Chapter 7: Episodic and Semantic Memory

dissociative fugue

extremely rare; loss of memory of identity

Anterograde amnesia

loss of ability to form new episodic/semantic memories

retrograde amnesia

loss of ability to recalled episodic/semantic memories prior to injury

dissociative amnesia

loss of memory of specific,traumatic event

Implicit Memory

memory beyond awareness

False memory

memory of events never happened

retroactive interference

new information disrupt access to old info(ex., passwords)

Nondeclarative memory

not easy to communicate, e.g., skill, classical conditioning

proactive interference

old information disrupt newly learned info

free recall

open‐ended (essay questions) -hardest

recognition

pick out correct answer from list of options (multiple choice) -hard if not study

cued recall

prompt provided (fill‐in the blank questions) -harder

Declarative memory

term used, include both episodic and semantic memories

Explicit Memory

because both consciously accessible

encoding

new memories

reconsolidation

-consolidate recalled memory as if new information -if memory recalled immediately before incident, may be lost

directed forgetting

-intentional forgetting -in lab, not perfect -may help explain memory suppression

Difference between episodic and semantic memory

-episodic memory grows out of semantic memory -must have semantic knowledge to form episodic memory -semantic memory repeated exposure, learning episodes blurred -episodic and semantic interdependent (mutually dependent): declarative memory not strictly episodic or semantic, but contain both

Semantic Memory

-factual information, no need for knowing where/when learned -can be personal (SS number) or general (first president) -can be acquired in single exposure if interesting/important -repeated exposure strengthen semantic memory

Four basic phenomena when memory fails

-forgetting (passive/directed) -interference (proactive/retroactive) -memory misattribution (source amnesia/cryptoamensia) -false memory

Three basic principles of encoding

-mere exposure does not guarantee memory -memory is better for information that relates to prior knowledge -deeper processing at encoding improves later recognition

cryptoamnesia

-mistakenly thinking thoughts novel/original, but actually remembering info learned elsewhere -can lead to plagiarism

role of cues

-more cues mean better recall -free recall -cued recall -recognition

functional amnesia

-rare -sudden, massive retrograde memory loss

Episodic Memory

-specific events at particular place and time -autobiographical ‐must have personally experienced -acquired in single exposure -repeated exposure weaken episodic memory (e.g., where park car)

transient global amnesia (TGA)

-temporary disruption of memory -typical: sudden onset, last several hours, dissipates over a day or two -limit access to fully consolidated memory -might completely erase unconsolidated memory -memory returns after blood flow to brain resumes

memory misattribution

attribute memory to incorrect source

passive forgetting

most forgetting occur within first few hours/days; if survive, might last indefinitely

source amnesia

remember info, but not source

transfer-appropriate processing effect

retrieval more successful if cues available at recall similar to those available during encoding

interference

two memories overlap in content, strength of either/both reduced

memory consolidation period

window when new memories easily lost;if memory survive after few months, may be permanent