Unit 5 - Info Processing Models of Memory, Forgetting

Parallel processing model

a computational model, meaning our memory system has many elements working together
The brain treats info differently based on how deeply it’s encoded

Atkinson-Shiffrin Model

Processing information sequentially through different memory stages

sensory, short-term, long-term

Sensory (sensory register)

Temporary storage that converts memories into short-term memory

Held for up to 2 seconds 

Info flows in, and immediately out

Iconic memory

instant replay, allows you to picture what happened in the last second

Echoic memory

Instant rehear, replay last 2 seconds of audio

Short-term memory (STM, Working memory)

If you pay attention to something in your sensory register, it goes to your STM. Here you consciously think about communication, problems and concepts.

Lasts about 25 seconds

Limited capacity of 7 (+/- 2) items at a time

When filled, displaced with new items

Long-term memory (LTM)

Infinitely big dry-erase board, where memories can be stored forever, but easily erased or altered

Memories cannot be observed or measured

How you encode and retrieve info is important for understanding storage of LTM

Declarative memory (explicit/conscious)

Consciously stored as words/symbols to be retrieved later on

Episodic Memory

autobiographical memories of individual experience

Semantic Memory

Factual knowledge, details, info

Acquired through habits and repetition

Nondeclarative memory (implicit/unconscious)

Procedural

Stores learned and conditioned info 

(riding bike, tying shoelaces etc.)

Encoding failure

Info was never linked to memory, from too shallow of a memorization method or lack of attention

Trace decay theory

Memory weakens over time in STM if not rehearsed. Lasts 15-25 seconds and fades away, will be forgotten if not rehearsed

Displacement theory

Suggests STM can be full, and when new info comes in it takes the place of old info

Retroactive Interference

New memories get in the way of retrieving old ones

Proactive Interference

Old memories get in the way of retrieving new ones

Negative transfer Interference

Info can’t be retrieved as it’s conflicting

Amnesia

Failure to retrieve memories

Due to brain injury, disease, psychological trauma, or drug and alcohol abuse

Usually effects explicit memories, declarative memories

Childhood amnesia (infantile)

Lack of any memories before 5, Freud suggested due to trauma but recently suggested to be formation of neurons in hippocampus allowing for better storage

Repression

Type of psychogenic amnesia

Mind protecting itself by blocking unpleasant memories

Source amnesia

Remembering a fact, but not where you learned it from

Retrograde amnesia

What most people think amnesia means

Can’t remember something in their past 

May be caused by head trauma

Anterograde amnesia

Much less common

Cannot form new memories

Only impacts declarative/explicit memories

Memory distortion

Inaccurate recall of facts when memorized wrong

Confabulation

people unconsciously mix false info into episodic memories

Semantic learning (principle learning)

Focus on the main idea behind concepts 

Priming

Activating certain associations to recall info

Mood dependent-

State dependent memory

Context dependent-

Location priming memories

Chunking

Seeing a “400” in a phone number as 1 instead of 3, so you can memorize more in your STM

Rehearsal

thoughts in STM will vanish under 25 seconds, unless repeated over and over again

Thinking the thought sets off the chain of neurons again, making your brain a bit more used to it

Every time you rethink it, you reset the 25 second clock

Elaborative rehearsal

Relating new info being memorized to info you already know well

Rewriting doesn’t work, rewording, paraphrasing, thinking about and questioning are ACTIVE, which is necessary for good retention