Memory: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval & Theories in Psychology

What is Memory

is recalling past events and past learning by means of encoding, storage, and retrieval.

What is Encoding

Getting information into memory in the first place

What is storage

keeping information in the memory for future use

What is retrieval?

recapturing memories when we need them

Information processing model

a theory of how memory works, assumes that process of information goes three steps during encoding, storage, retrieval

Parallel distributed processing model

Information is represented through the brain via neural networks

Sensory memory

When were introduced to a stimulus and the breif memory of it we have, includes iconic and echoic memory.

Iconic memory

What we see

Echoic memory

What we hear

short term/working memory

Holds information for 30 seconds, 5-9 items at a time

Long term memory

Encoding by holding memory for forever, past feeling, aqquired skills.

How are IPM and Parallel theories different

Parallel: memories are stored via associations

IPM: Material is remembered and processed in stages.

Automatic processing

Remembering something without awareness and effort, used for space, time and frequency

Effortful processing

Remembering something with attention and effort, used for things such as studying.

Attention vs Awareness

To encode anything you have to pay attention, during effortful processing you have to be aware as well.

Working memory

Short term memory for something your thinking about right now

Rehearsal

conciously repeating information to encode

Spaced practice effect

Moving working memory to long term by practicing rehearsal over time

Phonologic

Encoding based on sound

Visual

Encoding based on looks ( photographic)

Semantic

Encoding based on meaning of information, explicit memory

Understand

Understanding helps us memorize

rote memorization

memorizing without a definition , limited effectiveness

Elaborate

More we elaborate makes it more personal and easier to memorize

mnemonic devices

techniques used to increase meanigfulness of info ex: HOME

Chunking

Grouping bits of information together ex: phone numbers

Schema

Organize new info by assitance from previous experience

PQRST

Preview, Question, read, self-recitation, test

Memory span

Max number of items that can be recalled in order

Explicit memory

Memory that we are consciously aware and can bring up ex: home address

Implicit memory

Memory that we are unsconciously aware such as habits or skills ex: bike riding

Episodic

Memories or events from life

Procedural memory

Type of implicit memory, skills and habits

Classical conditioning

conditioned responses such as fear, disgust at certain things

How do we retrieve memories

We look for it, and once is found is brought into long term memory

Primacy effect

remembering something that happened first

Recency effect

Remembering that happened most recently

Retrieval cues

Words, sight or other stimuli reminds us of info we need to retrieve

Priming

One piece of information helps us retrieve other related memories

context effects

remember it better when we learn it for the first

encoding specficity principle

context can prime certain memories

state dependent memory

you remember when your in the same state of mind you were in when you learnt it

flashbulb memory

detailed memories of emotionally significant event

Forgetting

lack of attention or retrieval cues

3 reasons for retrieval failure

decay theory, interference theory, motivated forgetting

decay theory

memory fades a good deal when its not used

forgetting curve

memory fades quite rapid but then stabilizes after a bit

Retroactive information

New information disrupts recalling old info

Proactive information

Old information disrupts learning new info

Repression

We unsconciously push down trauma from entering our awareness

Distorted memories

memories can be distorted from recalling them

source misattribtion

remembering info but not it's source, can lead to remembering info from an unreliable source

Imagination

When we have gaps in our memory, our imagination fills those gaps

Misinformation

When we get new misinformed info, this can lead to false memories

hypnosis

leads to distortion and manufacture memories

Pre-frontal cortex

important in working memory

Hippocampus

important for transfer to long term

Memory considilation

process where memories stabilize in brain

Potentation

When a network of cells fire together

long term potentation

repeated stimulation of certain nerve cells in the brain greatly increases the likelihood that the cells will respond strongly to future

Prospective memory

ability to remember content in the future

retrospective memory

ability to remember content from the past

Amnestic disorder

organic disorder in which memory loss is primary symptom

Anterograde amnesia

can't form new memories

Retrograde amnesia

Can't remember things before the amnesia inducing event

Dementia

severe memory problems combined with losses in at least one other cognitive function, such as abstract thinking or language (alzheimer's disease)

Conciousness

everything we are thinking about, immediate awareness of surroundings

When we are asleep

Unconscious, sensitive to external stimuli

States of consciousness

level of awareness for external for external/internal state

Altered states of consciousness

Being asleep, hypnosis, mediation, drugs

Contents of consciousness

thoughts about our awareness of internal/ external state

Inattention blindness

If you do not see visual stimuli, you cannot report on those details

When we are awake

most of our neurons active, using our whole brain

Reticular formation

Role in being awake/consciousness, damage results inability to sleep

hypothalamus/ Thalamus

Awake brain needs info to process, signals go through these, damage can result in coma

Primary visual cortex damage

Leads to blindness

cerebral cortex

important for awareness

Are babies conscious

Are not great at describing feelings of conscious, but they pay attention

When is consciousness fully formed

We start to be aware of ourselves at 18 months, then full consciousness is at 22 months

Preconciousness

Level of awareness which info can become ready to consciousness if necessary ex: what did you do last weekend

Automatic behaviour

type of preconsciousness, ex: do you remember every step while you brushed your teeth last weekend.

unconsciousness state

state in which information is not easily accessible to conscious awareness ex: what did you eat last weeeknd

Implicit memory

- knowledge that we have stored in memory that we are not typically aware of or able to recall at will

Freud's View of the Unconscious

unconscious contain a lot of stuff but it also guides our behavior in a whole bunch of ways,

Adaptive theory of sleep

theory that organisms with bad night vision hide and sleep at night for the purpose of self-preservation,

Restoration theory

holds that sleep restores our brains and bodies; restores depleted resources, cleans up "waste" that has accumulated throughout the day

Circadian rhythm (biological clock)

pattern of sleep-wake cycles that in human beings roughly corresponds to periods of daylight and night

What Role Does the Brain Have in sleep?

Sensory signals about daytime/nighttime tell parts of our brain to prep for sleep/waking

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN):

small group of neurons in hypothamlus, coordinate rhythms of body,

Pineal gland

produce melatonin when SCN trigger them, triggers sleep

Photoreceptors role and where they are

in the retina of the eye, send signals to the SCN about daylight which regulate dopamine and melatonin

In total absence of light

Our SCN may extent our bodies day and our circadian rhythm is disrupted

Sleep cycle

90 to 100 minutes per sleep cycle, One cycle consists of five stages

Pre-sleep period (hypnagogic state)

Alpha waves,Hypnagogic hallucinations,Vivid sensory hallucinations

Hypnagogic hallucinations

part of pre sleep, Vivid sensory hallucinations

myoclonic jerk

Muscle spasm that accompanies hypnagogic hallucination of falling

First stage of sleep

a few minutes, Bridge between wakefulness and sleep , Alpha waves change to slower theta waves

Stage 2 of sleep

, 15 to 20 minutes, More relaxed, Rhythmic breathing, Sleep spindles (burst of rapid brain waves)

Stage 3 of sleep

Deep sleep • 20%-50% delta waves

Stage 4 of sleep

Heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rates at lowest levels, Muscles relax, Sleepwalking more likely