Memory and Recall Flashcards

Which of the following results in memory distortion?

Answer: Repeated exposure to inaccurate information

Memory distortion occurs when our recall of an event is altered or inaccurate. Repeated exposure to inaccurate information, often through suggestive questioning or post-event details, can lead to the integration of false details into our existing memories. This process can significantly corrupt the original memory, making it difficult to distinguish between true and false recollections.

What does the misinformation effect refer to?

Answer: Distortion of memory by information provided after an event

The misinformation effect specifically describes how a person's memory of an event can be altered or distorted by misleading information presented after the event has occurred. This post-event information can subtly or overtly change details in the original memory, leading to inaccurate recall. It highlights the reconstructive nature of memory, where new information can be integrated into existing recollections.

What is memory thought to be related to?

Answer: All of the above

Memory is a complex cognitive function with multifaceted biological underpinnings. It is widely understood to involve changes in the strength of synaptic connections between neurons, which are mediated by neurotransmitter release. Additionally, protein synthesis is crucial for the formation and consolidation of long-term memories, and hormone levels can influence memory encoding and retrieval processes. Therefore, all these factors contribute to how memories are formed and stored in the brain.

Which of the following can enhance memory?

Answer: Rehearsing

Rehearsing, particularly elaborative rehearsal, is a highly effective strategy for enhancing memory. This involves actively processing and connecting new information to existing knowledge, rather than simply repeating it. Unlike massed practice or rote memorization, rehearsal helps to deepen encoding and strengthen memory traces, making information more accessible for later retrieval.

What is the name for forgetting events that occurred before an injury?

Answer: Retrograde amnesia

Retrograde amnesia is a type of memory loss where an individual is unable to recall events that occurred *before* the onset of the amnesia, such as an injury or illness. This contrasts with anterograde amnesia, which involves the inability to form new memories after the event. Therefore, forgetting past events due to an injury is a classic symptom of retrograde amnesia.

What are three reasons people forget?

Answer: Decay, ineffective coding, interference

Three primary reasons for forgetting are decay, ineffective coding, and interference. Decay theory suggests that memories fade over time if not actively used or retrieved. Ineffective coding occurs when information is not properly processed or encoded into memory in the first place. Interference happens when other memories, either old or new, block or disrupt the retrieval of desired information.

What is the idea that people forget things they don’t want to remember?

Answer: All of the above

The idea that people forget things they don't want to remember encompasses several psychological concepts. Repression, a Freudian concept, suggests that traumatic or undesirable memories are unconsciously pushed out of awareness. Motivated forgetting is a broader term for any intentional or unintentional forgetting driven by a desire to avoid remembering. Psychogenic amnesia refers to memory loss caused by psychological factors rather than physical injury, often involving the forgetting of personal identity or traumatic events. All these terms relate to the phenomenon of forgetting undesirable information.

Which of the following is not true of forgetting?

Answer: Decay theory provides a good explanation for loss of long-term memories

Decay theory posits that memories naturally fade over time if not rehearsed, which is a reasonable explanation for forgetting in sensory and short-term memory. However, it does not adequately explain the loss of long-term memories, which can persist for decades without active rehearsal. Forgetting in long-term memory is more often attributed to factors like interference or retrieval failure, rather than simple decay.

Most people find they have no problem riding a bicycle to classes in college even though they haven’t ridden one since they were young. What type of memory can account for this?

Answer: Procedural memory

Procedural memory is a type of implicit long-term memory responsible for knowing *how* to do things, such as motor skills and habits. Riding a bicycle is a classic example of a skill learned and stored as procedural memory, which is often retained even after long periods of disuse. This type of memory operates largely unconsciously and allows us to perform tasks without explicit recall of how we learned them.

What does phonemic encoding relate to?

Answer: How words sound

Phonemic encoding is a level of processing information that focuses on the sound of words. When we engage in phonemic encoding, we pay attention to the auditory characteristics of language, such as rhymes or alliteration. This is distinct from structural encoding (how words look) or semantic encoding (the meaning of words), and it plays a role in how we process and remember verbal information.

Memory is defined as. . .

Answer: An active information-processing system that receives, stores and recovers information.

Memory is best defined as an active and dynamic information-processing system. It involves several stages: receiving information (encoding), retaining it over time (storage), and accessing it when needed (retrieval). This definition highlights memory's complex, multi-stage nature, emphasizing its role in actively managing information rather than just passively holding it.