Memory Models and Processes

Overview of Memory

• Last class discussion recap:

  • Definition of memory

  • Memory models

  • Information processing

  • Levels of processing

  • Traditional memory model

  • Sensory memory

  • Short-term memory

  • Long-term memory (introduced now)

Long-Term Memory

• Definition and characteristics:

  • Appears to be relatively unlimited in capacity

  • Permanent retention of information in memory

  • Conceptualizing memory like a filing cabinet:

  • Older information gets pushed back as newer information is added

  • Retrieval difficulties due to overlapping information

Types of Long-Term Memory

• Long-term memory is categorized into:

  • Explicit Memory: knowing "that"

    • Semantic Memory: general knowledge of the world.

    • Example: knowing that Albany is the capital of New York

  • Implicit Memory: knowing "how"

    • Procedural memory refers to skills (e.g., walking, driving, cooking)

Explicit Memory Categories:

• Episodic Memory:

  • Personal memories and experiences

  • Contextual (e.g., family dinners, birthdays)

• Semantic Memory:

  • Factual knowledge of the world

  • Example: asking for capitals of states (e.g., Hartford is the capital of Connecticut)

Priming

• Definition: another term for learning

• Explanation of learning process:

  • Takes time and practice (e.g., learning to walk, drive)

  • Once learned, they become automatic

Memory Accuracy

• Memory is a construct:

  • We don't remember events as they actually occurred.

  • Memory can be distorted after information is encoded.

  • Distortion impacts recall accuracy.

• Relevance in the criminal justice system:

  • Eyewitness testimony can supersede DNA evidence in trials

  • Implications of false memories or inaccuracies in testimonies

Memory Impairment Causes

Why We Forget

• Inference and decay discussed as central mechanisms of forgetting:

  • Interference:

  • New information can interfere with old information

  • Old information may interfere with new memories

  • Decay:

  • Memory may erode over time;

  • Earlier memories (before age 3 or 4) are harder to access or may fade.

Types of Memory Disorders

Dementia

• Various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's:

  • Alzheimer's is a specific type of dementia characterized by:

  • Buildup of plaque in the hippocampus, causing neuron degeneration.

  • Other types of dementia (e.g., vascular, Lewy body dementia)

Amnesia

• Two main types of amnesia:

  • Retrograde Amnesia:

  • Loss of memories prior to trauma or event

  • Severity varies; can be total (no memories retained) or partial (some memories intact).

  • Example provided: A student loses most memories after a head injury while retaining military historical facts.

  • Anterograde Amnesia:

  • Inability to form new memories post-trauma

  • Patients do not recall recent events or conversations.

  • Subjects often remain aware of their past but lack the ability to assimilate any new experiences.

Repression and Motivated Forgetting

• Concept of repression discussed:

  • Occurs when the mind pushes away memories of traumatic or embarrassing events.

  • Example: Humiliating childhood events may not be recalled.

Conclusion

• Discussion included personal trauma experiences emphasizing the subjective nature of memory retention and recall.

• Highlighted importance of understanding memory both for psychological wellbeing and implications in legal contexts.

• Recognizing memory’s fluid nature is critical in assessing accuracy and reliability in contexts such as criminal justice, therapy, and personal experiences.