Human MemoryHuman Memory

Three Memory ProcessesThree Memory Processes

Memory = the storage and Memory = the storage and retrieval of what one has either retrieval of what one has either learned or experiencedlearned or experienced

1.1. EncodingEncoding

2.2. StorageStorage

3.3. RetrievalRetrieval

EncodingEncoding

Transformation of Transformation of information so the information so the nervous system can nervous system can process itprocess it

Types of codes:Types of codes:

1.1. AcousticAcoustic

2.2. VisualVisual

3.3. Semantic Semantic

StorageStorage

The process by The process by which we which we remember remember material material acquired over a acquired over a period of timeperiod of time

RetrievalRetrieval The process of The process of

obtaining information obtaining information from storagefrom storage

Memory Memory championships- A championships- A Russian known only Russian known only by his first initialsby his first initials——S.S.S.S.——could repeat could repeat 70 randomly 70 randomly selected numbers in selected numbers in the precise order in the precise order in which he had just which he had just heard themheard them

What is Memory Retrieval?What is Memory Retrieval? The process of The process of

accessing stored accessing stored information and information and making it available to making it available to our consciousnessour consciousness

Some memories are Some memories are retrieved easilyretrieved easily

Context-dependent Context-dependent memory effectmemory effect : : Police Police detectives often take detectives often take victims back to the victims back to the scene of a crime to scene of a crime to help jog their help jog their memoriesmemories

Memory StagesMemory Stages

Sensory Sensory memorymemory

Short-term Short-term memorymemory

Long-term Long-term memorymemory

Sensory MemorySensory Memory

Sensory Memory (cont.)Sensory Memory (cont.)

The storage system that holds The storage system that holds memory of sensory impressions memory of sensory impressions is short-livedis short-lived

Sensory registerSensory register Iconic memory, eidetic imagery, Iconic memory, eidetic imagery,

echoic memoryechoic memory

Short-Term Memory (STM)Short-Term Memory (STM)

Allows for the Allows for the brief retention of brief retention of newly acquired newly acquired information, information, usually for a usually for a maximum of 30 maximum of 30 secondsseconds

George Miller’s StudyGeorge Miller’s Study

Magic 7Magic 7 Examples of magic 7Examples of magic 7 Shakespeare’s seven ages of Shakespeare’s seven ages of

man (from man (from As You Like ItAs You Like It), the ), the seven wonders of the world, the seven wonders of the world, the seven deadly sins, and even seven deadly sins, and even Snow White’s pals the seven Snow White’s pals the seven dwarfsdwarfs

ChunkingChunking

The process of breaking down a The process of breaking down a large amount of information into large amount of information into smaller chunkssmaller chunks

Chunking makes recall easierChunking makes recall easier

A Simple TestA Simple Test

Row 1 2937Row 1 2937 Row 2 78541Row 2 78541 Row 3 821374Row 3 821374 Row 4 3820961Row 4 3820961 Row 5 18294624Row 5 18294624 Row 6 9284619384Row 6 9284619384 Row 7 1992199319941995Row 7 1992199319941995

Maintenance RehearsalMaintenance Rehearsal

A system for A system for remembering remembering which involves which involves repeating repeating information to information to oneself without oneself without looking for any looking for any underlying underlying meaningmeaning

The Primacy-Recency EffectThe Primacy-Recency Effect

CheeseCheese MilkMilk EggsEggs ShampooShampoo BreadBread CatsupCatsup JamJam FlourFlour

We can best We can best remember or remember or recall recall information at information at the beginning the beginning and the end of a and the end of a listlist

Long-Term MemoryLong-Term Memory

The storage of The storage of information over information over an extended an extended timetime

Information in Information in long-term long-term memory is memory is organized by organized by categories or categories or featuresfeatures

Types of Long-Term MemoryTypes of Long-Term Memory

Semantic Semantic memorymemory

Episodic Episodic memorymemory

Declarative Declarative memorymemory

Procedural Procedural memorymemory

Semantic MemorySemantic Memory

Knowledge of Knowledge of language, language, including its including its rules, words, rules, words, and meaningsand meanings

Retaining factsRetaining facts Semantic Semantic

memory is not memory is not imprinted on our imprinted on our brainsbrains

Episodic MemoryEpisodic Memory

Memories of Memories of one’s own life one’s own life (also includes (also includes the time the time experiences experiences occurred)occurred)

Like a personal Like a personal diarydiary

Declarative MemoryDeclarative Memory

Holds knowledge that can be Holds knowledge that can be called forth consciously as called forth consciously as neededneeded

““What” and “that”What” and “that” For example,we remember For example,we remember

“what” street we live on, and we “what” street we live on, and we know “that” two plus two equals know “that” two plus two equals four.four.

Procedural MemoryProcedural Memory Memory of learned Memory of learned

skills that do not skills that do not require conscious require conscious recollectionrecollection

We gradually lose We gradually lose the ability to the ability to describe what we describe what we are doing when we are doing when we perform these perform these skillsskills

Retrospective vs. Retrospective vs. Prospective MemoryProspective Memory

Retrospective memoryRetrospective memory: past : past experience or events and experience or events and previously acquired informationpreviously acquired information

Prospective memoryProspective memory: things you : things you need to do in the futureneed to do in the future

Muscle MemoryMuscle Memory

Relying on Relying on muscles to muscles to perform perform complex motor complex motor skills such as skills such as riding a bike, riding a bike, dancing, typing, dancing, typing, hitting a hitting a baseballbaseball

Flashbulb MemoriesFlashbulb Memories

What were you What were you doing when…?doing when…?

Usually involves Usually involves stressful or stressful or emotionally emotionally arousing arousing personal or personal or historical eventshistorical events

the 9/11 attackthe 9/11 attack

Flashbulb Memories (cont.)Flashbulb Memories (cont.)

Anderson & Anderson & Conway (1997) Conway (1997) coined the term coined the term “flashbulb “flashbulb memory”memory”

Permanently Permanently seared into the seared into the brainbrain

Eyewitness TestimonyEyewitness Testimony Memory does not Memory does not

always work like a always work like a camera that camera that records and records and retrieves snapshots retrieves snapshots of eventsof events

Eyewitness Eyewitness testimony can be testimony can be flawedflawed

Misinformation Misinformation effecteffect

SchemasSchemas Conceptual Conceptual

frameworks that a frameworks that a person uses to make person uses to make sense of the worldsense of the world

Sets of expectationsSets of expectations A portrait of Frank A portrait of Frank

J. Huttle, a WWII Air J. Huttle, a WWII Air Corps pilot. His Corps pilot. His bravery and bravery and sacrifice represent sacrifice represent elements of popular elements of popular schemas many of schemas many of us have about us have about pilotspilots

Schema ViolationSchema Violation

Memory and the BrainMemory and the Brain

How and where How and where are memories are memories stored in the stored in the brain?brain?

The striatum The striatum (deep in the (deep in the frontal cortex)frontal cortex)

The hippocampus The hippocampus and the amygdalaand the amygdala

The Biological Basis for The Biological Basis for MemoryMemory

The human brain has The human brain has billions of neurons billions of neurons and trillions of and trillions of synapses synapses

How to track down How to track down specific networks of specific networks of cells where cells where memories are storedmemories are stored

Aplysia- large sea Aplysia- large sea snail that possesses snail that possesses only 20,000 neuronsonly 20,000 neurons

Erik KandelErik Kandel

A molecular biologist/Nobel PrizeA molecular biologist/Nobel Prize winner winner

Experiments with sea snailsExperiments with sea snails Neurotransmitter released into Neurotransmitter released into

synapsesynapse Kandel observed that the Kandel observed that the

amount of neurotransmitters amount of neurotransmitters released into the synapses released into the synapses between the nerve cells that between the nerve cells that controlled the withdrawal reflex controlled the withdrawal reflex increased as the snails learned increased as the snails learned the conditioned response. He the conditioned response. He thus proved that memory thus proved that memory formation involves biochemical formation involves biochemical changes that occur at the changes that occur at the synaptic levelsynaptic level

Retrieval and Recognition ExerciseRetrieval and Recognition Exercise

Look at the picture Look at the picture and name this and name this dwarf from Walt dwarf from Walt Disney’s “Snow Disney’s “Snow White and the White and the Seven Dwarfs”Seven Dwarfs”

Write down or Write down or make a list of as make a list of as many of the seven many of the seven dwarfs that you can dwarfs that you can rememberremember

Seven DwarfsSeven Dwarfs

The following list includes the The following list includes the names of all seven dwarfs. Which names of all seven dwarfs. Which ones are correct? ones are correct?

Tubby, Grouchy, Gabby, Fearful, Tubby, Grouchy, Gabby, Fearful, Sleepy, Smiley, Jumpy, Hopeful, Sleepy, Smiley, Jumpy, Hopeful, Shy, Droopy, Dopey, Sniffy, Shy, Droopy, Dopey, Sniffy, Wishful, Puffy, Dumpy, Sneezy, Wishful, Puffy, Dumpy, Sneezy, Lazy, Pop, Grumpy, Bashful, Lazy, Pop, Grumpy, Bashful, Cheerful, Shorty, Nifty, Happy, Cheerful, Shorty, Nifty, Happy, Doc, WheezyDoc, Wheezy

ForgettingForgetting

DecayDecay Memory lossMemory loss InterferenceInterference

AmnesiaAmnesia

Often caused by Often caused by a traumatic a traumatic injury to the injury to the brain, such as a brain, such as a concussionconcussion

Retrograde Retrograde amnesiaamnesia

Anterograde Anterograde amnesiaamnesia

Retrograde AmnesiaRetrograde Amnesia

Childhood AmnesiaChildhood Amnesia

A normal phase A normal phase of development of development that accounts that accounts for the lack of for the lack of memory before memory before the ages of 3 or the ages of 3 or 44

Dissociative Dissociative amnesia- often amnesia- often results from results from stress. stress.