Psychology Unit VI: Memory

MEMORY

• the persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information

Process

• encoding: processing of information into the memory system, getting information out of our heads
• storage: retention of encoded material over time
• retrieval: getting the information out of memory storage

Ways to Encode

• automatic: unconscious encoding of incidental information, encode space, time, words, and meaning without information, things can become automatic with practice
• effortful: requires attention and conscious effort, rehearsal is the most common effortful processing technique, through effortful processing what was effortful becomes automatic

Recall vs. Recognition

• recall: you must retrieve information from memory, an example is fill - in - the - blank
• recognition: identify the target from possible targets, an example is multiple choice

Flashbulb Memory

clear moment of an emotionally significant moment or event

Types of Memory

• sensory
• short - term
• long - term

Sensory

• immediate, initial recording of sensory information in the memory system
• stored for an instant, most gets unprocessed 
• lasts half a second for visual
• lasts 2 - 4 seconds for auditory 
• capacity of storage is large
• any information not transferred is lost

Short - Term Memory

• holds a few items briefly 
• remember seven digits at a time
• information will be stored into long - term or forgotten
• aka: working memory
• limited capacity
• 3 - 12 seconds
• digits are more easily remembered than letters
• has three parts: audio, visual, and integration of both (controls where attention lies)

Long - Term Memory

• permanent and limitless storehouse

Encoding

• next - in - line effect: we seldom remember what the person has just said or done if we are next
• information minutes before sleep is seldom remembered; in hours before sleep, it is well remembered
• taped information played while asleep is registered by ears, but we do not remember it 

Spacing Effect

• we encode better when we study or practice over time

Serial Positioning Effect

• our tendency to recall best the first and last items in a list

Types of Encoding

• Semantic: meaning, like meaning of words
• Acoustic: sound, especially the sounds of words
• Visual: picture images

Self - Reference Effect

• we remember things when they are used to describe ourselves
• how we encode meaning very well

Tricks to Encode

• imagery: mental pictures

Chunking

• organize items into familiar, manageable units
• often it will occur automatically 

Iconic Memory

• momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli, a photo like quality lasting about a second
• we also have an echoic memory for auditory stimuli

Storing Memory

• long - term potentiation: long - lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons, results in stimulating them synchronously
• they learn to fire together and get better at it...creating a memory 

Hippocampus

• damage disrupts memory
• right is visual and locations
• left is verbal

Types of Retrieval Failure

• proactive interference: disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information
• retroactive interference: disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information

Motivated Forgetting

• repression: basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety - arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from conscious

Déjà Vu

• eerie sense you have experienced something before
• what is occurring is that the current situation cues past experiences that are very similar to the present one - you mind gets confused