Psychology Unit 4: Memory

Memory

The process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information.

Key brain structures in memory

Hippocampus (new memories), Amygdala (emotional memory), Neurons & Synapses (plasticity, LTP), Neurotransmitters (glutamate, acetylcholine, dopamine).

Sensory memory > Short-term memory > Long-term memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin).

Multi-Store Model of Memory

Dual Coding Theory

Information stored both verbally and visually enhances retention (Paivio).

Information Processing Model

Memory compared to a computer: encoding, storage, retrieval.

Levels of Processing Theory

Depth of encoding (shallow vs deep) determines retention (Craik & Lockhart)

Verbal learning

Encoding information in language form; dual coding (verbal + visual) improves retention.

Sensory memory

Brief retention of sensory input. Iconic = visual (<1 sec), Echoic = auditory (2–4 sec).

Features of short-term memory

Capacity: 5–9 items; Duration: 20–30 seconds; Encoding: acoustic + semantic

Features of long-term memory

Vast capacity, long duration, semantic encoding, organized retrieval networks.

Types of long-term memory

Implicit (automatic, cerebellum/basal ganglia) and Explicit (conscious, hippocampus/prefrontal cortex)

Forgetting

Inability to recall stored information.

Use it or lose it

Tracey Decay’s theory of forgetting

Proactive/retroactive

Interference theory of forgetting

Cue-dependent

Retrieval failure theory of forgetting

Repression

Motivated forgetting

STM overload

Displacement theory of forgetting

Info never stored deeply

Encoding failure