WEEK 4 BRAIN AND COGNITION – memory
Memory is crucial for behaviour- every cognitive process depends upon memory
EARLY VIEWS- memory was seen as a passive store, however experimental research in the last
century has identified several function: encoding, storage retrieval and processing of info. Memory
isn’t just one thing…
‘two memory system’ SCOVILLE+MILNER- patient with epilepsy undergoes surgery – HM
after surgery was unable to store new memories into long-term memory but could perform tasks
requiring STM = an intact short term mem but damaged long term mem (ablation of temporal lobe,
hippocampus and amygdala)
MURDOCK (1962)- used a recall task – tested hypothesis that there are 2 diff memory
systems (STM + LTM). Ptps had to remember lists of 10,20,30 and 40 words
POSTMAN+PHILLIPS (1965)- used a free recall paradigm with lists of 10,20 and 30 words- the
presence of retention interval led to the elimination of recency effect
WAUGH+NORMAN- ptps were shown a lift of digits, then given a probe, they had to retrieve
the digit following the probe e.g. list 1,2,3,4… probe=2, answer=3. RESULTS- ptps had weak memory
for last items, suppressing rehearsal eliminates the recency effect… SO info is put into STM where it
is constantly rehearsed and if rehearsed enough it is put into LTM- otherwise forgotten
MODAL MODEL- ATKISNON+SHIFFRIN- very influential model. A cognitive architecture is proposed
with 3 major stages: input is received, this input in turn generates cognitive processing, some
behaviour is produced (the output of the system). Memory stores are places where info is
maintained/processed. CONTROL PROCESSES regulate and control the info flow between memory
components.
ARCHITECTURE- the way memory system is organised, PROCESSES- the activities occurring
within the memory system
Memory is mostly a question of
attention.
Sensory registers- keep a trace of
sensations until info is forwarded to the STM- hold modality-specific info for a few milliseconds, one
store for visual info (iconic) and another for auditory (echoic)- this info is not accessible in
consciousness
Memory is crucial for behaviour- every cognitive process depends upon memory
EARLY VIEWS- memory was seen as a passive store, however experimental research in the last
century has identified several function: encoding, storage retrieval and processing of info. Memory
isn’t just one thing…
‘two memory system’ SCOVILLE+MILNER- patient with epilepsy undergoes surgery – HM
after surgery was unable to store new memories into long-term memory but could perform tasks
requiring STM = an intact short term mem but damaged long term mem (ablation of temporal lobe,
hippocampus and amygdala)
MURDOCK (1962)- used a recall task – tested hypothesis that there are 2 diff memory
systems (STM + LTM). Ptps had to remember lists of 10,20,30 and 40 words
POSTMAN+PHILLIPS (1965)- used a free recall paradigm with lists of 10,20 and 30 words- the
presence of retention interval led to the elimination of recency effect
WAUGH+NORMAN- ptps were shown a lift of digits, then given a probe, they had to retrieve
the digit following the probe e.g. list 1,2,3,4… probe=2, answer=3. RESULTS- ptps had weak memory
for last items, suppressing rehearsal eliminates the recency effect… SO info is put into STM where it
is constantly rehearsed and if rehearsed enough it is put into LTM- otherwise forgotten
MODAL MODEL- ATKISNON+SHIFFRIN- very influential model. A cognitive architecture is proposed
with 3 major stages: input is received, this input in turn generates cognitive processing, some
behaviour is produced (the output of the system). Memory stores are places where info is
maintained/processed. CONTROL PROCESSES regulate and control the info flow between memory
components.
ARCHITECTURE- the way memory system is organised, PROCESSES- the activities occurring
within the memory system
Memory is mostly a question of
attention.
Sensory registers- keep a trace of
sensations until info is forwarded to the STM- hold modality-specific info for a few milliseconds, one
store for visual info (iconic) and another for auditory (echoic)- this info is not accessible in
consciousness
