Memory

automatic encoding

some things get in without effort

effortful encoding

most learning requires attention and work

shallow processing

just the appearance

deep encoding

meaning and connections, deeper processing the better memory

attention

if you are not paying attention, information does not get in

change blindness

demonstrates how much we miss when we’re not attending

multitasking myth

divided attention=poor encoding=poor memory later on

maintenance rehearsal

just repeating information over and over, gets in short term, but doesn’t stick long term

elaborative rehearsal

connecting new information to what you already know, making it meaningful and creating associations

Mnemonic devices

acronyms, method of loci, chunking- process info deep and creates retrieval cues

acronyms

HOMES-great lakes

method of loci

imagine walking through a familiar place and “placing” items you need to remember in different locations

Chunking

grouping information into meaningful units

memories are linked to their context

amygdala activation strengthens encoding

context-dependent memory

we remember better when we’re in the same context as when we learned

state-dependent memory

memory is better when internal state matches

encoding

getting information in

retrieval cues

hints that help trigger a memory, more cues, the easier the retrieval

retrieval practice effect

the act of retrieving strengthens memory

tip of tongue phenomenon

memory is there, but you can’t quite access it, retrieval and storage are separate processes, effort does not increase remembering

retrieval failure

most “forgetting” is really a retrieval problem, not a storage problem

encoding failure

never got in to begin with (attention size)

proactive interference

old learning interferes with new

retroactive interference

new learning interferences with old

retrieval failure

it’s in there but you can’t access it, not enough cues, not the right context, haven’t practiced retrieval

motivated forgetting

sometimes we “forget” things we don’t want to remember

How to remember better:

distribute practice, test yourself, elaborate, use multiple encoding strategies, study in room where you test, sleep