Decay(Trace)
Trace
Decay explains the limited duration of STM. Rehearsal continually renews the
physical trace which otherwise would vanish. In LTM –Are there permanent
memories – Brain damage and Degeneration are an example of physical alteration
of the memory trace, it may occur through ageing, illness or injury.
With age more and more material will be stored and confused over time. There is Proactive interference- this is where material learnt first interferes with material learnt later. There is also Retroactive interference this is where material learnt at a later time interferes with material learnt earlier
Short term memory has a limited capacity 7+ or – items (Miller 1956 – Magic number 7)
When
discussing retrieval failure one needs to distinguish between Availability and
Accessibility.
Availability:
1)
of memory refers to whether the
material is actually there to be retrieved i.e. it is not possible to retrieve
what has not reached/lasted in long term storage
2)
of memory which has been stored and then permanently lost i.e. prevention of
consolidation(where memory fixation is disrupted) or trace decay (where memory
traces gradually fade)
Accessibility:
1)
of memory refers to when information may be ‘hidden’ traumatic events may be
hidden in the unconscious/repressed(Freud)
2)
of memory refers to when information in memory is awaiting a suitable prompt.i.e.
Tip of the tongue phenomena / or state/context dependent recall.
Information
that has not become permanently fixed in LTM, also consolidated memory trace
fades in strength over time
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