Ch. 7 Episodic and Semantic Memory
What is memory misattribution?
attribute memory to incorrect source
two key principles retrieving memories
better when study and test conditions match: how closely current context resembles original context info originally acquired & more cues the better
Transient global amnesia
biologically; temp. disruption of memory; most common form of amnesia; lasts about a couple hours to a couple of days; limit access to full consolidated memory
What are the feature of semantic and episodic memories?
both can be communicated flexibly (can be described) & both consciously accessible (aware whether know or not)
explicit memory
consciously accessible
Two type of functional amnesia?
dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue
What is the relationship btw semantic and episodic memory?
episodic memory grows out of semantic memories
What makes semantic memories different from episodic?
factual information = no need for knowing where/when learned; can be personal or general; requires multiple exposures and more = strengthens
What are the four basic phenomenon?
forgetting, interference, memory misattribution, & false memory
declarative memory
includes both episodic & semantic - can communicate it clearly
anterograde amnesia
loss of ability to form new episodic/semantic memories
retrograde amnesia
loss of ability to recall episodic/semantic memories prior to injury
dissociative fugue
loss of memory of identity; extremely rare
Causes for functional amnesia?
malfunction in brain areas associated with episodic memory storage/retrieval; increased activity in frontal cortex with decrease in hippo campus
semantic memory
memories for facts and general knowledge about the world; emotions not connected
episodic memory
memory for specific autobiographical events; includes spatial & temporal context (when & where); what we remember; emotionally connected
what is false memory?
memory of events that never happened; occur when prompted for missing details; more imagined more likely we believe it
three basic principles of encoding
mere exposure doesn't guarantee memory; memory is better for information that relates to prior knowledge; deeper processing at encoding improves later recognition
retroactive interference
new information disrupts old learning; ex: passwords
proactive interference
old information disrupts new learning
free recall
open-ended questions (essay questions) = hardest
recognition
pick out correct answer from list of options (multiple choice)
What are the two types of interference?
proactive and retroactive interference
re-consolidation period
process of consolidation of recalled old memory as if new memory
cued recall
prompt provided (fill-in the blanks questions) = Harder
functional amnesia
psychological; rare; sudden, massive retrograde memory loss; temp. hippo campus abnormality
source amnesia
remember information but not source
transfer-appropriate processing effect
retrieval more successful if cues available at recall similar to those available during encoding; involves physical appearance of stimuli and physical context
What are the two types of memory misattribution?
source amnesia & cryptomensia
What makes episodic memories different from semantic?
specific events at particular place and time; autobiographical; acquired in single exposure; repeated exposure weaken memory
Cause to TGA?
temp. loss of blood flow to the brain form injury, hypoglycemic episode, heart attack/stroke
consolidation period
time frame when info is being encoded into the brain; window when new memories easily lost (during delay)
encoding
transforming information into psychological formats
What is interference?
two memories overlap in content, strength of either/both reduced
dissociative amnesia
loss of memory of specific traumatic event
What are the two types of forgetting?
passive forgetting & directed forgetting
cryptomensia
thinking your thoughts are original and think you came up with it first but you didn't; this can lead to plagiarism
