Working Memory Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the Central Executive in working memory?

To manipulate visual images

To coordinate and regulate attention across different tasks (correct)

To rehearse language units

To store speech-based information

Which component of working memory is responsible for processing visual images?

Central Executive

Visuospatial sketchpad (correct)

Episodic buffer

Phonological loop

What is the primary focus of the course PSYC2008 regarding memory?

Working memory

Prospective memory

Procedural memory

Retrospective memory (correct)

Why do people struggle to remember similar-sounding letters compared to different-sounding letters?

Due to interference of phonemes in the phonological loop Signup and view all the answers

Which type of memory is characterized by knowing facts?

Semantic memory Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes retrospective memory?

Recalling what you did last weekend Signup and view all the answers

How are working memory models by Baddeley & Hitch generally characterized?

They incorporate multiple modes of information processing Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the relationship between Chess play and working memory?

Chess players rely more on visuospatial memory than verbal memory Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes non-declarative memory from declarative memory?

Declarative memory includes semantic and episodic memory, while non-declarative memory involves procedural learning. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor influences what we remember and recall?

Both contextual and individual factors Signup and view all the answers

What concept explains why people often fail to consider base rates when making judgments?

Representativeness heuristic Signup and view all the answers

In Kahneman and Tversky's base rate experiment, which group of professionals led to higher probabilities being associated with descriptions?

More engineers than lawyers Signup and view all the answers

Why is the statement 'Linda is likely a feminist bank teller rather than just a bank teller' an example of the conjunction fallacy?

Because chances of both events occurring are lower than one event alone Signup and view all the answers

Which heuristic involves overestimating the frequency of events based on how easily examples come to mind?

Availability heuristic Signup and view all the answers

In comparing the frequency of words in English, which statement reflects a common misunderstanding regarding the availability heuristic?

More words start with 'k' than have 'k' as the third letter. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key reason for the initial popularity of the concept of mirror neurons?

They were thought to be linked to neurological evidence of empathy. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of empathy is mentioned as possibly linked to mirror neurons?

Affective empathy. Signup and view all the answers

What shift in understanding of the brain’s role in behavior are the authors identifying?

The brain is a distributed network influenced by learning. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of empathy is specifically not captured by mirror neurons?

Cognitive empathy. Signup and view all the answers

What argument did Murphy et al (2022) present against the restrictive isomorphic hypothesis (RIM)?

There may not be a direct correspondence in empathic responses. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of empathy did the authors overlook in their discussion?

Empathy as a multi-dimensional concept. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best captures the relationship between mirror neurons and empathic concern?

Mirror neurons do not encompass the broader desire for others' well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'a distributed network' in brain function indicate?

Brain activity is influenced by various external and internal factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason people often misjudge the frequency of words based on their initial letters?

They use the availability heuristic. Signup and view all the answers

In the availability heuristic demonstration with lists of personalities, what did participants judge based on the fame of individuals?

The gender of the personalities. Signup and view all the answers

What mathematical operation did participants struggle with in estimating the product of the numbers listed?

Computing multiplication. Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that individuals prefer higher expected value investments?

Expected Utility Theory Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental change does Prospect Theory introduce compared to Expected Utility Theory?

It focuses on gains and losses in decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

How does Prospect Theory conceptualize human decision-making?

As a descriptive process reflecting actual behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does Expected Utility Theory primarily focus on in decision-making?

The finality of consequences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements aligns with the findings from estimating products of sequential numbers?

People's estimates are influenced by initial values. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Working Memory

Working memory is the short-term retention of information while simultaneously processing other information.
It is the ability to control and regulate attention to achieve goals, particularly while navigating distracting information.
Alan Baddeley proposed influential models of working memory, all featuring key distinctions:
- Central Executive: Coordinates information from "slave" systems.
- Visuospatial Sketchpad (Visual): Processes visual images, connected to perception and action.
- Phonological Loop (Audio): Stores and rehearses speech-based information, closely tied to language.
The Central Executive is crucial for coordinating and manipulating information, while the other systems primarily store information, relaying it back to the central executive.
Evidence for separate stores:
- People struggle to remember similar-sounding letters more than different-sounding letters, illustrating the importance of phonemes in the phonological loop.
- Chess players' decisions and board memory are more affected by visuospatial load than verbal load, indicating distinct storage for visual and verbal information.

Memory Capacity Measurement

Working memory capacity is assessed using various tasks, such as:
- Digit Span: Remembering a sequence of digits in order.
- Reading Span: Remembering a set of words while reading sentences.
- Operation Span: Combining arithmetic problems with remembering words.

Memory Types

Memory encompasses all knowledge, including personal identity, past experiences, language skills, and learned behaviors.
It is a complex process influenced by various contextual and individual factors.
Retrospective Memory: Remembering past events (e.g., what you had for breakfast yesterday).
Prospective Memory: Remembering to perform future tasks (e.g., buying milk after work).
Declarative Memory (Explicit):
- Semantic Memory (Knowing): Memory for facts (e.g., who is the PM of Australia).
- Episodic Memory (Remembering): Memory for events (e.g., your tenth birthday).
Non-Declarative Memory (Implicit):
- Procedural Learning: Memory for actions and skills (e.g., kicking a football).

Heuristics and Biases

Representativeness Heuristic: Judging the likelihood of something based on how well it fits a stereotype or prototype.
Base Rate Neglect: Ignoring the overall frequency of events when making judgments, focusing more on individual characteristics.
Availability Heuristic: Judging the probability of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.
Anchoring and Adjustment: Starting with an initial estimate (anchor) and adjusting it insufficiently based on new information.
Conjunction Fallacy: Mistakenly believing that a conjunction of events is more likely than one of the events alone.

Prospect Theory

Expected Utility Theory: A rational model suggesting people make decisions based on maximizing expected value.
Prospect Theory: A descriptive model emphasizing the actual decision-making process, highlighting deviations from rational choice.
Key Features of Prospect Theory:
- Loss Aversion: Losses are experienced more strongly than equivalent gains.
- Framing Effects: The way a choice is presented can influence decisions, even if the underlying outcomes are the same.
- Reference Point: People assess gains and losses relative to a reference point.

Mirror Neurons and Empathy

Mirror neurons fire both when performing an action and when observing someone else perform that action, potentially reflecting an understanding of another person's actions.
Mirror neurons may be associated with affective empathy (sharing another person's emotions).
However, they do not fully explain cognitive empathy (understanding another person's mental states) or empathic concern (a broader desire for another's well-being).
The brain is a complex network shaped by learning, not a fixed set of functions associated with specific brain parts.

Critiques of the Restrictive Isomorphic Hypothesis (RIM)

RIM argues that experiencing empathy requires mirroring another person's emotional state.
This argument oversimplifies empathy, failing to account for cognitive empathy and empathic concern.
For instance, a psychologist experiencing a client's grief may not feel grief themselves, but they might experience concern for their client's well-being.
This concern emphasizes empathic concern rather than direct emotional mirroring.

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Description

Explore the concepts of working memory, its components, and the influential models proposed by Alan Baddeley. Understand the roles of the central executive, visuospatial sketchpad, and phonological loop in processing and retaining information. This quiz tests your knowledge on the key distinctions and implications of working memory.