Test Your Knowledge on Animal Memory and Forgetting

Consolidation is the process of transforming a short-term memory trace into a more durable long-term memory trace.

The three causes of forgetting discussed in Lecture 6 are proactive interference, retroactive interference, and decay.

Delayed matching to sample is a technique for studying delayed reaction. It is used to measure an animal's ability to remember a stimulus over a delay period.

The three reasons for forgetting in animals are interference, decay, and difficulty retrieving the memory.

The radial arm maze is a means of presenting a list of items to the animal. The animal must remember which arms it has already visited in order to find the item at the end of the maze.

Long-term memory is the ability to remember things for an extended period, while episodic memory refers to the ability to recall specific events or experiences.

Physiological disruptions can prevent learning and consolidation by affecting the neural processes involved in memory formation and storage.

Proactive interference is when previously learned information interferes with the ability to remember new information. It was observed in DMTS when one sample is immediately followed by the other.

Retrieval is necessary for an animal to use a memory, as it allows them to access and use stored information.

Retroactive interference is when new information interferes with the ability to remember previously learned information. It was observed in DMTS when the brightness with which the chamber is illuminated is increased during the delay between sample and comparison.

Retrospective encoding is when an animal remembers information about a past event, while prospective encoding is when an animal anticipates future events based on past experiences. Animals can use both methods for remembering.

Reactivation studies show that forgotten memories can be retrieved, suggesting that they may not be permanently lost.

The capacity of animal long-term memory has been tested and found to be significant, with some animals able to remember information for years.

Yes, rats can switch flexibly between retrospective and prospective codes. Cook, Brown, and Riley produced evidence that suggested rats could switch flexibly between retrospective and prospective codes.

Memory taxonomy is the classification of memory types. It includes working memory, long-term memory, episodic memory, and semantic/reference memory.

Next week's lecture will focus on space, spatial learning, memory, and navigation.

While it is unclear whether animals have episodic memory, some studies suggest that they do, as they are able to recall specific events and experiences.

Delayed matching to sample measures an animal's memory by presenting a stimulus, then delaying the presentation of a matching stimulus. The animal must remember the original stimulus in order to correctly match it with the new stimulus.

Consolidation is the process that stabilizes long-term memories in animals, making them more resistant to forgetting and interference over time.

The purpose of the radial arm maze is to test an animal's ability to remember which arms it has already visited in order to find the item at the end of the maze.