AP PSYCH 5.1 Introduction to Memory

System of Memory

• Memory is learning that persists over time
• Information and/or experiences are encoded, stored, then retrieved

Structure

• AP Psychology references the multistore model of memory
  • This proposed that information moves through multiple storage centers
• This is based off of Atkinson and Shiffrin’s Information-Processing Model
  • Similar to sequential computer processing
• Also called the three state or three box model
  • Memory goes through three centers: sensory, short-term (STM), long-term (LTM)
• There have been some revisions over time
  • Baddeley revised STM to distinguish it from working memory
  • Meaning we are actively processing information
  • STM is like a temporary shelf, working memory is the workspace on the desk
  • Technically the same stage/box but two different functions can occur

Information-Processing Model

• Stimulus is detected and is immediately taken into our sensory register/memory
  • Iconic, or visual, memory can be recalled for less than a second
  • Echoic, or auditory, memory can be recalled for 1-3 seconds
  • Very low retention but high capacity
  • Essentially what you are actively processing
• The stimulus then enters our awareness, moving into working and short term memory
  • Short term memories can be recalled for 20-30 seconds
  • This stage can hold 7-9 items on average
  • We can do maintenance or rote rehearsal to make items last longer in this stage
  • They are not moving into long term memory, but are rather giving the item another 20-30 seconds
• The information is encoded and stored in long term memory
  • This technically has no time or number limitations
  • That does not mean that everything encoded stays or is preserved perfectly
  • When taking something out of long-term memory (remembering,) we ‘retrieve’ it, and momentarily bring it back to working memory