Understanding Memory: Models, Processes, and Phenomena

1. Chapter 6 Memory Introductory Psychology Dr. Greg Cook

2. Memory ModelAtkinson & Shiffrin (1968) See Textbook, p. 199. Rehearsal Retrieve SM STM LTM Input Transfer Encode Transfer Encode Lost Lost Lost? “Computer” as a metaphor for memory and information processing.

3. Sensory Memory: What a Flash! • An “echo” of the input reverberates in our sensory systems for a very brief time. • Vision = “Iconic Memory” = fraction of a second. • Hearing = “Echoic Memory” = up to 2 seconds. • Capacity is LARGE; Duration is VERY BRIEF • We sense much more than we can possibly process (funnel effect) • Examples: candle “tail”, film images, “feel your feet” • Most of our sensory information is LOST from SM; not encoded to STM

4. Short-Term Memory: Paying Attention! • Current Processing: STM holds the information you are consciously processing (paying attention to) right now. • Also called “Working Memory”. • Capacity: Digit Span Test • Magic number: 7 ± 2 pieces of information (“chunks”). • Duration: 0 – 18 secs, maybe 30 secs. • Rehearsal: refreshes information, increases likelihood of transfer to LTM • Maintenance rehearsal (rote) • Elaborative rehearsal (personalize, connect to LTM)

5. Long-Term Memory: Memory for life! • Storehouse of facts, events, emotions, images . . . • Fast & Easy vs. Effortful • Example: “What is your middle name?” • Duration: For life, theoretically. Decay? • Capacity: Unlimited, theoretically.

6. Forgetting: Memory failures • Decay: do our memories “fade” with time? • Encoding failures (didn’t tag it into memory) • Retrieval failures (can’t find it or dig it out) Also interference, distortions, consolidation problems, other phenomenon

7. Recognition versus Recall • Recognition: “I know that face!” • Recall: “What is this person’s name?”

8. Serial Position Effect: Losing the Middle If you study a list of words/concepts, then immediately try to recall them, you get “Primacy” and “Recency” effects. With delayed recall, you get only the “Primacy” effect. Primacy Effect: early items are transferred to LTM (fresh task) Recency Effect: items studied w/in last seconds are still in STM, if immed test Intermediate items were not encoded strongly into LTM, also not now in STM Image copied from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Serial_position.png

9. Context Effects in Memory • Godden & Baddeley (1975) studied people in a diving club. Textbook, p. 205. • Learned list of words 10 ft underwater vs. on land • Tested 10 ft underwater vs. on land • Memory scores were 47% higher when testing context matched learning context. Place cues. • Where do you study? Where do you take tests?

10. Other Memory Phenomena • Infantile amnesia • Flashbulb memories: dramatic events • Repressed memories: traumatic events • Motivated forgetting: protecting yourself suppression vs. repression

11. Ebbinghaus’ Famous Forgetting Curve Images from http://encarta.msn.com/media_461547609_761578303_-1_1/Forgetting_Curve.html Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850-1909) conducted the first systematic studies of human memory. Using himself as a subject, he learned nonsense syllables, then tested his memory after delays up to 31 days. Most forgetting occurs rapidly, then what “sticks” tends to stick long term. LEJ, XIZ, LUK, ZOH, . . .

12. How much do you remember from your high school courses? College? Try this link: http://lazowska.cs.washington.edu/scienceforum/tsld085.htm

13. Improving Your Memory • Organization: create meaningful clusters • Overlearning: take it over the top • Spaced practice: better than massed practice • Recitation: practice retrieving information (use recall; go beyond recognition)

14. I hope you remember all of this!!