Memory
active system that receives information from the senses organizes and alters it as it stores it and then retrieves information from storage
3 Processes are
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
Parallel processing
allows the brain to process things simultaneously
Sensory memories
Some go in one ear out the other
Some goes to short term memory
Short Term
brief; limited capacity (information immediately in use)
Long Term
long lasting; unknown capacity; relatively permanent store of memories
Iconic
Visual sensory memory (capacity is anything that’s seen at one time)
Echoic
Auditory sensory memory (capacity is anything that’s heard at one time)
Echoic lasts a bit longer than iconic sensory
Selective attention
determines which items in the sensory memory go to short-term memory
We can rapidly shift our attention
Involves our working memory
Encoding
processes by which we translate the information into a “code” that can be used
Effortful processing
explicit memories; conscious encoding of experiences, facts, names, etc… (declarative memories)
Effortful Processing Strategies
Chunking
Mnemonics
Hierarchies
Distributed practice
Chunking
process of clustering items into fewer, but larger units
Mnemonics
memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery organizational devices
Hierarchies
broad concepts divided and subdivided into narrower concepts and facts
Distributed practice
we retain information better when our encoding is distributed over time
Self referential encoding
Individuals are likely to encode information differently depending on whether they are implicated in the information
Visual
remembering items better when you can visualize them
Acoustic
able to remember items when they rhyme or have a rhythmic sound
Semantic
giving an item meaning makes it easier to remember
Karl Lashley
Trained rats to find their way out of a maze
Progressively took out pieces of the rats brain away
No matter which section he removed the rat had some recollection of the maze
Long term memory
Incoming material through rehearsal, chunking, mnemonic etc, to be stored relatively permanently
Episodic memories
things that are very personal memories that have meaning to you
Semantic memory
Things that you learned for a memory ex studying
procedural memories
once you've learned this thing it becomes second nature like riding a bike
Elaborative rehearsal
is studying
Schema
how you see things
Flashbulb memory
detailed vivid snapshot filled with emotion
Perspective memory
memory for intentions involves and planning and thinking ahead
Procedural
skills for task completion
Eidetic Imagery memory
individual has visual images clear enough to be retained for at least 30 seconds and realistic in their vividness
Context dependant memory
improved recall of specific episodes or information when the context present at encoding and retrieval are the same
Mood congruent memory
when feeling down/happy, easier to recall other sad/happy episodes
State dependent memory
more likely to remember info when in the same state of consciousness when memory was formed
Retrieval clues
a clue that is used to trigger the retrieval of long term memory
Automatic processing
implicit memories; unconscious encoding of incidental information
Ex: space, time, and frequency