Memory

Memory Basics

The persistence of learning over time through encoding, storage, and retrieval of information

We can recall what types of things

Faces, events, scents, places, textures, sounds, etc

How many types of memory retention are there

3

Recall

Retrieves information not currently in the conscious mind but have been learned at an earlier time

Recognition

Identifies things previously learned

Relearning

Learning something as though it is completely new despite us having learned it before (it's often quicker the second time). Most of the time, it will be easier to recognize then recall

What determines our memory strength

How quickly we can recall, recognize, and relearn

How many stages are there to create an actual memory

3

Encoding

Process to get information into the brain

Storage

Process to retain information

Retrieval

Process to later get the information out of the brain

How does creating a memory happen

Parallel processing

Atkinson

Shiffrin Model (1968)- Created by Richard Atkinson and his student Richard Shiffron. Three stage modal-model

ASM Stages

Sensory memory, Short Term Memory, Long Term Memory

Sensory memory

An immediate and brief recording of sensory information. The information is ready to be encoded

Short Term Memory

Activated memory that holds a few items briefly while we decide whether the information is remembered or forgotten. Our brain decides this in 7-12 seconds

Long Term Memory

It is relatively permanent and a limitless storage for all types of memories (Knowledge, events, skills, etc)

Who added to the Atkinson

Shiffrin Model- Alan Baddeley

What did Alan Baddeley add

The element of working memory. It is a newer understanding of short term memory that adds consciousness with a more active processing of incoming sensations. The process was now seen as active rather than passive

How many tracks of memory processing are there

2

Implicit memory

Retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection. Nondeclarative long-term memory, Encoding happens through automatic processing. Unconscious encoding of incidental information

Procedural Memory (Implicit memory)

Motor and cognitive skills that are automatic

Associations

Classically conditioned behaviors and connections to stimuli

Prinming (Implicit memory)

Ability to recognize things like objects and words

Explicit Memory

Retention of facts and experiences that can consciously know and declare. Encoded through effortful processing that requires attention and conscious effort. Through repetition it becomes automatic

Iconic memory (Explicit Memory)

Momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli. A picture that lasts no more than 10ths of a second

Echoic Memory (Explicit Memory)

Momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli. Lasts around 3-4 seconds

Effortful short term memory capacity

On average, we can hold onto 7 numbers, letters, or 5 words. After three seconds, only 50% of that data is remembered, after 12 seconds it is gone

What happens as we get older

Our working memory is less effective

What aids greatly in ensuring out memory capacity stays strong

Active processing

What do we do better

Focusing on only one thing

How do we get concepts and ideas into our long term memory

processing strategies

Chunking (processing strategies)

Organizing items into familiar and manageable units which often occurs automatically

Mnemonics (processing strategies)

Memory aides, especially with vivid imagery or organizational devices. These form an image in our mind

Hierarchies (processing strategies)

Few broad concepts divided into narrower concepts or ideas

Distributed practice (processing strategies)

Retention of information is best when distributed over time due to the spacing effect

Spacing effect

Distributed study or practice leads to better result over time

Shallow Processing

Encoding on a basic level based on structure or appearance of words

Deep processing

Encoding semantically based on meaning and leads to best results

How big is the space that we have to store memories

practically limitless

Where is memory storage

It is completely abstract and consists throughout our brain

What are the categories for explicit memories

Either semantic or episodic. These are both conscious memory systems.

Semantic memory

Explicit memory of facts and general knowledge

Episodic memory

Explicit memory of personally experienced events

Explicit memory takes what

Effortful processing

What assists in the creation of new explicit memories

Hippocampus

What works when our brain recalls semantic or episodic memory

Prefrontal cortex

If our prefrontal cortex is damaged

We can have a hard time remembering or making memories

What does the hippocampus prepare the information for

Memory consolidation

Memory Consolidation

The neural storage of long term memory. It is not instantaneous and is assisted by deep sleep

During sleep

The brain replays the days images from the hippocampus in order to store them in the cortex

Implicit memory

If we lose the functioning of our hippocampus and even our frontal lobe, we can still create memories on how to complete tasks or learn skills

What are heavily involved in the creation and storage of memories for these skills

older brain structures that begin working very early in life- Our cerebellum and our basal ganglia

Infantile amnesia

Our conscious memory from before 3-4 is mostly blank because we don't have the language skills or brain development to commit things to explicit memory (We have no problem with implicit tasks)

Emotional memory

Stressful events are encoded via the amygdala in vivid and clear images. This is true for any strong emotion

Flashbulb memories

A clear, sustained memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

Long term potentiation

An increase in a cell's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation. A neural basis for learning and memory

Memory Retrieval

When we commit something to memory, we also take note of the other information about our surroundings and the situation. These are called retrieval cues that help us access the information later

What are the retrieval cues

Priming, Context dependent memory, State dependent memory, Serial position effect

Priming

The activation often consciously, of particular associations in memory. Memoryless memory. We are influenced by our own previous experiences

Context dependent memory

Putting ourselves back into a situation where we previously experienced can start our memory retrieval process. Experiencing something out of usual can cause confusion

Encoding specificity principle

The idea that cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping us recall it

State dependent memory

When we learn in one state of mind or create a memory it is easier to recall in a similar state

Mood

congruent memory- The tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with ones good or bad mood

Serial position effect

Our tendency to recall the best recall the last (recency effect) and first (primacy effect) items on a list

Forgetting

Can come in varying degrees with most serious forms having temporary or permanent damage to parts of the brain

Anterograde Amnesia (Forgetting)

Inability to form new memories

Retrograde Amnesia (Forgetting)

Inability to retrieve past memories

Encoding failure (Forgetting)

The information of an event or memory is not encoded or stored correctly causing us to forget details and such. This gets worse with age

What is an effortful process

Encoding

Storage Decay (Forgetting)

Over time we have a gradual fading of our physical memory (We are still trying to figure out why this decay occurs)

Retrieval failure (Forgetting)

Not related to memories fading or not encoding, but that just cannot be retrieved (Right on the tip of our tongue)

Interference (Forgetting)

Our brain can get cluttered with all of the information that we are trying to store in our brain

Proactive interference (Forgetting)

New information is affected by past information

Retroactive interference (Forgetting)

Old information is impacted by new information

Motivated forgetting (Forgetting)

Why would we want to forget (Traumatic, deep emotions)

Repression (Forgetting)

A basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness any thoughts with anxiety arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories (Freud )

Perfect replications

In many instances, our mind does not create perfect replications of the event. We can add or subtract things.

Reconsolidation (Forgetting)

When we remember something, it is slightly altered before it goes back

Misinformation effect (Forgetting)

Happens when we recall a memory with incorrect information rather than reality (Elizabeth Loftus)

Imagination effect (Forgetting)

Repeated imagination of nonexistent events and actions can cause us to believe the altered scenario is true

Source amnesia (Forgetting)

Faulty memory for how, when, or where information was learned or imagined. This along with the misinformation effect is at the heart of false memories

Deja vu

An eerie sense of experiencing an event before. Cues from current situations unconsciously triggering an earlier experience

False memory

Many of these forgetting techniques lead us to false memories, We can over or underestimate feelings and use extremes such as always and never. Can lead to incorrect eyewitness testimony. We can put our current feeling and beliefs as the absolute truth