Rathus_PSYCH_7e_PPT_CH06

Chapter Overview

• Title: Memory: Remembrance of Things Past–And Future

• Author: Spencer A. Rathus, Psych, 7th Edition.

• Year: © 2022 Cengage.

Icebreaker Discussion Points (Page 2)

• Techniques for remembering things

• Differences in processes for short-term vs. long-term memory

Chapter Objectives (Page 3)

• Types of Memory: Define various kinds of memory

• Processes of Memory: Explain how memory works

• Sensory Memory: Describe its functions

• Short-Term Memory: Explain its functions

• Long-Term Memory: Explain its functions

• Forgetting: Identify contributors to forgetting

• Biological Aspects: Describe biological aspects of memory

Kinds of Memory (Pages 5-7)

Explicit Memory

• Definition: Memory for specific information; can be expressed clearly.

• Types of Explicit Memory:

  • Episodic Memory: Personal experiences or events.

  • Semantic Memory: General knowledge and meanings.

Implicit (Nondeclarative) Memory

• Definition: Memory that is not consciously recalled but influences behavior.

• Characteristics:

  • Procedural Memory: Skill-based knowledge; how to perform tasks.

  • Priming: Improved ability to identify a stimulus after recent exposure.

Retrospective vs. Prospective Memory

• Retrospective Memory: Memory of past events and experiences.

• Prospective Memory: Memory for intended actions to be performed in the future.

  • Types of Prospective Tasks:

    • Habit tasks: Easier to remember.

    • Event-based: Triggered by events.

    • Time-based: Requires specific timing for performance.

Memory Processes (Pages 10-16)

Stages of Memory Processing

1. Encoding:

   • Definition: First stage of memory, transforming information into a format suitable for storage.

   • Types of Encoding:

     • Visual (images)

     • Auditory (sounds)

     • Semantic (meanings)

2. Storage:

   • Definition: Maintaining information over time.

   • Methods:

     • Maintenance rehearsal: Repeating information.

     • Elaborative rehearsal: Connecting new info to known info.

3. Retrieval:

   • Definition: Locating and bringing stored information back to consciousness.

   • Challenges: Difficulty with large datasets or poorly understood information; proper retrieval cues are needed.

Sensory Memory (Pages 16-20)

• Definition: Initial stage that holds impressions of stimuli for a very brief duration.

• Iconic Memory: Visual sensory register; lasts about a second, holds accurate visual stimuli.

• Eidetic Imagery: Ability to retain visual stimuli over long periods.

• Echoic Memory: Holds auditory stimuli, lasting longer than iconic memory, aiding in retention of visual cues.

Short-Term Memory (Pages 22-30)

• Short-Term Memory: Also known as working memory; transforms short-term to long-term memory.

• Characteristics:

  • Information fades within 10-12 seconds without rehearsal.

  • Common encoding of visual stimuli to auditory form.

Serial-Position Effect

• Enhanced recall of first and last items in a series due to attention and rehearsal.

Chunking

• Grouping stimuli into discrete units to aid memory retention; average capacity of about seven items.

Interference in STM

• New information can displace older information, preventing rehearsal.

Long-Term Memory (Pages 29-36)

Characteristics of Long-Term Memory

• Vast storage with potential for loss due to lack of retrieval cues or repression.

• Influenced by schemas—mental frameworks that shape our understanding.

Levels of Processing

• Deeper processing (elaborative rehearsal) enhances memory retention.

Flashbulb Memories

• Vivid and detailed memories tied to emotionally significant events; formed through distinct memory networks and strong emotional connections.

Forgetting (Pages 38-44)

Measuring Forgetting

• Nonsense Syllables: Used in studies to understand memory retention and recall.

• Ebbinghaus's Curve of Forgetting illustrates memory decay over time.

Interference Theory

• Forgetting occurs due to interference from new information:

  • Retroactive interference: New info disrupts old memories.

  • Proactive interference: Old info hinders new learning.

Repression and Amnesia

• Repression: Unconscious forgetting of painful memories.

• Anterograde Amnesia: Inability to form new memories post-injury.

• Retrograde Amnesia: Loss of pre-injury memories.

The Biology of Memory (Pages 47-50)

Neural Activity

• Concept of engram relates to the brain's memory storage mechanisms.

• Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): Enhanced synaptic efficiency following stimulation, influencing memory.

Key Brain Structures

1. Hippocampus: Critical for storing new memories and relaying sensory info.

2. Prefrontal Cortex: Involved in higher-order thinking and awareness of time.

3. Thalamus: Important for verbal memory formation.

Key Takeaways (Page 53-54)

• Memory encompasses the processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval.

• Types of memory include explicit, implicit, retrospective, and prospective.

• Forgetting mechanisms involve decay, retrieval failure, and repression.

• Insights on memory mechanisms inform studying strategies and memory enhancement.