PSY 211 Exam 3: Learning and Memory
Gradient Degradation
Forgetting shown by generalizing to incorrect but similar stimuli
Delayed extinction
Forgetting shown by rapid extinction following a delay
Implicit
Unconscious
Iconic Storage
Visual sensory memory, momentary memory for visual information
Iconic
Visual shorter than auditory
Cognitive approaches to learning and memory try to identify mental states (such as "memory," or "thought") by studying the genetic makeup of organisms. (true or false)
false
Forgetting a response is the same thing as extinguishing the response (true or false)
false
The three basic types of memory are sensory memory, short-term memory, and working memory. (true or false)
false
Prompts (prompted recall)
fill in the blank tests
Overlearning
learning event after achieving mastery
Remembering exactly where you were and what you did on the day that Michael Jackson died is an example of episodic memory. (true or false)
true
Paired Associates
Names and faces, flash cards for terms and definitions
Retention
- Being able to recall something out of memory - Amount of information that can be remembered from memory following a time delay - amount of information encoded and stored (acquired) into memory - The persistence to perform a learned behavior (facts or experiences) after an interval has elapsed in which there has been no performance or practice of the behavior
Long-term Memory
- procedural - episodic - semantic - implicit
Principle features of short-term memory
- short duration (30 seconds) - limited capacity (7+/-2 words/numbers at a time)
Three stages of memory
1) encoding 2) storage/consolidation 3) retrieval
What are the three major reasons memories fail?
1) not paying attention during encoding 2) distortion 3) retroactive interference
Three types of memory
1) sensory 2) short-term 3) long-term
7 ways to improve memory
1. overlearning 2. shorten the retention interval 3. protect against interference - PI: don't learn too much confusing material prior to studying - RI: don't learn too much confusing material between studying and testing 4. Relate material to prior experience - elaborative rehearsal: thinking about the meaning of a term to remember it as opposed to repetition 5. Reproduce the internal or external learning context during testing - state dependent learning (mood, drugs) - cue dependent learning (encoding specificity) 6. mnemonics 7. external aids - string -timer
Peg Word System
A memory aid that involves linking words with numbers. Mental associations between items to be remembered and items already remembered
Mnemonics
Any system that aids recall
Echoic
Auditory longer than iconic because need a longer time to process and produce speech
Cognitive Psychology Premises
Behavior is the result of environmental changes mediated by mental operations within an organism - genetics determine capacity - conscious and unconscious internal operations can be studied although not directly observable - identify important environmental conditions - observe changes in behavior - infer the mental processes require to explain the behavior
State Dependent Learning
Behavior that is learned during a particular physiological state is lost when that state passes
Black Box
Behaviorist approach where only the stimulus and response are accounted for and the processing stages that happen in the "black box" do not matter. Cognitive psychologists want to know what is happening in that black box, and look at how people process information. People today are leaning towards the cognitive approach
Sensory Memory
Brief iconic and echoic traces - shortest - term element of memory - ability to retain impressions of sensory information after the original stimuli have ended
Forgetting
Deterioration in learned behavior following a period without practice
Free Recall
Essay exams
Working Memory
Executive and attentional aspect of short term memory involving integration, processing, disposal, and retrieval of memories. A system for temporarily storing and managing the information required to carry out cognitive tasks such as learning, reasoning, and comprehension. It is the part of short-term memory that is concerned with immediate conscious perceptual and linguistic processing.
Cue dependent Learning
Failure to remember something without cues. Cues aid in memory
Primary Effect
Have more time to focus on memorizing items at beginning of list
Procedural
How to complete activities
Information Processing
Humans process information in the same way that computers do. When a problem is presented as input, the organism processes the information the same way as a computer
Procedural Memory
Learned skills like how to ride a bike
Implicit Memory
Memories that are unconscious, they are there but you don't realize it. i.e. Recovered memories from a post traumatic amnesia
Episodic Memory
Memory for specific events i.e. where you were on 9/11
Semantic
Memory of concepts
Episodic
Memory of events
Echoic Storage
Momentary storage of auditory information
Recognition
Multiple choice, true or false, criminal lineup
Retroactive Facilitation (RF)
New learning facilitates the retention of old learning. New material makes it easier to remember older content. i.e. music theory course helps with the learning of piano
Retroactive Interference (RI)
New learning interferes with the retention of old learning. Trouble remembering what we new in the past especially if new and old material are similar in nature. Old information still stored but cannot be retrieved due to competition with newly acquired information. Decreases over time.
Proactive Interference (PI)
Old information that interferes with the retention of new information. When you memorize a list of information and when remembering a later part the learning of the early part gets in the way. Increases or gets worse over time.
Proactive Facilitation (PF)
Old learning facilitates the process of new learning i.e. using information and concepts learned in PSY 101 to help you learn concepts in PSY 201
Behaviorism
Only study observable behavior and not mental concepts. - dont infer mental states from behavior - describe the behavior itself measure the response (whatever it takes to press a bar) - specify the setting (what are the stimuli) - identify the reinforcers and punishers that control behavior --> it is the lawful function of environmental changes, genetics play a role but are not part of psychology
Reminiscence
Performance sometimes improves with passage of time
Method of Loci System
Recall a particular familiar location or spatial information
The basic premise behind radical behaviorism is that we should only study observable behavior and that mental concepts are unnecessary (true or false)
True
Short-term memory
Short duration, limited capacity, working memory. - 30 seconds - approximately 7 +-2 numbers at a time - active: working memory (problem solving/learning)
Delayed matching to sample
Simplified recognition for animals
Semantic Memory
Store facts or basic concepts i.e. remembering a theory or names
Keyword Method
Term used as a keyword to retrieve information from a memory bank
Flashbulb Memory
Vivid, precise, concrete, long lasting memories of personal circumstance. A highly detailed, exceptionally vivid snapshot of the moment and circumstances in which a piece of surprising and consequential or emotionally arousing news was heard. i.e. On 9/11 you can remember what you were doing and where you were but not necessarily the actual event. - autobiographical memories (highly personal memories of how a fact or event is related to you)
Primary Effect
When learning a list of things the things you learn first you will remember because they will be stored in your long-term memory
Recency Effect
You will remember the last things you learn on a big list because they will be stored in your short term memory
If you get perfect scores on your psychology exams only when you do all of your studying in the examination room, this fact would provide strong positive evidence for a) overlearning b) mnemonics c) proactive interference d) encoding specificity e) the shortage of housing at SDSU
encoding specificity
In most cases, forgetting of a response a) decreases as the retention interval is lengthened b) increases as the retention interval is lengthened c) stays the same no matter what the retention interval d) remains stable for the first hour then drops off quickly e) is so fast it will make your head spin
increases as the retention interval is lengthened
What are the four processing stages for information retention and retrieval according to the cognitive approach to learning?
input stimulus->search/compare (search memory that matches)->decision (have enough info?)->output(demonstration of correct or incorrect answer)
Four processing stages for information acquisition (Cognitive approach)
input stimulus->sensory memory (iconic and echoic)->short term->encoding
relearning
prerequisites/ review session
Experimental group performs better on task B than the control group
proactive facilitation
Experimental group performs worse on task B than the control group
proactive interference
Experimental group performs better on task A than the control group
retroactive facilitation
Experimental group performs worse on task A than the control group
retroactive interference
If learning students' names in this semester's class makes it harder for me to remember the names of students in last semester's class, we have a case of a) retroactive interference b) delayed matching to sample c) positive transfer d) proactive interference e) an absent-minded professor
retroactive interference
Lester Lush meets the girl of his dreams while he is inebriated at a party and asks her to marry him. The next day at the altar, when he is sober, he does not recognize her. This is an example of a) recency effect b) retroactive interference c) serial position effect d) state dependent memory e) don't store marital propositions in memory when you drink
state dependent memory