Untitled Flashcards Set

Memory Acquisition, Storage, and Retrieval

Overview of Memory Processes

• Acquisition: The process of gaining information and encoding it into memory. It is influenced by attention and perception.

• Storage: Refers to maintaining information over time. The effectiveness of storage is crucial for later retrieval.

• Retrieval: The process of accessing stored information. The effectiveness of retrieval can be impacted by how well information was acquired and stored.

Interdependence of Memory Processes

• The effectiveness of acquisition cannot be evaluated in isolation; it must consider how well information is stored and retrieved.

• For example, if information is poorly stored, retrieval will also be ineffective, regardless of how well it was acquired.

• This interdependence highlights the importance of a holistic view of memory processes.

The Modal Model of Memory

General Properties of Memory Systems

• The modal model distinguishes between short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM).

• Short-term Memory (STM): Limited capacity and duration, typically holding information for about 20-30 seconds.

• Long-term Memory (LTM): Vast capacity and duration, potentially lasting a lifetime.

Differences Between Memory Systems

• STM is primarily concerned with immediate information processing, while LTM involves the storage of information over extended periods.

• The processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval differ significantly between STM and LTM, with LTM requiring more complex encoding strategies.

Sensory Memory and the Serial-Position Effect

Visual Sensory Memory

• Iconic Memory: A type of sensory memory that holds visual information for a brief period (milliseconds).

• Sperling's Experiment (1960): Demonstrated the capacity of iconic memory through whole-report and partial-report conditions, revealing that partial-report conditions provided a more accurate measure of capacity.

Primacy and Recency Effects

• Primacy Effect: The tendency to remember items at the beginning of a list better than those in the middle.

• Recency Effect: The tendency to remember items at the end of a list better than those in the middle.

• The serial-position curve illustrates these effects, showing how they relate to the modal model of memory.

Short-Term and Working Memory

Properties of Short-Term Memory

• Short-term memory has a limited capacity (often cited as 7±2 items) and a short duration (20-30 seconds).

• Short-term Memory Span Task: Measures the maximum number of items that can be recalled in the correct order immediately after presentation.

• Techniques like recoding and chunking can enhance the effective capacity of short-term memory.

Working Memory Structure

• Components of Working Memory: Includes the central executive, phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and episodic buffer, each serving distinct functions.

• Differences from Short-Term Memory: Working memory is more dynamic and involves manipulation of information, while short-term memory is more static.

Rehearsal and Depth of Processing

Types of Rehearsal

• Maintenance Rehearsal: Involves rote repetition of information, focusing on surface features.

• Elaborative/Relational Rehearsal: Involves deeper processing by relating new information to existing knowledge, leading to better retention.

Depth of Processing Approach

• Shallow vs. Deep Processing: Shallow processing focuses on superficial features, while deep processing involves semantic understanding.

• Studies by Craik & Lockhart (1972) suggest that deeper processing leads to more durable memory storage.

Organizing and Understanding Material

Benefits of Organization

• Organizing material enhances memory retention by creating meaningful connections between concepts.

• The study by Bower et al. (1969) supports this idea, showing that organized information is easier to recall.

Understanding and Memory Retention

• Understanding material leads to better memory retention because it allows for deeper processing and connections to prior knowledge.

• The Bransford and Johnson (1972) study illustrates that comprehension aids memory by providing context.

The Role of Knowledge in Memory

Contribution of the Memorizer

• Prior knowledge enhances memory retention by providing a framework for new information, making it easier to encode and retrieve.

• Chunking: A strategy that relies on existing knowledge to group information into manageable units, improving recall.