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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