Module 23 Flashcards
memory
the capacity to acquire and retain skills and knowledge
used from birth to death
the persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information
3 critical processes of memory
encoding- get info into brain, storage- retain that info, and retrieval- later get the info back out
Atkinson and Shiffrin’s 3 stages of processing memory
sensory memory, short term memory, and long term memory (in this order)
take in important sensory info (disregard other sensory data), bring info into short term memory
use maintenance rehearsal or other encoding strategies to move info into long term
can retrieve info in long term to short term
1st stage: we record to-be-remembered info as a fleeting sensory memory
2nd stage: from there, we process info into short-term memory, where we encode it through rehearsal
3rd stage: finally, info moves into long-term memory for later retrieval
encoding
the process of getting info into the memory system- for example, by extracting meaning
storage
the process of retaining encoded information over time
retrieval
the process of getting info out of memory storage
parallel processing
processing many aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously
sensory memory
the immediate, very brief recording of sensory info in the memory system
record info from the senses
includes iconic memory and echoic memory
iconic memory
memory of visual stimuli
objects, forming images from visual field
hold large amount of info- but fades fast (lasts no longer than 1 sec.)
why doesn’t it last longer?
filtration determines what info is important and allows time to make decisions regarding importance
George Sperling
researcher
(1960): proof that iconic memory holds large amount but fades fast
in his experiment he flashed a series of letters and numbers briefly and then asked participants to recall (could only recall 3-4)
divided into 3 groups, sounded a pitch after flashing same l+n, could recall more (4-6, with sound)
functionalism- we can recall more when we are using more than one sense
echoic memory
memory for auditory stimuli
lasts up to 10 secs because ears are a different structure than eyes- earn drum bounces quickly to take in lots of sound quickly
sound waves come one at a time, in increments, so need time to put sound together (then makes a decision about importance)
can multitask- do something and listen at the same time
short-term memory
briefly activated memory of a few items (such as digits of a phone number while calling) that is later stored or forgotten
hold small amount of info for a short time
capacity
the amount- how much we can hold in short term memory (5-9 items on average)
magic number: 7 (add or subtract 2)
Duration
short term memory- around 30 seconds (25-40 is the range)
George Miller
proposed the magic number- we can store about 7 pieces of info (+/- 2) in short-term memory
examples: phone number digits, 7 colors of rainbow, 7 note musical scale
