Cognition Mission

Encoding Strategies: Deep Processing

Acoustic

Inputting sounds or spoken words into memories. Working memory or long term.

Visual

Visual stimuli in iconic memory. Most not committed to long-term memory.

Tactile

Processing information through feeling. Texture, temperature, vibrations, pain, taste.

Semantic

Processing the meaning or concepts and declarative information. Working memory or long term.

Elaborative rehearsal

Connecting new information to existing knowledge. Long-term memory forming.

Encoding

The process of transforming sensory input into a mental code that our brain can store and later retrieve

Effortful processing

The encoding of new information requires focused attention, conscious effort, and deliberate thinking. To do this, I would try chunking, making mnemonics, spacing out my studying over longer periods of time, and creating meaningful context for the subject material by drawing connections to something I already know.

Chunking

Breaking down large concepts into smaller units. This way, you can keep larger concepts in short-term memory when you wouldn’t be able to retain the material altogether. When facing the subject of cellular respiration in biology, I break it down into glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, the Calvin cycle, and Photosynthesis. Within photosynthesis, I split it into light-dependent reactions and light-independent reactions.

We break phone numbers into groups of 3 or 4 instead of 10 straight numbers.

Hierarchies

Organizing information from general concepts to specifics. People I know, acquaintances, friends, best friends, Lucy and Eleanor. Universe, galaxy, solar system, earth, continents, countries, cities, towns, neighborhoods, houses, bedrooms.

Mneumonics

Acrostics/acronyms. An Acrostic is like L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole.