Episodic Memory Life events are stories about yourself. That is, they are structured in memory in...
Transcript of Episodic Memory Life events are stories about yourself. That is, they are structured in memory in...
Episodic Memory Life events are stories about
yourself. That is, they are structured in
memory in the same manner as all stories.
Memory for events in your own life are also called autobiographical memory.
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event
Memory Long-term Retention Autobiographical Memory
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event
Memory Long-term Retention Autobiographical Memory
What day is it today? What day was it yesterday? What day will it be tomorrow? Noon
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Noon versus Morning
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Noon versus Morning versus Evening
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Orienting to Time and Place Cues are determined by a person’s
current plans and expectations The set of cues are continually
being updated. This keeps us oriented to time and
place
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event Memory
Role of Post-Event Information Effect of intentions on event memory Effect of questioning on confidence and
accuracy Relationship between accuracy and confidence
in event memory Long-term Retention Autobiographical Memory
Memory for Facts versus Memory for Events
Task Read a story and recall it some time laterMemory Group asked to recall storyInteractive Group asked to think about and react to storyAfter they have read the story subjects told either consistent (+),inconsistent (-), or no (0) information with respect to the story
Number of Subjects Producing Recall Errors (Out of 20)
2 Days 3 weeks 6 weeksGroup 0 + - 0 + - 0 + - MemInter
0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 20 0 2 2 3 34 13 12
Sad Ending-Married Comment Sad Ending
Margie was horrified. She had always wanted to be a mother and had her heart set on having many children. They argued bitterly over what had become a very serious problem for them. A long discussion of the status of their relationship followed.
Recall They separated but realized after discussing
the matter that their love mattered more. The discussed it and decided they could agree
on a compromise: adoption.
Happy Ending-Not Married Comment Happy Ending
Margie was elated. Because she wanted to have a career she had also felt that she didn’t want to have children. They rejoiced in the dissolution of what would have been a very serious problem for them. Along discussion of the status of their relationship followed.
Recall There was a hassle with one or the other’s
parents. They disagreed about having children.
Conclusion It is possible to remember a story
accurately over a long retention interval.
However, normal autobiographical memory is subject to constant revision. Memories of specific episodes may
change over time as the result of post-event information
Intentions As Recall Cues Marcia Johnson:
Found that it is more difficult to distinguish between:
Saying something vs. thinking about saying it. Than:
Saying something vs. hearing it. This and other studies by Johnson
support the important role of intentions and action in organizing memory.
The Effect of Post-Event Questioning on Confidence and Accuracy Children are especially susceptible to
post-event information; the response to a repeated yes/no question will change Loftus and Pickerel (1995).
Even eye-witness testimony may be influenced by post-event information
Successive recall attempts under hypnosis increases confidence must more than accuracy
Memories Disputed Between Twins (Sheen, Kemp, & Rubin, 2001)Age at Test
Age at Event
Cue Word Description of Memory
21 11 Fair Who came in 12th in international cross country race
21 14 Restaurant
Who went for lunch with their mum and had a worm in her meal
21 12 Boat Who was in boat with father when they saw a tiger shark
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event
Memory Long-term Retention (of School
Years) Personal Information Academic Information
Autobiographical Memory
Very Long Retention Intervals
Very Long Term Retention of Personal Information
Very Long-Term Retention of Academic Information
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event
Memory Long-term Retention Autobiographical Memory
Constructing Autobiographical Function Use cue word method to probe
memory. Record the age at which each
event occurred.
Autobiographical Retention
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Autobiographical MemoryA retention function for old memories has
three main features: Recency: Older memories are less likely
to be recalled than more recent ones A reminiscence bump consisting of a
surprisingly large number of memories coming from ages 10-30, particularly between 15 and 25
Childhood amnesia for the first five years of life
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event
Memory Long-term Retention Autobiographical Memory
Early childhood amnesia
Early Childhood Amnesia Pillemer, Picarello, and Pruett (1994):
Memory for an emergency school evacuation.
3 yr-olds vs. 4 yr-olds. Two weeks after the event:
Same level of memory for event. Seven years later, forced-choice recognition
test: 3 yr-olds (now 10): No recognition. 4 yr-olds (now 11): 86% correct.
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event
Memory Long-term Retention Autobiographical Memory
Early childhood amnesia Reminiscence bump
Reminiscence Bump A total of 93% of vivid life memories
are either unique events or first-time experiences Hence novel and emotional experiences
When alumni were asked to recall 4 memories from their first year of college more than 20 years previously, 41% of the memories came from
September
The Effect of Novelty and Emotion on Retention Novel events attract more rehearsals,
which results in longer retention Von Restorff Effect Primacy Effect
Emotional events are specially encoded so that they are difficult to forget Cahill & McGaugh
Episodic Memory Updating Memory Accuracy and Confidence in Event
Memory Long-term Retention Autobiographical Memory
Early childhood amnesia Reminiscence bump
Effect of novelty and emotion on accuracy and confidence
Flashbulb Memories Vivid memories for unexpected
emotional events, e. g., Kennedy assassination; Challenger explosion. Despite the vividness of such memories they may be highly inaccurate. So confidence is not highly correlated with accuracy
Flashbulb Memories Studies
Neisser and Harsch (1992): Challenger explosion. 40% of the memories changed after 2.5
years. Schmolck, Buffalo, and Squire (2000):
O.J. Simpson verdict. 42% of memories distorted after 2.5 years. 61% of distorted reports were remembered
with high degree of confidence.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Vivid memories of unexpected, tragic,
hence highly emotional events may disrupt attention to current events. Memories can not be easily forgotten or removed from consciousness
However, no evidence that memories are more accurately remembered than other memories