Psychology
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3 Memory Systems
єЮ Sensory memory ЎV brief lasting of the sensory image in our sensory register
єЮ Short-term or working memory (STM)-holds information we are actively thinking about; limited in capacity (~ 7 items) & duration
єЮ Long-term memory (LTM) ЎV items encoded into LTM are held almost permanently; virtually unlimited capacity
3 Memory Processes
єЮ Encoding (mentally processing information so it can be placed into memory).
єЮ Storage (holding that information for a period of time)
єЮ Retrieval (accessing or recalling stored memories when needed)
Encoding
єЮ Sensory input is not sufficient ЎV must attend to & process that input
єЮ Some encoding occurs automatically-
єЮ Personal experiences
єЮ Information of high interest
єЮ Some types of learning (conditioning, motor learning)
єЮ Much encoding, however, is effortful; it requires special thought and practice
3 Primary Types of Long-Term Memories
єЮ Episodic Memories (life experiences)
єЮ Semantic Memories (information/knowledge)
єЮ Procedural Memories (how to do things)
єЮ The Network Theory of Memory
Most Common Amnesia:
Retrograde Amnesia
єЮ Head trauma or other temporary disruption of normal brain functioning blocks memories that are in the process of being transferred to LTM (typically memories for events immediately PRECEDING the trauma/disruption
Retrograde vs. Anterograde Loss
Anterograde Amnesia:
The Case of H.M.
єЮ H.M. suffered uncontrolled seizures in his hippocampus/temporal lobe cortex
єЮ This region was removed in the 60ÐŽ¦s to try to control his seizures (and it did)
єЮ Since the removal, H.M. has been unable to store new declarative (episodic and semantic memories)
єЮ But he has learned new motor skills (procedural memories)
Memory Areas of Brain
єЮ Hippocampus ЎV transferring episodic & semantic memories into LTM
єЮ Cerebral cortex ЎV STM and also final storage place for visual, auditory, tactile memories
єЮ Amygdala ЎV emotional aspects of memory
єЮ Cerebellum ЎV nondeclarative memories (procedural memories, conditioning memories)
Rehearsal
єЮ We usually use maintenance rehearsal (repeating things over & over) to hold information in STM
єЮ Maintenance rehearsal is not terribly effective for encoding LTMs however.
єЮ Elaborative rehearsal (organizing, thinking about, practicing, and linking new material to existing memories). The more associations we build, the more cues weÐŽ¦ll have for retrieval.
єЮ The more deeply you process info, the better your recall
Serial Position Effect
єЮ All items in a list are not equally easy to recall. Its easier to remember the beginning (ÐŽ§primacy effectÐŽÐ) & the end (ÐŽ§recency effectÐŽÐ). The middle is most likely to give us difficulty.
Levels of Processing Model
єЮ Depth of processing is key to how effectively a memory is stored and retrieved
Other Factors Affecting Recall
єЮ Order of Material to be Recalled
єЮ How the Memories are Elicited
єЮ Emotionality of Memories
єЮ Most often emotion & the hormones produced strengthen memories
єЮ Example: flashbulb memories
Recall vs Recognition Tests
єЮ Recall tests (e.g. essays) demand that you retrieve the memories without many external cues
єЮ Recognition tests (e.g. multiple choice) ЎV alternatives provide some cues
Influences on Cues & Recall
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