WACE Psychology — Unit 3
Memory Systems — Flashcards & Quiz
Memory is not a single system but a set of related stores and processes. WACE Psychology Year 12 Unit 3 distinguishes sensory, short-term and long-term memory, and further divides long-term into explicit (episodic, semantic) and implicit (procedural). Classic studies like HM's case illuminate how different systems depend on different brain regions.
Key Points
- Sensory memory: very brief (<1 second), large capacity, pre-attentive.
- Short-term memory (STM): ~15–30 seconds duration, 7±2 items capacity, encoded acoustically (Miller).
- Long-term memory (LTM): potentially unlimited duration and capacity, encoded semantically.
- Explicit LTM (declarative): conscious recollection. Includes episodic (personal events) and semantic (general knowledge).
- Implicit LTM (non-declarative): unconscious; includes procedural memory (skills like riding a bike) and conditioned responses.
- HM case study: after hippocampus removal, he could form new procedural memories but not new episodic or semantic ones — strong evidence these systems are distinct.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating long-term memory as a single system — it has multiple subtypes.
- Confusing episodic (personal events) with semantic (general knowledge) memory.
- Claiming implicit memory is unreliable — procedural memories can be very precise.
- Forgetting HM's case as the key evidence for memory system separation.
- Mixing up STM capacity (7±2 items) with LTM capacity (potentially unlimited).
Exam Strategy
SCSA Unit 3 memory questions ask you to classify memory types or describe the hierarchy. Method: (1) describe the three stores (sensory, STM, LTM) with capacity and duration, (2) subdivide LTM into explicit and implicit, (3) give an example of each type, (4) cite HM's case to support the system separation, (5) evaluate with modern neuroscience findings.
Sample Flashcards
Q1: What are the three main memory systems proposed by the Atkinson-Shiffrin model?
The Atkinson-Shiffrin model proposes three sequential memory stores: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). Information flows from sensory memory to STM, and with rehearsal, can be transferred to LTM.
Q2: Define sensory memory according to the Atkinson-Shiffrin model.
Sensory memory is the briefest memory store, holding vast amounts of incoming sensory information for a very short duration. It acts as a buffer, allowing the brain to select relevant information for further processing.
Q3: What is the capacity and duration of iconic sensory memory?
Iconic memory, a type of sensory memory, has a very large capacity but an extremely short duration, typically lasting only about 0.3 to 0.4 seconds. It briefly holds visual information from the environment.
Q4: What is the capacity and duration of echoic sensory memory?
Echoic memory, another sensory store, holds auditory information for a slightly longer duration than iconic memory, typically 3 to 4 seconds. Its capacity is also large, capturing sounds from the environment.
Q5: Describe short-term memory (STM) as proposed by Atkinson-Shiffrin.
Short-term memory is a temporary storage system with limited capacity and duration. It holds information currently in conscious awareness, actively processing it for potential transfer to long-term memory.
Sample Quiz Questions
Q1: Damage to the amygdala would most likely impair a person's ability to:
Answer: Form new emotional memories.
The amygdala is crucial for processing emotions and enhancing the consolidation of emotionally charged memories. Damage would likely affect the ability to form new memories with strong emotional content, particularly fear. The other options relate to the cerebellum (motor skills), hippocampus (explicit memories), and hippocampus/cortex (autobiographical events).
Q2: The Atkinson-Shiffrin model is criticised for being too simplistic because it:
Answer: Proposes a linear flow of information and doesn't fully explain parallel processing.
A major criticism of the Atkinson-Shiffrin model is its linear, stage-based approach, which doesn't adequately account for parallel processing or the active construction of memories by the individual. It also doesn't fully differentiate LTM types. The model does address sensory memory capacity and information transfer via attention/rehearsal.
Q3: The process of strengthening neural connections through repeated stimulation, believed to be a fundamental mechanism for learning and memory, is known as:
Answer: Long-term potentiation (LTP)
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is the persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent activity, considered a key cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory. Neural plasticity is the broader ability of the brain to change, and consolidation is the stabilisation of memories. Synaptic pruning is the elimination of unused connections.
Revision Tip
Memory taxonomy is a diagram-heavy topic — drill a Revizi deck with a tree diagram of memory types and examples for each.
Related Concepts
Last updated: 31 August 2026 · 20 sample flashcards · 20 sample quiz questions