Constructive Memory
1. Aims
to study
the constructive nature of human memory and to bring students to the cutting
edge research in the field; this particular field is far from becoming rigid
and dogmatic, there are more open questions than answers, there are alternative
models and a lot of controversial opinions.
to present
an in-depth example of modelling a particular cognitive process, starting with
psychological data, proceeding with developing theoretical and computer models,
performing simulation and psychological experiments for validation of the
models
to develop
skills in reading scientific papers, writing commentaries on them, giving
presentations at seminars, planning experiments and
simulations which would test the models and theories.
On completion of the
course students should be able to:
demonstrate familiarity with various theories and models of memory, with the
central concepts and ideas in memory modelling, as well as with empirical data
demonstrating false and illusionary memory, memory distortions, etc.
debate and
discuss theoretical issues and concepts as well as evaluate the psychological
validity of models
demonstrate a detailed and critical understanding of research papers — both
theoretical and experimental, identify and explain significant developments and
contradictions
present arguments and evidence
coherently in verbal and written form
critically
evaluate particular models of memory
plan
experiments and simulations which would test particular models and theories
Guided
reading, tutor-led and student-led group discussions, essay writing,
experimental design proposal writing, Web-based discussion forum.
A one semester (15 weeks) course with 2
hours seminars and 1 hour preparatory work.
Kokinov, B., Hirst, W., eds. (2003). Constructive
Memory.
Schacter, D. (1995a). Memory distortions: How minds, brains, and societies
reconstruct the past.
Schacter, D. (1999). The Seven Sins of memory:
Insights from psychology and cognitive neuroscience. American Psychologist, 54,
182-203.
Schacter, D., Norman, K., & Koutstaal, W. (1998). The Cognitive Neuroscience of
Constructive Memory. Annual Review of Psychology, 49, 289-318.
The course is divided
into the following sections:
the constructive memory metaphor
data
about memory distortions, memory illusions, false memory, and blending
models
of constructive memory
Class 1: Basic metaphors and debates
in memory literature.
Required readings:
Roediger,
H. III (1980). Memory metaphors in cognitive psychology.
Memory & Cognition, 8,
231-246.
Class 2: Do people have Flashbulb
Memories?
Required readings:
Brown,
R. & Kulik (1977). Flashbulb
memories. Cognition, 5, 73-99.
Optional readings:
Class 3: Constructive Autobiographical
Memory
Required readings:
Williams, D. & Hollan,
J. (1981). The process of retrieval from very long-term memory. Cognitive
Science, 5, 87-119.
Optional readings:
Brewer, W. (1988). Memory for randomly sampled
autobiographical events. In U. Neisser &
E. Winograd (Eds.), Remembering reconsidered:
Ecological and traditional approaches to the study of memory.
Barclay, C. (1986). Schematization of autobiographical
memory. In D. Rubin (Ed.), Autobiographical memory
(pp. 82-99).
Neisser, U. (1981). John Dean’s memory: A case study. Cognition,
9, 1-22.
Neisser, U. (1998). Stories, selves, and schemata: A review
of ecological findings. In M. Conway,
Salaman, E. (1982). A collection of moments: A study of involuntary
memories. In U. Neisser (Ed.), Memory observed
(pp. 49-63).
Whittlesea, B. (1997). Production, evaluation, and preservation
of experiences: Constructive processing in remembering and performance tasks. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation, vol. 37.
Class 4: Constructive Episodic Memory: Schemas, Objects, Faces and Pictures.
Optional readings:
Bartlett, F. (1932). Remembering.
Optional readings:
Nickerson, R. & Adams, M. (1979). Long-term memory for a
common object. Cognitive Psychology, 11, 287-307
Reinitz, M., Lammers, W., & Cochran, B. (1992). Memory-conjunction errors: miscombination of stored stimulus features can produce
illusions of memory. Memory & Cognition, 20, 1-11.
Class 5: Collective Reconstruction of
an Episode
Required readings:
Hirst, W. & Manier, D.,
& Cuc, A. (2003). The construction of a collective
memory. In: Kokinov, B., Hirst, W., eds. (2003). Constructive
Memory.
Class 6: Associative Reconstruction
Required readings:
Deese, J. (1959). On the prediction of occurence
of particular verbal intrusions in immediate recall. Journal of
Experimental Psychology, 58, 17-22
Roediger, H. III, & McDermott, K. (1995). Creating False Memories: Remembering words not presented in lists. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory,
& Cognition, 21, 803-814.
Optional readings:
Roediger, H. III (1996). Memory Illusions.
Journal of Memory and Language, 35, 76-100.
Class 7: Misinformation Effect on
Eyewitness Testimony.
Required readings:
Optional readings:
more papers by
Elizabeth Loftus
Loftus, E. (1977). Shifting human color
memory. Memory and Cognition, 5, 696-699.
Loftus, E. (1979). Eyewitness testimony.
Loftus, E. & Palmer, J. (1974). Reconstruction of automibile
destruction: An example of interaction between language and memory. Journal
of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13,
585-589
Loftus, E., Miller, D., Burns, H. (1978). Semantic
integration of verbal information into a visual memory. Journal of
Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 4, 19-31.
Class 8: Brain Mechanisms of
Reconstruction and Confabulation
Required readings:
Moscovitch, M. (2003). Consolidation: A systems approach to
remote memory and interaction between the hippocampal
complex and neocortex. In: Kokinov, B., Hirst, W.,
eds. (2003). Constructive Memory.
Optional readings:
Schacter, D. (1995b). Memory distortion: History and current state. In
D. Schacter (Ed.), Memory distortions: How minds, brains, and societies
reconstruct the past.
Required readings:
Optional readings:
more papers by Lawrence Barsalou
Required readings:
Optional readings:
Kolodner, J. (1984). Retrieval and organizational
strategies in conceptual memory.
Class 11: Holographic Models of
Distributed Memory
Required readings:
Illustrations for “Sparse Distribute Memory and Related
Models.”
Optional readings:
Denning, P. Sparse
Distributed Memory Published in American Scientist 77 (July-August 1989),
333-335
Class 12: The CHARM model of constructive memory
Required readings:
Class 13: Trace Synthesis Model and
Constructive Semantic Memory
Required readings:
Optional readings:
McClelland, J. & Rogers, T. (2003). The
Parallel-Distributed Processing Approach to Semantic Cognition. In:
Kokinov, B., Hirst, W., eds. (2003). Constructive Memory.
Class 14: The DUAL-AMBR model of constructive memory
Required readings:
Kokinov, B. (2003). The Mechanisms of Episode Construction and Blending
in DUAL and AMBR: Interaction Between Memory and
Analogy. In: Kokinov, B., Hirst, W. (ed.) Constructive Memory.
Optional readings:
Ross, B. & Bradshaw, G. (1994). Encoding effects of remindings. Memory and Cognition, 22,
591-605.
Ross, B. & Sofka, M.
(1986). Remindings: Noticing, remembering, and using
specific knowledge of earlier problems. Unpublished manuscript.
Class 15: Blending of
Dissimilar Episodes
Required readings:
Zareva, N., Kokinov, B. (2003). Blending of Spatial Configurations – A
Result of Co-Activation or Analogical Mapping? In: Kokinov, B., Hirst, W. (ed.)
Constructive Memory.
Optional readings:
Grinberg, M., Kokinov, B. (2003). Analogy-Based Episode Blending in AMBR. In: Kokinov, B., Hirst, W. (ed.) Constructive
Memory.