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