Memory Storage and Retrieval (Module 32)

Storage (Memory Retention)

How we retain the information we encode

Memory can be stored if…

you weren’t distracted and if the info was either very strange or very meaningful (then it will be passed into short-term memory)

Selective Attention

(way to encode things into STM), The ability to pick up and choose among all the various inputs

Filter Theory

Unimportant information is dropped and relevant information is encoded into the next stage

Cocktail Party Effect

You can choose from various inputs

Iconic Memory

a momentary sensory memory of a visual stimuli, a photograph like quality lasing only about a second

Echoic Memory

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli (if you are not paying attention to someone, you can still recall the last few words said in the past three to four seconds).

Eidetic Memory

photographic memory, or total recall of visual input with extreme accuracy even years after viewing the image

Autobiographical Memory

a person’s memory for episodes or experiences that occurred in their life

Stress and Memory

mild to moderate stress can lead to release of hormones (cortisol, adrenaline) that have been shown to assist in LTM, similar to the idea of flashbulb memory, chronic stress has the opposite effect and hinders memory.

Explicit (declarative) Memory

type of LTM that can be called forth and explained (verbalized) to other consciously, includes semantic and episodic memory

Implicit Memory

type of LTM that can be retrieved but involves ‘how do you know something’ so it is difficult to verbalize and explain to others, often happens unconsciously, includes procedural memory and conditioning.

Episodic memory

memory that consists of personal experiences and events (more easily distorted than semantic memory)

Semantic Memory

memory of facts like grammar, words, dates, and general knowledge

Procedural memory

memory of skills and habits you have learned (motor and cognitive skills) not usually affected by amnesia

Classical and Operant Conditioning effects

(Think about Dwight from the office video clip) Pavlov kinda stuff.

Karl Lashley

found out that memories do not reside in single specific spots of our brain during his research for engrams (memory traces)

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

The current theory of how our LTM works. Memory has a neural basis. LTP is an increase in a cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation (almost like rehearsal for neurons). Allows for memory consolidation.

Hippocampus

Explicit memory, it is a temporal lobe neural center located in the limbic system and is the equivalent of the brains save button. Involved in the processing and storage of memory. Frontal lobes are involved in working memory. (Consolidates memory during sleep)

Cerebellum

deals with implicit memory, helps form and store memories created by classical conditioning and procedural memories, plays a role in muscle memory.

Amygdala

is involved in emotional memories

Retrieval

Recall and recognition

Recall

active reconstruction of the information from your memory (fill in the blank and essay tests)

Recognition

identification of the target from possible choices (multiple choice)

Serial Position Effect

Our tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list.

Primacy effect

superior recall of info from the beginning of a list

Recency effect

superior recall for info from the end of a list

Prospective memory

form of memory that involves remembering to perform a planned action or recall a planned intention at some future point in time.

Retrieval Cues

Stimuli that provide ‘triggers’ to get info out of memory (often use priming)

Priming

activation of specific associations in memory

Context-dependent memory

retrieval is enhanced when it takes place in the same environment (context) in which it was initially encoded

Mood-Dependent Memory

The tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current good or bad mood.

State Dependent Memory

One will retrieve info better when they are in the same physiological state as when they encoded the information