Memory AP Psych

Attention and Encoding

• The act of encoding is intrinsically linked to attention.

  • Encoding cannot occur without focused attention on the information.

  • Attention can be both conscious and unconscious, influenced by sensory registers.

  • Example: Staring into space while still registering information with the brain.

Levels of Processing

• Shallow Processing:

  • Simply writing down a word without deeper engagement.

• Phonemic Processing:

  • Involves recognizing how a word sounds and creating rhymes.

• Semantic Processing:

  • Engages with the deeper meaning of the word, thereby forming stronger neural connections.

  • Example of creating a personal story to remember words better, like associating a friend’s characteristics with the information to be learned.

• Dual Coding:

  • Combination of visual and acoustic encoding enhances memory retention.

Elaboration and Elaborative Rehearsal

• Elaboration:

  • Making additional connections to reinforce learning.

• Elaborative Rehearsal:

  • Repeatedly reviewing connections to strengthen encoding for better retrieval.

• Example: Creating personal narratives tied to learning material to facilitate easier recall later.

Types of Memory

Sensory Memory

• Extremely short duration, lasting only for a fleeting moment.

Short Term Memory

• Lasts about 30 seconds with limited capacity.

• Facilitated by techniques such as chunking and rehearsal.

Working Memory

• A subset of short-term memory involved in problem-solving and reasoning tasks.

Memory Properties

• Short-term memory has a span of about 7±2 items, making it easy to forget if not actively maintained.

• Consolidation into Long Term Memory (LTM) is necessary for permanent retention.

Memory Retrieval Methods

• Recall vs. Recognition:

  • Recall requires retrieval without cues (e.g., essay questions).

  • Recognition uses cues to identify correct information (e.g., multiple choice questions).

Contextual and State-Dependent Memory

• Context Dependent Memory:

  • Memory enhanced by being in the same context as when the information was learned.

• State Dependent Memory:

  • Internal state (mood, physiological conditions) can affect information recall.

Types of Long Term Memory

Explicit Memory

• Semantic Memory: Knowledge of facts (e.g., definitions).

• Episodic Memory: Personal experiences and events (e.g., specific moments from one's life).

Implicit Memory

• Memory of skills and tasks performed automatically (e.g., riding a bike).

• Procedural Memory: Learning how to do things.

• Priming: Previous exposure to stimuli influences response to subsequent stimulus.

Autobiographical Memory and Reminiscence

• Autobiographical Memory: Better retention of personal experiences.

• Reminiscence Effect: Tendency to remember events from adolescence and young adulthood more vividly due to their emotional significance.

Forgetting and Memory Retention

• Forgetting occurs over time, especially soon after acquiring new information.

• Retention tends to reach a plateau where recalling further after a month might lead to loss of specific details.