Lecture 4

Explicit Memory: Episodic and Semantic Memory

• Episodic Memory: Personal recollections of specific events or experiences, including context and emotions. Not all learned information is memorable.
• Semantic Memory: Stores general knowledge and facts without context, such as meanings of words or concepts.

Hierarchical Network Models

• Developed by Collins & Quillian (1969) and Collins & Loftus (1972) with a logical structure of interconnected nodes (e.g., canary → bird → animal).
• Cognitive Economy: Each concept and property stored only once to minimize redundancy.
• Properties are stored at the highest level to optimize retrieval.
• Spreading Activation: Activation of a node spreads to related concepts when a related concept is presented.

Evaluation of Hierarchical Model

• Sentence Verification Task: Measures time taken to confirm sentences, with findings indicating time depends on conceptual distance.
• Verification time increases with distance between nodes, including factors like initial activation strength and time elapsed since activation.
• Typicality Effects: It takes longer to verify less typical examples (e.g., "A penguin is a bird" vs. "A robin is a bird").
• Category Size Effects: Longer verification times for broader categories (e.g., "A dog is an animal" takes longer than "A dog is a mammal").

Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) Models

• Inspired by neural networks, employing interconnected nodes that communicate through activation or inhibition.
• Generalization: Exposure to new examples enables assimilation of features from known categories (e.g., "bird").
• Learning Atypical Examples: Network capability to quickly learn atypical items such as penguins or bats by adjusting connections.

The Structure of Memory: Schemas & Scripts

• Schema: Generalized mental frameworks for objects, people, or events, facilitating understanding and information organization.
• War of the Ghosts: Demonstrates schema influence on recall; participants altered the narrative based on personal understanding, indicating how memory can distort original experiences.

Transformations in Memory Recall

• Participants often transformed details to fit familiar schemas, such as "something black came from his mouth" becoming "he froth at the mouth."
• Specific details were altered or omitted to conflate the narrative with more common interpretations (e.g., 'canoe' to 'boat').

The Importance of Schemas

• Schemas enhance memory encoding efficiency by providing a structure for experiences but can distort perceptions and recollections.
• Information not aligned with existing schemas may be overlooked or reinterpreted.

Schema Examples

• Stereotypes: Includes prejudices based on race and gender, prevalent in media and culture.
• Event Schemas: Include structured activities like dining, celebrating events, and academic experiences which guide expectations and behaviors.

Script Transference

• Transitioning from high school to university can lead to difficulties when relying on high school scripts without adaptation to new expectations.
• Potential issues include lack of planning and disorganization due to unfitting schemas.

This quiz explores the concepts of episodic and semantic memory as outlined in Weiten's text. It covers definitions, distinctions, and the hierarchical network models proposed by Collins and Quillian. Test your understanding of explicit memory and its structures.