Cognitive Approach - Cognitive Processes

==Multi-Store Model of Memory==

• Sensory memory – iconic memory
  • Stores visual sensory information
  • Capacity: unlimited
  • Duration: 1/3 of a second
• Short Term Memory
  • Capacity: 5-9 pieces
  • Duration: 20 seconds
  • Chunking can help increase the capacity
  • Move stuff from short term memory to long term memory through rehearsal
  • Maintenance rehearsal involves repeating information again and again
  • Elaborative rehearsal involves elaborating on the information in a meaningful way
  • Takes more effort, but it is more effective as it ensures that information is encoded into long term memory
• Long Term Memory
  • Whenever we remember something we are retrieving it from what is stored in long term memory
  • Capacity: unlimited
  • Duration: unlimited
  • Procedural memory: “knowing how”, memory of how to do things (skills)
  • Declarative memory: “knowing that”, memory of information about the world (semantic memory) and personal experiences (episodic memory)
  • Episodic memory: stores events (episodes) involving personal experiences. Stores information about context (when and where), state (physical and psychological condition)
  • Semantic memory: LTM declarative memory that stores info about the world. E.g. facts (sun is a star), definitions, rules, concepts, everyday knowledge (a bus is a form of transport) and specialized knowledge (chess piece moves)

==Working Memory Model==

• Central Executive
  • Replaces the sensory memory buffer
  • Responsible for monitoring an coordinating the operation of ‘slave systems’
  • The central executive directs attention to tasks
  • Allocates information based on modality
• Phonological loop
  • Limited capacity (like STM in MSM of memory)
  • Deals with auditory info and language - both written and verbal
  • Baddley (1986) further divided it into the:
  • Phonological store; holds words for a brief period - can be thought as the inner ear
  • Articulatory process; holds words seen/heard and silently repeated like an inner voice
• Episodic Buffer
  • Temporarily holds several sources of auditory, long-term and visual information active at the same time, while consideration of what is needed in present situation takes place
• Visuospatial Sketchpad
  • Limited capacity (like STM in MSM of memory)
  • Visual component of short-term memory/inner eye
  • Temporary store for spatial and visual information about what things look like; form and colour
  • The inner scribe; processes spatial and movement information.

==Dual Processing Model==

• System 1 Thinking
  • the one that is reliant on past information and schema, makes quick and effortless decisions based on limited information.
  • Tend to use mental short-cuts called heuristics
  • 90% of time we access system 1
  • System 1 thinking and take shortcuts - quick thinking, intuitive
• System 2 Thinking
  • System 2 thinking - much more effortful and requires more conscious reasoning
  • 5% of the time we access system 2 where we slow down.
  • System 2 thinking - rational thinking