memory

stages of memory

encoding, storage, retrieval

Encoding

getting information into memory

storage

keeping information in memory

Retrieval

accessing stored information from memory

automatic processing

encoding of informational details like time, space, frequency, and the meaning of words

example of automatic processing

Remembering when you last studied for a test

effortful processing

encoding of information that takes effort and attention on your part

example of effortful processing

Remembering the content of what you studied

levels of processing

information that is thought of more deeply becomes more meaningful and thus better committed to memory

Self-referntial Encoding

the cognitive process of relating information, often from the external world, to the self.

stages of memory storage

sensory memory, short-term memory, long-term memory

3 ways you can retrive information from memory

Recall, Recognition, Relearning

recall

generating previously remembered information

free recall

no cues in recalling

cued recall

Retival cues that help bring the memories back to the mind.

recognition

selecting previously remembered info from an array of options

relearning

learning information that was previously learned

encoding specificity principle

Remember best when retrieval conditions match the encoding conditions. Greater match = better memory

context dependent memory

when the recall situation is similar to the encoding situation

state-dependent memory

Better memory when a person is in the same state during both encoding and retrieval

state-dependent memory example

If you study drunk, you will recall the information better if you take the test drunk.

mood-dependent memory

better memory when mood at encoding and mood at retrieval are the same

mood-dependent memory example

If you are happy when you learn the information if you are happy when taking the test the information will be retrieved easier.

Atkinson-Shiffrin Model

sensory memory, short-term memory, long-term memory

capacity

How much information can be stored

duration

How long information can be stored for

sensory memory

Holds sensory information for milliseconds to seconds, substantioal storage capacity, but very limited duration.

Fleeting sensory memory

the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system

Eye(Iconic)

Lasts <1 second

Ear(Echoic)

Lasts 5-10 seconds

short-term memory

Retaining info for a short amount of time (15 to 30 seconds)

Holds a limited amount of info

Can be forgotten or transferred to long term memory

Chunking (STM)

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically.

example of chunking

phone numbers (217-33-0631)

working memory

active maintenance of information in short-term storage

3 types of wokring memory functions

Phonological Loop, Visuo-spatial sketchpad, Central executive

phonological loop

the part of working memory that holds and processes verbal and auditory information.

visuospatial sketchpad

holds visual and spatial information

central executive

the part of working memory that directs attention and processing. Decides what gets transfered into the two rehearsal system.

long-term memory

the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.

serial position effect

our tendency to recall best the last (a recency effect) and first items (a primacy effect) in a list

primary effect

tendency to recall the first terms of list

recency effect

tendency to remember words at the end of a list especially well

explicit memory

memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and "declare"

example of explicit memory

remembering what you ate last night

implicit memory

Memories we don't deliberately remember or reflect on consciously

example of implicit memory

riding a bike

episodic memory

recollection of events in our lives, specific experiences, typically have time and place components.

example of episodic memory

remembering your first day of school

semantic memory

a network of associated facts and concepts that make up our general knowledge of the world

example of semantic memory

knowing the capital of France

procedural memory

Information about the way we do things. EX. Brushing teeth, riding a bike, driving a car. You don't think about it, you just do it. Cannot describe them easily.

Priming

When exposure to one stimulus affect the response to a later stimulus.

emotional conditioning

the type of memory involved in classically conditioned emotion responses

Example of emotional conditioning

Songs that associate with specific emotional responses.

misinformation effect

Creation of false memories due to misleading information provided after the event.

example of misinformation effect

2 cars hit each other.

The way this is worded affects how people perceive it.

Smash, collide, bump, hit

Loftus and Palmer

false memories

recalling an event that never happened and believing it to be true, or remembering it differently from how it happened.

flashbulb memory

A clear and vivid long-term memory of an especially meaningful and emotional event.

example of flashbulb memory

• where you were on 9/11

• what happened to you during Katrina

Schema

organized knowledge structure or mental model that we've stored in memory

example of schema

If someone says birthday party, you think of cake, balloons, etc. without being otherwise prompted, because your brain has made a schema connecting these pieces of information.

What do you use schemas for?

Can be used to "fill in gas" in memory unless more specific information is provided.

Can be used to generate expectations for what is likely to

Elabrative rehearsal

linking stimuli to each other in a meaningful way to improve retention of information in short-term memory

example of elaborative rehearsal

Remembering hydrophobic, I think of a hippo scared of water. I don't know why, I just do

mnemonic devices

techniques for using associations to memorize and retrieve information

example of mnemonic device

PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally)

self-reference effect

tendency to better remember information relevant to ourselves

spacing effect/distributed practice

our tendency to retain information more easily if we practice it over time in multiple sessions

encoding failure

failure to process information into memory. Not paying attention.

Interference of Memory

information can be lost or less accurate due to an overlap of similar information

types of interference

proactive and retroactive

proactive interference

when old information interferes with new information

example of proactive interference

Learn combination to high school locker ---> Now cannot recall the new gym locker combo.

retroactive interference

when new information inhibits the ability to remember old information

example of retroactive interference

teacher learned so many new names this year, she has trouble remembering the names of the students last year

amnesia

Loss of memory that occurs as a result of physical or psychological trauma

Types of Amnesia

retrograde and anterograde

retrograde amnesia

Forget the past

very uncommon

anterograde amnesia

an inability to form new memories

cause of anterograde amnesia

damage to the hippocampus

Daniel Schacter

7 sins of memory

seven sins of memory

transience, absentmindedness, blocking, memory misattribution, suggestibility, bias, persistence

transience

accessibility of memory decreases over time

absent-mindedness

Forgetting caused by lapses in attention

example of absentmindedness

losing your keys or forgetting a lunch date

Blocking

Accessibility of information is temporarily blocked

Misattribution

memories are retrieved but are associated with the wrong time, place, or person.

suggestibility

false memories due to others suggestions

Bias

memories distorted by current belief system

persistence

inability to forget undesirable memories