prosody Signup and view all the answers

According to the Nativist theory of language acquisition, what is the critical period for language acquisition?

Age 7 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a core concept of Noam Chomsky's theory of language?

Operant Conditioning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following brain areas is directly involved in understanding speech?

Wernicke's Area Signup and view all the answers

A student crams for a test the night before and forgets most of the material a few days later. What principle is this an example of?

Spacing effect Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of Generativity in language?

Creating a new sentence like "The cat sat on the mat." Signup and view all the answers

You are trying to remember a list of grocery items. You remember the first few items on the list but struggle to recall the items in the middle. What concept explains this phenomenon?

Serial position effect Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of Displacement in language?

Talking about a tree that is not physically present. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to flashbulb memories?

The passage of time Signup and view all the answers

How do the theories of B.F. Skinner and Noam Chomsky differ in their explanation of language acquisition?

Skinner believed language is acquired through reinforcement, while Chomsky believed it is innate. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the concept of Semanticity in language?

The ability to use language to convey meaning through symbols and sounds. Signup and view all the answers

You are studying for a history exam. You learn the names of all the U.S. presidents in chronological order. The next day, you struggle to remember the names of the first few presidents because you learned a new list of European monarchs. What type of interference is affecting your memory?

Retroactive interference Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of long-term potentiation in the context of memory?

Strengthening neural connections Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the surface structure and deep structure of a sentence, according to Noam Chomsky?

Surface structure refers to the literal words, while deep structure refers to the underlying meaning. Signup and view all the answers

During the process of memory retrieval, the brain may reconstruct a memory, sometimes incorporating inaccurate details. This is called?

Constructive processing Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT an example of a way to improve long-term memory?

Focusing on the sounds of words while studying Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of "memory redintegration"?

The ability to recall a single memory that triggers a series of related memories Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the Ebbinghaus Curve of Forgetting?

Forgetting is rapid initially and then slows down. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes how the "network model of long-term memory" functions?

Memories are organized in interconnected clusters of related information. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these best describes the process of 'priming' in memory retrieval?

Unconsciously activating related information which influences future actions or thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

Which 'sin of memory' is most associated with the inability to recall a specific word or name that one knows well?

Blocking Signup and view all the answers

Which mental process would likely be utilized when imagining yourself successfully completing a challenging task, such as a public presentation?

Mental Images Signup and view all the answers

Which of these accurately describes the relationship between 'prototypes' and 'concepts'?

Prototypes define a specific example of a concept, while concepts are broader categories. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common obstacle to problem-solving, characterized by assuming objects have a fixed, limited purpose?

Functional Fixedness Signup and view all the answers

Which problem-solving strategy is most likely to guarantee a solution but may not be the most efficient option?

Algorithm Signup and view all the answers

What type of thinking process would be most useful when trying to generate numerous creative solutions to a complex problem?

Divergent Thinking Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a component of Sternberg's five components of creative thinking?

Cognitive Flexibility Signup and view all the answers

Which of these statements best describes the 'Availability Heuristic'?

Estimating the likelihood of an event based on how readily examples come to mind. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these BEST describes the difference between implicit and explicit memory?

Implicit memory involves skills and habits, while explicit memory involves facts and experiences. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Memory

Memory is an active system that stores, organizes, alters, and receives information.
It retains learned information, experiences, and prior events; however, it is selective.
Information Processing Theory of Memory includes:
- Encoding: getting information into the system.
- Storage: retaining information over time.
- Retrieval: accessing information from storage.

A Simplified Model of Memory

Sensory Memory: Holds an exact copy of sensory input briefly, allowing for processing and identification.
- Iconic Memory: Visual sensory memory (½ second duration).
- Echoic Memory: Auditory sensory memory.
Short-Term (Working) Memory: Conscious memory, holds limited information (approximately 7 bits) for a short time (20-30 seconds).
- Easily interrupted or interfered with.
Encoding Information:
- Effortful Processing: Transferring information from short-term to long-term memory through conscious effort (rehearsal strategies).
- Automatic Processing: Transferring information with little effort or awareness (e.g., time, sequence of events).

Long-Term Memory

Retains information for extended periods.
- Encoding Failure: Some current information may never be encoded (e.g., not perceived as important).
- Rehearsal: Repetition to maintain information in short-term memory to aid encoding
  - Maintenance Rehearsal: Repeating information for short-term retention; little attention to meaning
  - Elaborative Rehearsal: Linking new information with existing knowledge
  - Distributed Rehearsal: Studying over time is more effective than massed rehearsal. Less productive over time
Encoding Types:
- Acoustic Encoding: Encoding by sound.
- Visual Encoding: Encoding by images.
- Semantic Encoding: Encoding by meaning (relating to personal experience).

Encoding: Serial Position Effect

Serial Position Effect: Better recall of items at the beginning (primary effect) and end (recency effect) of a list.
Items in the middle require more rehearsal.

Encoding: Forgetting

Ebbinghaus Curve of Forgetting: Forgetting is initially rapid, then levels off over time.
Ebbinghaus Retention Curve: More practice yields fewer repetitions for relearning.
Spacing Effect: Distributed practice is better for long-term retention than massed practice.

Interference

Proactive Interference: Earlier learning disrupts later learning.
Retroactive Interference: Later learning disrupts earlier learning.

Encoding Specificity Principle

Retrieval is best when the context at retrieval matches the context at encoding.

Encoding: Mood & State

Mood-Congruent Memory: Memories are retrieved better when the current mood matches the mood during encoding.
State-Dependent Learning: Retrieval is better when the physiological state at retrieval matches the encoding state.

Long-Term Memory: Process & Structure

Stores vast amounts of information over long periods, based on meaning and importance.
Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): Strengthening of neural pathways with repeated use.
Network Model of LTM: Related ideas are stored in interconnected node networks.
Memory Redintegration: Expanding or reconstructing memories based on associations.

Constructive Processing

Updating memories based on logic, guesses, or new information.
Misinformation Effect: Introducing misleading information can distort or create false memories.
Flashbulb Memories: Vivid, detailed memories of significant emotional events.

Explicit vs. Implicit Memory

Explicit Memory (declarative): Consciously known facts (semantic) and experiences (episodic).
Implicit Memory (procedural): Skills and motor responses without conscious recollection.

Recall, Recognition, & Retrieval Cues

Recall: Retrieving information without cues.
Recognition: Identifying information with cues.
Retrieval Cues: Information encoded during learning; help in retrieval.
Priming: Unconsciously activating associations in memory.

Improving Memory

Seven sins of memory:
- Transience
- Absent-mindedness
- Blocking
- Misattribution
- Suggestibility
- Bias
- Persistence
Some memory limitations may be adaptive.

Cognitive Processes

Mental Images: Mental representations of sensory experience. Mental Concepts: Generalized ideas representing a class of objects or events
Mental Concepts: Generalized ideas representing a class of related objects or events.
Language: Rules for combining words or symbols for thinking and communicating
Schemas: generalized ideas representing a class related objects or events

Problem Solving Strategies

Trial and Error: Trying solutions sequentially.
Algorithm: Step-by-step procedure to solve problems, guaranteed to yield solution(but can be inefficient).
Heuristic: Strategy to limit solutions to be tried, quick but error prone (based on experience).
- Representative Heuristic
- Availability Heuristic

Thinking Patterns

Inductive Thought: Reasoning from specific to general.
Deductive Thought: Reasoning from general to specific.

Creative Thinking

Fluency: Number of suggestions.
Flexibility: Shifting between ideas.
Originality: Uniqueness of suggestions. Sternberg's 5 components: expertise, imaginative thinking skills, venturesome personality, intrinsic motivation, and creative environment

Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking

Convergent Thinking: Directed toward a single solution. Convergent thinking uses logic and rules to produce a solution, typically a single solution.
Divergent Thinking: Generating many solutions from a starting point; creativity.

Language

Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis: Language influences our thinking and perception.
Language Structure:
- Phoneme: Smallest sound unit.
- Morpheme: Smallest meaningful sound unit.
- Grammar: Rules for combining sounds and words.
Language and the Brain:
- Broca's Area: Speech production.
- Wernicke's Area: Speech comprehension.
Language Acquisition Theories:
- Behavioral Theory (Skinner): Learning through association, reward, and punishment.
- Nativist Theory (Chomsky): Innate language acquisition abilities ("Language Acquisition Device").

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of memory systems in this quiz covering sensory, short-term, and long-term memory. Engage with concepts like encoding, storage, and retrieval, and test your understanding of how information is processed. Perfect for psychology students looking to deepen their knowledge!