Memory - psy

• Memory


  The retention of information. It is our ability to store and retrieve information.
• The field of psychology that is involved in learning about memory is cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
• How do we remember?

  1. Encoding (Getting information into the brain)

  2. Storage (Retaining information)

  3. Retrieval (Recovering stored information)
• Information Processing Model


  • There are three basic memory processes: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval
• Encoding


  Getting information into the brain. Three ways: Visual (picture), Acoustic (sound), Semantic (meaning)
• Mere repetition does not guarantee strong memory. Attention and emotional arousal can enhance memory encoding. Giving meaning to the information that you want to remember will also enhance that memory.
• Storage


  The process of retaining information. Memories are stored in: Sensory memory, Short-term memory (working memory), Long-term memory
• Retrieval


  The process by which stored information is recovered from memory. "Remembering".
• Atkinson-Shiffrin Multi-Store Model


  • Memory has three main storage areas: Sensory memory, Short-term memory, Long-term memory
• Sensory memory


  The shortest-term element of memory, which is related to sensory information. There are two types: Iconic memory (visual) and Echoic memory (auditory)
• Iconic memory lasts about quarter of a second (Sperling, 1960). Echoic memory lasts about two seconds (Darwin et al., 1972).
• Short-term memory


  Holds the information we are currently thinking about. Information can be brought into short-term memory by paying attention. Memory retention is brief, but if information is rehearsed or repeated, the information can be kept in mind. Short-term memory capacity is about 7±2 chunks of information (Miller, 1956).
• Chunking


  A memory strategy where many small pieces of information are combined into meaningful items.
• Baddeley's (2000) Working Memory Model


  • Phonological loop (stores and processes spoken and written information), Central executive (controls and coordinates the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad), Visuospatial sketchpad (stores and processes visual and spatial information), Episodic buffer (integrates information from different systems)
• Long-Term Memory


  Storing information relatively permanently. Duration is about a lifetime. Stored on basis of meaning and importance.
• Types of long-term memory

  • Declarative Memory ("Knowing What")
  • Procedural Memory ("Knowing How")
  • Semantic Memory (General Knowledge)
  • Episodic Memory (Experience)
• Declarative (explicit) memory


  Memory that we are conscious about.
• Semantic memory


  Memory for general information, including both facts and language.
• Episodic memory


  Memory for experience.
• Procedural (implicit) memory


  Memory for how to do things.
• Three parts to forgetting

  • Transience (memories fade away)
  • Absentmindedness (forgetfulness due to not paying attention)
  • Blocking (information is stored but can't be recalled)
• Anterograde amnesia (AA)


  Difficulties in remembering new things
• Retrograde amnesia (RA)


  Difficulties in remembering things that occurred before
• The Case of a Landscaper

  • A 22-year-old landscaper had retrograde amnesia (RA) after a motorcycle accident
• The Curious Case of HM

  • Henry Molaison (HM) had anterograde amnesia (AA) after brain surgery to resolve his epilepsy
• Memory Improvement Strategies


  • Mnemonics (Acronyms, Acrostics)
  • Method of loci (journey method)