Memory: Storage Pt 1

Memory storage refers to how information is retained over time after it is encoded.
Quality of encoding does not solely determine memory quality; proper storage is essential.
The lifespan of memories varies:
- Some last less than a second, others for minutes, hours, years, or even a lifetime.

Richard Atkinson and Richard Schiffrin proposed a model dividing memory into three systems:
1. Sensory Memory: Lasts from a fraction of a second to several seconds.
2. Short Term Memory: Lasts up to 30 seconds.
3. Long Term Memory: Lasts from minutes to a lifetime.
This theory suggests that effective memory storage involves these three distinct systems.

Definition: Holds sensory information in its original form for a very brief time.
Highly detailed but lost quickly unless strategies are employed to transfer information to short or long term memory.
- Example: Observing many stimuli (sights and sounds) while walking.
Two types of sensory memory:
- Echoic Memory: Auditory memory lasting several seconds (e.g., remembering a song that just played).
- Iconic Memory: Visual memory lasting about a quarter of a second (e.g., seeing a sparkler trace).
George Sperling's Study (1960):
- Participants saw letters flashed for 1/20 of a second; although they felt they saw all letters, they could report only a few.
- Tone signals improved recall of specific rows, indicating brief retention in sensory memory.

Definition: A limited capacity storage system retaining information for about 30 seconds.
Capacity is often described by George Miller’s “magic number”:
- Typically 7 ± 2 items can be remembered.
Memory Span: The ability to recall a sequence of numbers or items after a single presentation.
Methods to Enhance STM:
- Chunking: Grouping information into meaningful clusters to improve retention.
- Rehearsal: Repeating information to maintain it in memory longer.
- Can be verbal or visual.
Limitations: Mechanical rehearsal is less effective for long-term retention without meaningful connections.

Definition: A dynamic system involving short term memory and attention, allowing manipulation and usage of information.
Distinct from STM; it’s an active process rather than a mere storage system.
Functions like a mental workspace and has a limited capacity (3 to 5 complex chunks instead of 7 ± 2).
Components (Baddeley’s Model):
- Phonological Loop: Processes speech-based information.
- Visual Spatial Sketch Pad: Handles visual and spatial data.
- Central Executive: Supervises and integrates information from both loops, playing a crucial role in attention and problem-solving.
Relevance in understanding cognitive processes and applications in education and mental health (e.g., diagnosing learning difficulties).

Definition: A relatively permanent storage system holding vast amounts of information for extended periods; capacity is virtually unlimited.
Components of LTM:
- Divided into Explicit Memory (declarative) and Implicit Memory:
- Explicit Memory: Conscious recollection (e.g., facts and events).
  - Episodic Memory: Personal experiences, including contextual details like time and place (e.g., remembering your last birthday). It is often influenced by emotional states and can be vivid, allowing individuals to relive past experiences.
  - Semantic Memory: General knowledge about the world that is not tied to personal experience (e.g., knowing the capital of France). This type of memory is more about facts, concepts, and ideas and tends to accumulate over time as we learn new information.
- Implicit Memory: Unconscious memory skills (e.g., riding a bike).
Case Study of H.M.: A patient who lost the ability to form new explicit memories following surgery but retained implicit memory ability.
Forgetting: Initial forgetting occurs rapidly, particularly in the first few years after learning, followed by stabilization of memory retention, known as “perma-store.”
The function of memory is continuously evolving with information networking (e.g., internet influence on memory).

Harry Baruch's Research: Explored retention of Spanish over decades; showed that although initial learning affects long-term retention, memory can remain intact even years later.
Endel Tulving's Contributions: Clarified the distinctions between episodic and semantic memories, highlighting their differences and interdependencies.