Cognition and Memory

Cognition and Memory Models of Memory Serial Position Effect Amnesia Levels of Processing

Characteristics of Memory • General Processes • 1. Acquisition • 2. Storage • 3. Retrieval

I. Modal Model of Memory • In late 1950s and early 1960s cognitive psychology was primarily interested in information processing • Described processing of material from an informational point of view

Modal Model of Memory Retrieval Short-Term Memory Long Term Memory Sensory Analysis Stimuli Rehearsal Loss?

Memory • Sensory memory • Brief stimulus traces • May be literal or near literal representations • Types of sensory memory • 1. Iconic - visual • 2. Echoic - auditory

Memory • Short term memory (STM) • More flexible , useful, active process • Sometimes as referred to as active memory or working memory • Requires some effort at maintenance

Memory • Long term memory (LTM) • Relatively permanent • Storage component

Memory • Free recall procedures • List learning task • Demonstrates U-shaped serial position curve

II. Serial Position Curve

Your Serial Position Results

Serial Position Curve • Primacy effect - recall of early items is enhanced by rehearsal • Recency effect - Recall of later items is enhanced by sensory store

Serial Position Curve • Recency effect can be eliminated by having the person engage in some other mental activity for a short period of time to prevent rehearsal • For example, count backwards, count backwards by seven and so on • This will disrupt recency effect

Influence of Activity on Recency Effect % Recall Delay Filled Delay Serial Position

Rehearsal and Recall • Additional rehearsal does allow for additional recall • There also can be a long term analog to serial position effects • e.g. names of presidents

III. Amnesia • Refers to “not memory” literally • More formally, a disorder or loss of memory • Types • 1. Retrograde - disrupt things learned prior to the event which initiates amnesia • 2. Anterograde - disrupts information acquired after the event

III. Amnesia • Case of H.M. • Treated with surgery for intractible epilepsy • removed hippocampus • resulted in near total inability to demonstrate memory and learning

III. Amnesia • Alcoholism • Poor diet associated with heavy alcohol use • Thiamine (B1) deficiency • Also electrolyte imbalances • Can lead to Korsakoff’’s syndrome • Inability to acquire new information

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory • Craik and Watkins (1973) challenged the claim that the number of repetitions is crucial to later recall • Suggested that the modal model paid inadequate attention to the strategies and activities of the subject

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory • Described rehearsal types • Maintenance rehearsal - repeating • Elaboration rehearsal - thinking about relationship in material • Actual maintenance rehearsal is not that effect • Subjects tend to shift to elaboration when qualities about material are known

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory • Levels of processing described as “deep” and “shallow” • It was predicted deep processing will lead to greater recall • Not an easy idea to test

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory • Divided subjects into three groups • 1. Judge words on the basis of similar/dissimilar case • 2. Judge words on the basis of similar/dissimilar rhyme • 3. Judge words on the basis of meaning • 4. Asked to memorize • 5. Memorize by meaningfulness

Levels of Processing

Levels of Processing • Group 5 (Intent to memorize and deep processing) did as well as Group 3 • Group 4 (Intent to memorize) had highly variable results • Incidental versus Intentional learning

Levels of Processing • There continues to be parallels with the modal model • Primary memory (STM) • Secondary memory (LTM)

Levels of Processing • There are problems with level of processing • There could be elaboration processing • What is depth of processing? • Are processes parallel or sequential?

Cognition and Memory