Working Memory

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of sensory memory?

To temporarily hold visual and auditory information (correct)

To process information from the environment

To enhance item memory and order memory

To store information for a few seconds

What is the main limitation of short-term memory?

Its inability to process auditory information

Its inability to retain information over long periods

Its limited capacity to hold information (correct)

Its inability to store visual information

Which of the following best explains how we remember the order of items in a sequence?

Strength, where the strongest item is recalled first

Chaining, where each item is associated with the next

Context, where each item is linked to a changing context (correct)

Primacy, where the first item receives the most activation

What is the primary function of working memory?

To process and manipulate information in the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of chunking in memory?

Recalling a phone number broken down into smaller groups Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between short-term memory and long-term memory?

The duration of information retention Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the articulatory suppression technique in working memory research?

To prevent sub-vocal rehearsal and reduce verbal span Signup and view all the answers

According to the World length effect, what is the relationship between word length and recall?

There is a negative correlation between word length and recall Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the central executive in working memory?

To resolve automatic conflicts and allocate attentional resources Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical span of the visuo-spatial sketchpad, as measured by the Corsi tapping test?

5 items Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the visual pattern span task in measuring the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

To measure the capacity of the visuo-spatial sketchpad Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between the visuo-spatial sketchpad and the phonological loop?

The type of information processed Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the central executive in Working Memory?

Resolving conflicts and allocating attention Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation of the original Working Memory model?

It does not account for links with Long-term Memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of chunking in Short-term Memory?

Increased capacity of the phonological loop Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the original and revised Working Memory models?

The revised model includes the episodic buffer Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical capacity of the phonological loop in Short-term Memory?

5-9 words Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary deficit observed in Alzheimer's patients in terms of Working Memory?

Impaired dual-task performance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensory Memory

Perceptual systems store images for a short period
Example: Sperling 1960, BCXY NFRW TZKD – Brief presentation of a 12-letter matrix, then full report of 3-4 letters max
Accurate report suggests that all 12 letters are stored in sensory memory

Short-Term Memory (STM)

Retention of information over periods of a few seconds
Limited capacity, typically measured by digit span (e.g., 9754, 3825)
Includes item memory and order memory
Used in intelligence tests (e.g., WAIS)

Order Memory

Chaining: Each item is associated with the next
Context: Each item is linked to a changing context, which acts as a recall cue
Primacy: Each item receives activation at presentation, with most activation to the first item
Strength: Next item is chosen based on strongest activation after recalling previous item

Long-Term Memory (LTM) and Semantic Memory

Thin, old, late: Easier to recall with stronger effect of word meaning
Articulatory suppression: Repeating a word aloud keeps articulatory process busy, blocking sub-vocal rehearsal and interfering with verbal span tasks
Word length effect (Baddeley et al., 1975): Word length correlated with reading speed, with negative correlation between word length and recall

Visuo-Spatial Sketch Pad

Spatial memory span measured using Corsi tapping test (Milner, 1971)
Recall sequence of taps on blocks, starting with 3 and increasing sequence length
Typical span of 5 items, with no interference with articulatory suppression, but interference with spatial task (e.g., pursuit rotor)
Visual memory span measured using visual pattern span (Della Sala et al., 1999)
Recall position of filled squares, starting with a 2x2 matrix and increasing up to 5x6
Visuo-spatial distinction (Della Sala et al., 1999): Interference task in retention interval using visual or spatial tasks

Central Executive

Possibly the most important component, but not well characterized
Supervisory Attention System (Norman & Shallice, 1986): Automatic conflict resolution, with SAS used when automatic processing conflict resolution is not possible
Allocating attention, dividing attention between concurrent tasks, and interfered by random letter generation

Models of Working Memory

Original WM model: Does not account for links with LTM
Revised multi-component WM model (Baddeley, 2000): Added episodic buffer component, enabling links between subcomponents and LTM

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Description

This quiz covers the concepts of working memory, sensory memory, and perceptual systems, including iconic and echoic memory. It also explores the experiments of Carlo De Lillo, Sperling, and Neisser on sensory memory and short-term memory retention.