Intro to Memory & Sensory Memory

Free Recall

write down as many words as you can remember from the list

Serial Recall

write down as many words as you can remember from the list in the order they were shown

Cued Recall

write down the word that started with the letter "S"

Recognition

did this word [tree] appear on the list?

Memory Processes

encoding, storage, and retrieval

Memory Structures

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

Modal Model of Memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin)

sensory input -> sensory memory -> short term memory -> long term memory

Control Processes

shift information from one memory store to another

Characteristics of Visual Sensory

Iconic Memory

high capacity

brief duration (

Whole Report Studies

researchers show participants a grid of items for a split second and ask them to name every item they saw

Conclusion: misbelief that visual memory is very limited

Partial Report Study #1

Cued Recall

high tone → recall the first row of letters

medium tone → recall the second row of letters

low tone → recall the third row of letters

Partial Report Study #2

Delayed Cued Recall

tone played after a 1 second delay

high tone → recall the first row of letters

medium tone → recall the second row of letters

low tone → recall the third row of letters

Characteristics of Auditory Sensory Memory

Echoic Memory

high capacity

longer duration (~ 4 seconds)

Purpose of Sensory Memory

Hold Info while being processed

Hold info while brain diveys attention

Allows come cognitive processes to occur quickly and without awareness