Memory Flashcards
Memory is essential for…
thought reasoning learning understanding identity communicating
people think, feel and act on the basis of
information that is no loner present (memory)
Operational definition of memory
the mechanism we use to create, maintain, receive, and apply information of the past
learning cannot happen without memory
who and what you are is a conglomeration of your memories
Three operations of memory
Encoding
-puts information into memory
Storage
-holds on to information in memory
Retrieval
-get back information from memory
Three stage model of memory
- sensory memory (SM)
- short term memory (STM)
- long term memory (LTM)
Atkinson and Shiffrin made
information processing model; three stage model; traditional model of memory
Stimuli —> Sm –> STM where it is activated then sent to storage to LTM or pulled back from LTM to STM
Sensory Memory
- preserves sensory information in its original sensory form for a belief moment (a fraction of a second)
- allows for sensation of visual pattern, touch, and sound to linger after stimulation has ended (acts like an afterimage)
- storage system for sensory informations for a very short amount of time
2 forms of sensory memory
1) iconic memory
- sensory register for visual stimuli
2) echoic memory
- sensory register for auditory stimuli
STM
short term memory
sensory memory is transferred to working memory (WM) or short term memory (STM)
STM holds and processes information for about 30 seconds
STM holds to information long enough to be actively worked on or processed by the brain
-use it or lose it
What did George Miller study, discover, and what was typical result?
studied STM capacity
discovered the magic number
did the letter or number span test: how much can a person remember
result: 5-9 items
(7+/-2)
also discovered chunking: a collection of small, meaningful, and manageable units; example of top down processing; helps increase amount of information able to held in STM
What did Baddeley and Hitch discover, accounts for what
Working memory (WM)
- limited capacity system for temporary storage and manipulation of complex tasks such as comprehension, reasoning, and learning
- revised version of STM
- made working memory model including phonological loop, central executive, and visuospatial sketch pad
- accounts for active process in cognition such as math, language, and problem solving
- can multitask; do two things at once so this suggests septette components in WM
Phonological Loop
for verbal and auditory information
Central executive
helps multitask; “conductor”
Visuospatial sketch pad
for visual and spatial information
LTM
-relatively permanent and limitless storage where in knowledge, skills, and experience are stored and relate to one another
duration and capacity is unlimited unlike STM
Whats your earliest memory?
ALL memories are storied in LTM
Organization of LTM
Semantic network: information organized based on meaning
-like a web concept and similar to schema
LTM
1) declarative memory
- episodic memory
- semantic memory
2) procedural memory/skill memory/action memory
Best way to remember something
elaborative rehearsal: focus on meaning of material when rehearsal; relate new information to existing, familiar, and meaningful information
Declarative memory
” I know how things are”
-information on facts and events that you recall consciously aka declare
1) episodic memory
-“im special” “its all about you”
-personal recollection (self-knowing, self-remembering)
-you are in memory even if outsider and watching in
-mental time travel: birthdays, holidays, what you ate last week
2) semantic memory
Just about facts (not relating to you)
-not personal information
-not specific experiences
-no memory about how got information
Procedural memory (other names, definition)
action memory skill memory memory of how to do something -difficult to link to language -dont know how you remember
How to get information out of LTM
Retrieval cues: stimulus (place, event or feeling) that is linked to a specific. memory
Types of retrieval cues
1) priming
- activating associations formed in memory
- accessing relevant nodes in semantic network
- usually done unconsciously
2) context
- memory retrieval is better when it occurs in the same place or context as when the memory was initially formed
e. g. looking at old photos or taking test in same classroom
3) state/mood
- memory retrieval is better when in the same physical, mental and emotional state when the memory was encoded
e. g. whatever you learn when drunk you’ll remember when drunk; whatever you learn when your happy you’ll remember when happy
Constructionist theory
memory is a constructive process
every time is recalled, memory is built and rebuilt
memory can be distorted
recall is better when consistent preexisting schemas
Flashbulb memories
highly detailed, exceptionally vivid, snap shot of the moment which was surprising, emotionally arousing, or consequential
episodic memory
emotionally charged
*detail and confidence is high but accuracy is not
What did Elizabeth Loftus discover?
misinformation effect
- memory can be influenced by post event information
- suggestion is very powerful in the shape of recall of events
What did Loftus and Palmer discover?
misinformation effect when exposed to misleading information, tend to misremember events
demonstrated power of suggestion to shape recall of events
