Chapter 9

MemoryAP Psych

Memory persistence of learning over time via

the storage and retrieval of information Information learned long ago is stored

in long-term memory. Other information, that we’re working

on right now is stored in working memory.

Flashbulb Memory a very clear or vivid memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

Three kinds of memory1. When we search our memories for a

particular fact or a specific event, we draw it from episodic memory. When we recall events in great detail it is called

flashbulb memory.2.Generic memory is our mental dictionary, our

commonsense knowledge. Millions of facts: George Washington was our 1st president.

3.Procedural memory consists of the skills and procedures you have learned. Throwing a ball, riding a bike, typing, playing an instrument etc.

4. Simon http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/memory/simon.html

Sensory Memory the immediate, initial recording

of sensory information in the memory system

Working Memory focuses more on the processing

of briefly stored information

Memory as Information Processing similar to a computer

Use keyboard to write or get info in computer Save to disk or hard drive Read or print back info

3 Steps – Encoding, Storage and Retrieval

1. Encoding the processing of information into the

memory system i.e., extracting meaning

2. Storage the retention of encoded

information over time 3. Retrieval

process of getting information out of memory

Encoding

Effortful Automatic

Effortful Processing requires attention and effort can become automatic through

practice/rehearsal. After you hear a phone number,

it will disappear unless you work to maintain it in consciousness.

Automatic Processing Walking to class today was done

automatically – you just sort of got yourself here.

unconscious encoding of incidental information

space time

well-learned information word meanings (after practicing vocab, you just

use them in a sentence.) Athletic moves or techniques Dancing Lines from a play, words from a song.

Rehearsal conscious repetition of information

to maintain it in consciousness to encode it for storage• Experiments also confirm the benefit of a

spacing effect. For better long term retention, cramming does not work as well as distributed study.

• The benefits of rehearsal are further demonstrated by the serial position effect.

• You will remember the last and first items better than the middle items. Also called the primacy and recency effect.

Ebbinghaus used nonsense syllables TUV ZOF GEK WAV the more times practiced on Day 1,

the fewer repetitions to relearn on Day 2

Spacing Effect distributed practice yields better

long- term retention than massed practice

20

15

10

5

08 16 24 32 42 53 64

Time in minutestaken to relearnlist on day 2

Number of repetitions of list on day 1

Semantic Encoding encoding of meaning including meaning of words

Acoustic Encoding encoding of sound especially sound of words

Visual Encoding encoding of picture imagesSo as you read this sentence, are

you encoding the image of the words (visual), the sound of the words (acoustic) or are you encoding the meaning of the words (semantic)?

Imagery mental pictures a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially

when combined with semantic encoding. Which of the following words then, will you most

likely recall when asked later? typewriter, void, cigarette, inherent, fire, process?

Imagery is at the heart of many memory aids. Mnemonics Memory aids What are some mnemonics that you know?

especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices.

Mnemonic is Greek for memory. The Method of Loci -- imagine walking

through a familiar series of locations -- associate each place with a visual representation of the to be remembered topic.

Try to use it to remember these words: lumberjack, dart, skate, hedge, colony, duck, furniture, stocking, pillow, mistress.

Use imagery to put a story to the words. The Peg Word Method

Chunking organizing items into familiar, manageable units. Can you remember these numbers? 4191218167712941 How about now? 1776149218121941

How about now? 1776 1492 1812 1941 use of acronyms

HOMES--Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior Roy G. Biv Organized information is more easily recalled.

Hierarchies complex information broken down into broad

concepts and further subdivided into categories and subcategories Encoding

(automatic or effortful)

Imagery(visualEncoding)

Meaning(semanticEncoding)

Organization

Chunks Hierarchies

How does storage work? Synaptic changes

Long-term Potentiation increase in synapse’s firing potential after brief,

rapid stimulation

Strong emotions make for stronger memories some stress hormones boost learning and

retention 60 minutes propranalol http://cnettv.cnet.com/memory-pill/9742-

1_53-50035773.html

Amnesia: severe memory loss caused by brain injury, shock, fatigue, illness or repression. Vermont

Infantile amnesia: the forgetting of events before the age of three. Freud’s reasons?

Others believe that the hippocampus is not fully developed, therefore we’re incapable.

Antegrade amnesia: memory loss from trauma that prevents a person from forming new memories. Can remember stuff prior. Clip

Retrograde amnesia: Forget the period leading up to the event that caused damage.

Explicit Memory memory of facts and experiences that one

can consciously know and declare also called declarative memory hippocampus--neural center in limbic

system that helps process explicit memories for storage

Implicit Memory retention independent of conscious

recollection also called procedural memory

Types oflong-termmemories

Explicit(declarative)

With consciousrecall

Implicit(nondeclarative)

Without conscious recall

Facts-generalknowledge(“semanticmemory”)

Personally experienced

events(“episodic memory”)

Skills-motorand cognitive

Dispositions-classical and

operant conditioning

effects

MRI scan of hippocampus (in red)

Hippocampus

What do you think is easier, recall or recognition?

Recall measure of memory in which the person must

retrieve information learned earlier as on a fill-in-the blank test.

Recognition Measure of memory in which the person has

only to identify items previously learned as on a multiple-choice test.

Can you recall the names of the 7 Dwarves?How about recognize them?

Sneezy, Dopey, Sleezy, Happy, Cranky, Bashful, Grumpy, Sleepy, Dumby, Crazy, Doc, Dorky

Relearning memory measure that

assesses the amount of time saved when learning material a second time

Priming activation, often

unconsciously, of particular associations in memory

Deja Vu (French)--already seen cues from the current situation may

subconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier similar experience

"I've experienced this before.“Context Effects: returning to where you once

lived or a school you once attended may have flooded your brain with retrieval cues.Taking an exam in the same room you were taught may help.

Mood-congruent Memory tendency to recall experiences that are consistent

with one’s current mood memory, emotions, or moods serve as retrieval

cues State-dependent Memory

what is learned in one state (while one is high, drunk, or depressed) can more easily be remembered when in same state

After learning to move a mobile by kicking, infants had their learning reactivated most strongly when retested in the same rather than a different context (Butler & Rovee-Collier, 1989).

Forgetting as encoding failure

Which penny is the real thing?

Learning some items may disrupt retrieval of other information

2 types of interference: Proactive (new is effected) Interference

disruptive effect of prior learning on recall of new information

Retroactive (old is effected) Interference disruptive effect of new learning on recall of

old information

Motivated Forgetting people unknowingly revise memories

Repression defense mechanism that banishes

from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories.

If you remembered everything, you wouldn’t be very well off. Some things are better off forgotten. Old parking spots, old phone numbers, old restaurant orders, bad memories.

Leveling: simplifying material Sharpening: highlighting or

overemphasizing some details Assimilation: changing details to better

fit the subject’s own background or knowledge.

We filter information and fill in missing pieces

Misinformation Effect incorporating misleading information into

one's memory of an event Source Amnesia

attributing to the wrong source an event that we experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined (misattribution)

Eyewitnesses reconstruct memories when questioned

Depiction of actual accident

Leading question:“About how fast were the carsgoing when they smashed intoeach other?”

Memoryconstruction

Memories of Abuse Repressed or Constructed?

Child sexual abuse does occur Some adults do actually forget such episodes

False Memory Syndrome condition in which a person’s identity and

relationships center around a false but strongly believed memory of traumatic experience

sometimes induced by well-meaning therapists

Study repeatedly to boost recall Spend more time rehearsing or

actively thinking about the material Make material personally

meaningful Use mnemonic devices

associate with peg words--something already stored

make up story chunk--acronyms

Activate retrieval cues--mentally recreate situation and mood

Recall events while they are fresh-- before you encounter misinformation

Minimize interference Test your own knowledge

rehearse determine what you do not

yet know