Recalling Episodic Memory Recall is a generative processes
rather than simply calling up stored data
Slide 3
Recalling Episodic Memory Recall is a generative processes
rather than simply calling up stored data Evidenced by the fact
that episodic memories can be distorted or completely false under
certain circumstances
Slide 4
Recalling Episodic Memory Misinformation Effect - exposure to
information subsequent to storage of memory can alter the contents
of the memory
Slide 5
Recalling Episodic Memory Misinformation Effect Consider the
following example: Subjects were shown a video depicting a car
accident Then given the following question: How fast were the
vehicles going when they ______ Different subjects were asked
questions that differed in the magnitude of the final word The
possible words were: Contacted, Hit, Bumped, Collided, and
Smashed
Slide 6
Recalling Episodic Memory Misinformation Effect Consider the
following example: Average estimated velocity depended on the
nature of the question
Slide 7
Recalling Episodic Memory Misinformation Effect Interpretation:
Episodic memory can be distorted by subsequent information
Slide 8
Recalling Episodic Memory False Memories may arise when details
of a crime are in question as in eye- witness testimony or
repressed memories of abuse during childhood What is the
distinction between a false memory and a distorted memory? What do
they have in common?
Slide 9
Derepressed memories Loftus opens with several examples of
court cases that involve derepressed memories What is a repressed
memory? What is a derepressed memory?
Slide 10
Loftus position in this article Loftus does not reject the
notion of repressed memories 18% - 59% of abuse survivors report
having regained access to previously repressed memories
Slide 11
Loftus position in this article Loftus does not reject the
notion of repressed memories 18% - 59% of abuse survivors report
having regained access to previously repressed memories What does
Loftus challenge?
Slide 12
Loftus position in this article Loftus does not reject the
notion of repressed memories 18% - 59% of abuse survivors report
having regained access to previously repressed memories What does
Loftus challenge? That all de-repressed memories are accurate
memories.
Slide 13
High Stakes Survivor of real abuse might struggle for years or
decades with consequences and need to confront the repressed memory
in order to recover emotionally False accusation could tear family
apart and send an innocent person to jail
Slide 14
Whats the issue? What does Loftus express concern about
regarding the derepression of memories?
Slide 15
Whats the issue? What does Loftus express concern about
regarding the derepression of memories? reality of the memory is in
question if it is recalled under certain circumstances
Slide 16
Whats the issue? What does Loftus express concern about
regarding the derepression of memories? reality of the memory is in
question if it is recalled under certain circumstances What is the
course of events that Loftus finds worrisome?
Slide 17
Whats the issue? What does Loftus express concern about
regarding the derepression of memories? reality of the memory is in
question if it is recalled under certain circumstances What is the
course of events that Loftus finds worrisome? Therapist or Popular
Book suggests that patient consider possibility of abuse Patient
engages in intense effort to recall An explicit episodic memory is
achieved This memory might be false!
Slide 18
Whats the issue? So we potentially have a situation in which
someone who is having troubles in life and is seeking answers is
told to determine whether or not memories for abuse exist What are
some techniques that are used to assist recollection?
Slide 19
Whats the issue? So we potentially have a situation in which
someone who is having troubles in life and is seeking answers is
told to determine whether or not memories for abuse exist What are
some techniques that are used to assist recollection? hypnosis,
imagery, dream analysis, story telling Loftus presents evidence
that such processes may lead to invalid memories or overconfidence
in the validity of memories
Slide 20
Conclusion: We cannot know with certainty (without
corroborating evidence) whether a derepressed memory is true
Therapists should engage in probing this possibility very carefully
avoiding suggestive questions remaining unconvinced without
corroborating evidence being gently confrontational to encourage
patient to consider the possibility that the events didnt
happen
Slide 21
Subconscious Cognition?! What you dont know, might help youor
it might not!
Slide 22
Perception and Cognition We have elaborate perceptual
mechanisms to provide information to our brains to guide current or
future behavior
Slide 23
Perception and Cognition We have elaborate perceptual
mechanisms to provide information to our brains to guide current or
future behavior Notice theres no mention of consciousness
Slide 24
Perception and Cognition We have elaborate perceptual
mechanisms to provide information to our brains to guide current or
future behavior Notice theres no mention of consciousness Lots of
information gets processed and used by your brain without you
noticing
Slide 25
Perception and Cognition We have elaborate perceptual
mechanisms to provide information to our brains to guide current or
future behavior Notice theres no mention of consciousness Lots of
information gets processed and used by your brain without you
noticing Consider some examples
Slide 26
Blindsight and the Dorsal Stream Lesions (usually due to
stroke) in primary visual cortex cause a region of blindness called
a scotoma Identified using perimetry X
Slide 27
Blindsight and the Dorsal Stream Patients with lesions to
primary visual cortex occasionally retain some visual abilities:
better than chance performance on forced- choice discrimination
tasks spatial navigation and coordination (i.e. avoid obstacles,
interact with environment)
Slide 28
Blindsight and the Dorsal Stream Patients with lesions to
primary visual cortex occasionally retain some visual abilities:
better than chance performance on forced- choice discrimination
tasks spatial navigation and coordination (i.e. avoid obstacles,
interact with environment) Thought to be because of other backdoor
pathways that send signals to the Dorsal Stream, A.K.A the Where
and How Pathway
Slide 29
Blindsight and the Dorsal Stream The Dorsal Stream is thought
to mediate much spatial processing and interaction with the
environment WHAT WHERE
Slide 30
Blindsight and the Dorsal Stream The Dorsal Stream is thought
to mediate much spatial processing and interaction with the
environment But the neural activity in these structures does not
(is not alone sufficient to) enter into consciousness
Slide 31
Object Substitution Masking Masking occurs when one stimulus
impairs perception of a nearby stimulus In special cases the
stimuli dont have to overlap in space or time!? Object substitution
masking occurs when attention cannot select a target object before
it vanishes AND A mask is visible at the target location after the
target has vanished
Slide 32
Object Substitution Masking
Slide 33
Surprisingly, some visual information survives masking Subjects
are accurate at reaching to grasp a masked shape even though they
cant consciously see it
Slide 34
Masked Priming Surprisingly even the meaning of visual
information can survive some kinds of masking
Slide 35
Masked Priming S P A M TIME
Slide 36
XXXXX Masked Priming S P A M TIME
Slide 37
S P _ _ XXXXX Masked Priming S P A M TIME
Slide 38
Masked Priming Subject must complete the stem to make any word
other than the word that was masked
Slide 39
Masked Priming Subject must complete the stem to make any word
other than the word that was masked Subjects are more likely to use
masked wordindicates subconscious influence on behavior
Slide 40
The Hard Problem Returns MYSTERY: what is special about neural
activity that leads to awareness ? NOBODY KNOWS !