Memory Concepts and Processes in Psychology

What is Memory?

• Memory is the process through which we encode, store, and retrieve information.

Major Topics Covered

• What is memory?
• How memory works
• Types of memory: Semantic & Episodic
• Explicit (declarative) vs implicit (non-declarative) memory
• Relevant case studies

Enduring Questions for Memory Researchers

1. Encoding: How do events/information get into memory?
2. Storage: How are events/information maintained in memory?
3. Retrieval: How are events/information pulled out of memory?

Memory Processing Types

• Automatic Processing:

  • Involves implicit memories
  • Occurs without conscious recall
  • Processed in the cerebellum and basal ganglia

• Effortful Processing:

  • Involves explicit memories
  • Requires conscious recall
  • Processed in the hippocampus and frontal lobes

Types of Explicit and Implicit Memory

• Explicit Memory (Declarative):

  • Involves conscious recall
  • Examples: Facts, general knowledge, personal experiences
  • Types:
  • Semantic Memory: Facts and general knowledge (e.g., this chapter's concepts)
  • Episodic Memory: Personally experienced events (e.g., family holidays)

• Implicit Memory (Non-declarative):

  • Without conscious recall
  • Examples:
  • Motor and cognitive skills (e.g., riding a bike)
  • Classical conditioning (e.g., reaction to a dentist's office)

Resources for Further Learning

• Video: “Patient HM” - Watch Here
• Video: Excerpts from research with HM - Watch Here
• Video: Detailed Explanation of Memory Processes

Upcoming Topics

• Lecture 2: Encoding
• Key concepts: Attention, levels of processing, enriching encoding

Levels of Processing

• Shallow Processing (Structural): Physical structure of the stimulus
  • Example: Is the word written in capital letters?
• Intermediate Processing (Phonemic): Sound of the stimulus
  • Example: Does the word rhyme with weight?
• Deep Processing (Semantic): Meaning of the stimulus
  • Example: Would the word fit in: "He met a ___ on the street"?

Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve

• Forgetting happens rapidly after learning, then levels off over time.
• Plot of retention (% of words recognized) versus time demonstrates this curve.

Strategies to Improve Memory

1. Spaced Practice: Regular review at spaced intervals.
2. Make Material Meaningful: Personalize and conceptualize information.
3. Activate Retrieval Cues: Recreate original learning context.
4. Use Mnemonics: Create stories or acronyms.
5. Minimize Interference: Avoid mixing similar subjects.
6. Ensure Adequate Sleep: Sleep aids memory consolidation.
7. Test Yourself Regularly: Utilize recall over recognition for better retention.

Notable Theories and Concepts

• Semantic Encoding: Associating new information with meaning.
• Dual-Coding Theory: Use of visual and verbal codes to enhance memory.
• Chunking: Breaking down information into smaller, manageable units for easier recall.

Final Notes

• Further lectures will explore detailed processes in memory construction, retrieval, memory failures, and the role of the brain in memory.