Week 7- Memory Flashcards
Define memory
Memory is the process by which we take something we have observed (encountered) and convert it into a form we can store, retrieve and use
Outline Atkinson and Shiffrin’s Modal Model of Memory
Input
|
Sensory memory (info lost)
|
Short term memory (info lost)- output
Rehearsal: a control process
| |
Long term memory (info lost)
Each store differs in terms of capacity, encoding format and information duration
Why is information encoded and what type of information is encoded?
Encoding is the way information is changed so that it can be stored in the memory
- Visual (picture)
- Acoustic (sound)
- Semantic (meaning)
Define capacity
Concerns how much information can be stored
Define duration
Refers to the period of time information can last in the memory store
Outline sensory memory
- Holds information about a perceived stimulus for a fraction of a second after the stimulus disappears
- One sensory register for every sensory system
Define iconic memory
Momentary storage of visual information
Define echoic memory
Memory storage of visual information
Define encoding format
A copy of input as it is received by the senses- image, sound, touch sensation
Outline capacity
- Large capacity
- 25+ stimuli stored simultaneously
Outline duration
- Very brief
- 1/4 to 2 seconds
What happens to information in sensory memory?
- Information that is attended is transferred to STM
- The remainder decays rapidly and is lost
Outline the capacity, duration and encoding format of short term memory
- Information from the sensory registers that is attended to moves into STM
- Capacity- holds a small amount of information (limited capacity of approximately 7 items) for a short period of time (limited duration of approximately 20-30 seconds)
- Duration- if material is rehearsed then it can be maintained in STM for a longer period (e.g. chanting a phone number until it is dialled = maintenance rehearsal)
- Encoding format- visual, auditory or semantic
Outline the capacity, duration and encoding format of long term memory
- Extracting information from LTM is called retrieval
- Capacity- LTM is theoretically limitless
- Duration- may persist over a lifetime (potentially limitless duration)
- Encoding format- the representation of facts, images, actions and skills
Summarise the evolution of memory models
- Memory is no longer thought of in terms of a serial processing model
- Memory is now thought to be comprised of a number of modules which are discrete but interdependent (parallel processing)
Define primacy effect
Better recall of words at beginning of list
Define recency effect
Better recall of words at end of list
Outline the serial position effect
- Rundus (1971), Murdock (1962)
- Participants learned a list that varied from 10-40 words
- Each word was presented for 1-2 seconds
- Free recall
- Number of rehearsals declined from beginning to end of list
- Primacy- more rehearsal of early items, thus they are more likely to enter LTM
- Memory also better for stimuli presented at end of list
- Recency- words at end of list are still in sensory memory of STM, are recalled first