Human Memory Introduction

Which one is the US penny?

Basic Memory Questions 1.) How does info get into memory? 2.) How is information maintained in memory? 3.) How is information pulled out of memory? 3 Key processes: 1.) Encoding – Forming a memory code 2.) Storage- Involves maintaining encoded information in memory over time 3.) Retrieval – Involves recovering information from memory stores.

Encoding- Getting info into memory Role of attention – Generally need to pay attention to something to remember it Ex.) Attention – Focusing awareness on a narrowed range of stimuli or events We can’t divide attention equally among all stimuli

Encoding- Getting info into memory Divided Attention – Problems with encoding can occur when we try to attend to more than one item Class Demo Cell Phone Example

Encoding- Getting info into memory Levels of Processing Theory – The deeper we process information, the longer lasting a memory code will be Demonstration

Levels of processing demo a.) Structural encoding – shallow processing; only focus on word structure b.) Phonemic encoding- slightly deeper processing; focus on what a word sounds like c.) Semantic encoding – Deepest form of processing; emphasize meaning of word Which should be remembered best?

Encoding- Getting info into memory Methods to help encode information 1.) Elaboration – Link items to other information at time of encoding Examples 2.) Visual Imagery – Creation of visual images to represent words trying to remember can enrich encoding Ex.) Problems with this method?

Storage- Maintaining info in memory Memory divided into three separate stores: 1.) Sensory Memory 2.) Short Term Memory (STM) 3.) Long Term Memory (LTM)

Storage- Maintaining info in memory 1.) Sensory Memory – We perceive information in original sensory form for a brief time. Memories last a fraction of a second Light Demonstration

Storage- Maintaining info in memory 2.) Short Term Memory- Limited capacity store that can maintain unrehearsed information for about 20 seconds. Example: How do we hold information in short term memory longer? Rehearsal – process of repeatedly verbalizing or thinking about information

Storage- Maintaining info in memory Capacity of Short Term Memory We can only hold a limited number of items in short term memory Demonstration STM holds 7+ 2 items

Storage- Maintaining info in memory 3.) Long Term Memory- Unlimited capacity store that can hold information over lengthy periods of time

How is knowledge organized in memory? Schemas- Organized cluster of knowledge about a particular object or event abstracted from previous experience In other words, we have expectations for things Examples

How is knowledge organized in memory? Semantic Networks- Our memories consist of nodes linking related concepts together Spreading activation – if we activate one node or item, it links to related one (activating them)

Retrieval- Getting info out of memory Humans are often unable to retrieve everything from long term memory Examples Tip of the Tongue Phenomenon – Temporary inability to remember something you know accompanied by the feeling that it is out of reach Demonstration

Retrieval- Getting info out of memory Ways to help ourselves retrieve information: 1.) Try to think of related items (hints) to jog memory 2.) Reinstate context Examples