Long-Term Memory and Encoding Information

Long-Term Memory and Encoding Information

• Encoding Information

  • Essential for storing information in long-term memory.

  • Rehearsal aids in retention; more rehearsal improves memory retrieval.

• Retrieval Speed and Usage

  • Memory retrieval is often faster for information used frequently.

  • Example: A chemistry fact retrieved quicker by a frequent user over an occasional user.

• Paulianna Principle

  • Suggests that preferred items (like favorite colors) are retrieved faster than less preferred items.

  • Emotional connections influence the speed and ease of memory retrieval.

• Preference-Based Retrieval

  • When asking for a list of options without preference, retrieval tasks yield faster responses for the first or second options due to familiarity or preference.

Mood and Memory Retrieval

• State-Dependent Memory

  • Memory retrieval is influenced by the state (mood) during encoding and retrieval.

  • Specificity principle posits that encoding and retrieval states should align for optimal memory recall.

• Mood Congruent Memory

  • Memories matched to emotional states during retrieval are easier to recall.

    • Happy moods retrieved more happy memories.

    • Sad moods retrieved more sad memories, which can exacerbate negative feelings and impact mental health (e.g., clinical depression).

Elaborative Encoding

• Elaborations in Memory Encoding

  • Each piece of information encoded contributes to memory webs.

  • Connections created during encoding enhance recall ability later.

• Semantic Network Models

  • Every encoded piece creates additional links in long-term memory, leading to better retrieval.

  • Example: Understanding a word in a complex sentence provides more context (elaborations) than a simple sentence.

Complexity of Sentences and Memory Retention

• Impact of Sentence Complexity on Memory

  • More complex sentences produce richer details and connections, enhancing memory retention.

  • E.g., Evaluating a word in the context of a simple sentence vs. a complex one.

• Research Findings

  • Studies indicate that complex sentences result in better connections to long-term memory.

  • Participants recalled more detail from complex sentence evaluations compared to simple sentences.

Levels of Processing and Memory Quality

• Shallow vs. Deep Processing

  • Tasks involving phonemic processing (e.g., rhymes) yield familiarity but minimal memory connections.

  • Semantic processing (e.g., associating words) enhances retrieval and recall qualities.

• Recognition and Familiarity

  • Remembering involves conscious recollection, while familiarity indicates vague prior exposure without detailed recollection.

  • "Remember/Know" paradigm used to gauge memory quality through detailed recollection versus familiarity.

Misleading Information and Memory Errors

• Memory Retrieval Errors

  • Misleading information can alter the original memory of an event.

  • The effects of such alterations are important in contexts like eyewitness testimonies.

• Factors Affecting Memory Retrieval

  • Cognitive biases and word usage influence how memories are retrieved.

  • Cognitive structured interviews help minimize retrieval biases in investigative scenarios.

Practical Exercises and Conclusions

• Memory Encoding Tasks

  • Encourage active engagement with material, e.g., verbal assessments or associative tasks for better encoding practices.

  • Group activities can demonstrate lineup memory changes (e.g., telephone game).

• Open Discussion

  • Participants are encouraged to share variances in memory recall from similar experiences and identify how mood or context played a role.