Exam 3 - Memory Flashcards
Encoding
Process of transforming what we perceive, think, or feel into an enduring memory
(memories are constructed, not recorded)
Storage
Process of maintaining information in memory over time
Retrieval
Process of bringing to mind information that has been previously encoded and stored
Semantic Encoding
the process of relating new information in a meaningful way to knowledge that is already stored in memory
Semantic judgement?
Judgement where you have to THINK of the meaning of words
Area of the brain active during semantic encoding
The Lower left part of the frontal lobe and the inner part of the left temporal lobe (See pg. 221)
Visual imagery encoding
the process of storing new information by converting it into mental pictures
(the “imagine walking through the house to remember things” method, or Method of loci)
Reasons for how semantic encoding work?
Because you need to think about the meaning, it is better processed and more easily remembered than judging case, for example
Reasons for how visual imagery encoding work?
2 reasons:
1) You are making a visual image using incoming information and relating it to knowledge that you already have. By assosiation, your ability to remember things improves
2) You are using more than one mental placeholder to remember the item - a visual and verbal placeholder -> therefore, more ways to remember.
What part of the brain is active when you are doing visual imagery encoding?
Visual processing regions in the occipital lobe. (pg. 221)
Organizational encoding
The process of categorizing information according to the relationships among a series of items
ex. grouping “peach, apple, cherry” into a group “fruits” from a list, such as: peach cow lion chair table couch apple cheery desk lion horse, or a server grouping together drinks, hot foods, deserts, etc.
What part of the brain is active when you are doing organizational encoding?
Upper surface of the left frontal lobe (pg. 221)
Survival Encoding
Memory tasks that are related to task related to survival (ex. what would you bring on to a deserted island?) is easier to encode and recall versus other non-survival-encoding tasks
What are the advantages of survival encoding?
- It draws on the other three encoding types (semantic, visual imagery, and organizational encoding).
- It encourages thinking about end goals in detail, resulting in extensive planning. Extensive planning in turn benefits memory. Planning can benefit memory encoding even when NOT in survival situations.
Three memory types?
Sensory, short-term, long-term
Sensory memory?
A type of storage that holds sensory information for a few seconds or less
2 examples of sensory memory? (hint: think types of senses)
Iconic memory and Echoic memory
visual info and auditory info
Iconic memory
Fast-decaying store of visual information, about 1 second before decay
Echoic memory
fast-decaying store of auditory information, retained abut 5 seconds before decay
How does one convert sensory memory into short-term memory?
Attention; by paying attention to the sensory information, you are able to convert what you transduce into something you retain (sensory -> short term memory)
Short-term memory
A type of memory storage that holds non sensory information for more than a few seconds, but less than a minute.
Information storage time in short-term memory?
About 15-20 seconds.
Rehersal
The process of keeping information in short-term memory by mentally repeating it.
This works by “resetting” the short-term memory “counter”
Serial position effect
The observation that the first few and last few items in a series are more likely to be recalled than the terms in the middle.
Rehersal can play a role in this