KA 2: Perception and Memory (b) Memory; Short-term, Long-term and it’s location in the brain. (a) Perception: segregation, distance and recognition.

By the end of this section you will be able to ….. State what factors are involved in memory. Describe the 3 levels of memory and explain how information can be transferred between them. Describe where in the brain specific types of memories are stored.

Derren Brown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQXe1CokWqQ

What is memory?

Memory Memory involves the storage, retention and the retrieval of information. It includes; Knowledge Thoughts Past experiences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSycdIx-C48 (9.54)

The sense organs of the human body are continually exposed to stimuli, but not all of these are committed to our long term memory. If this where the case the mind would become cluttered with useless information.

LEVEL 1 Sensory Memory (SM) Forms ‘sensory images’ from visual and auditory input Retained for a few seconds continuous flow of information from environment Relevant sensory images transferred Most sensory information is quickly lost

Short-Term Memory (STM) STM only holds a limited amount of information - about 7 items at one time. It also only holds this information for a short period of time – about 30 seconds. After this time the information is either transferred to LTM or lost.

Factors effecting your short term memory

Your teacher will now take you through the memory span test! A persons short-term memory span can be measured by finding out the number of individual items they can reproduce correctly and in order. Your teacher will now take you through the memory span test! Using text book pg 236. Read out numbers 3-10 uniformly and clearly, as soon as you have read one out class must write down the numbers.

Serial Position Effect http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/brainsmart/games/objects/ Complete the game and see how good your memory is!

Serial Position Effect The serial position effect states that recall of information is best for objects at the end and at the start of the stimuli . Get pupils to look at the symbols and try to remember the order. 10 seconds!

Rehearsal Rehearsal involves repeating your self over and over again. This helps extend the time you are able to retain the information.

What happens to the information we can’t remember? Information is lost by either displacement or decay Displacement is when old information is pushed out by new information. Decay is the break down of the memory.

LIST 1 ICL TPT OML MVM EZQ CPG UPR DUL MCA SUT ATX NSW RPA YAD BCU Chunking You have two minutes to look at this list and remember as much of it as you can! 2 minutes

Chunking Write down as many as you can remember from list 1! 4 minutes

LIST 2 PIN KGB HIV SQA VAT FBI PTO USA RAC NYC UFO BBC MOT RIP PLC Chunking You have two minutes to look at this list and remember as much of it as you can! 2 minutes

Chunking Write down as many as you can remember from list 2! 4 minutes

How can we improve our memory? Chunking Chunking is a useful method of increasing memory span. A chunk is a meaningful unit of information made up of several smaller units.

Short Term Memory (STM) LEVEL 2 Short Term Memory (STM) STM only holds a limited amount of information (~7 items) for a limited time (30s). STM includes memory span (the number of items that can be recalled correctly), the serial position effect (recall of information is best for objects at the beginning and end of stimuli) and maintaining items by rehearsal. Can be improved by “chunking” information ‘Working memory’ is an extension of STM used to perform cognitive tasks transferred to LTM Information lost by displacement (new information “pushing out” the old) or decay (the breakdown of the memory).

Long-term Memory (LTM) A persons LTM is though to be able to hold an unlimited amount of information. This information is organised into categories and stored for a very long period of time, then it can be retrieved when required

LEVEL 3 Long Term Memory (LTM) Thought to have an unlimited capacity Successful transfer from STM to LTM occurs by: Rehearsal Organisation Information that is organised into logical categories is more easily transferred Elaboration Information is analysed and a deeper ‘meaning’ is attached to it. transferred to LTM

Encoding Encoding is the conversion of one or more nerve impulses into a form that can be received, held by the brain and retrieved later from the STM or LTM.

Information is encoded using... Shallow encoding Elaborative encoding Information encoded by repetition or rehearsal. Information encoded by association with meaning or linking to previous learning.

Organising your LTM Filing cabinet with limitless storage! Organised into categories E.g. The memory of a dandelion could be stored under ‘plants’, ‘flowers’, ‘yellow’, ‘weeds’ ....... Retrieval is aided by ‘contextual cues’ – (a ‘reminder’ of how the information was originally encoded)

Information is encoded using... Shallow encoding Elaborative encoding Information encoded by repetition or rehearsal. Information encoded by association with meaning or linking to previous learning. Retrieval of these memories is aided by contextual cues. Contextual cues serve as a reminder of the time the memory was initially encoded. This allows the memories to be recalled quickly and efficiently.

Quick Question What process is happening at X,Y and Z. Rehearsal Encoding Retrieval

Location of memory in the brain Several different types of memory exist within the LTM.

TASK! Using pages 244-245 What is episodic memory? What is semantic memory? Where are these memories stored? What information do procedural memories contain? How are emotional memories formed? What is spatial memory responsible for?

Episodic memory is the recall of personal facts, experiences and events. Semantic memory is the recall of general knowledge, non-personal facts and concepts. These 2 forms of memory are stored in the cerebral cortex in the region of the cortex where the sensory information was first received and encoded.

Procedural memories contain the information needed to perform motor skills (e.g. swimming) and mental skills (e.g. reading) These memories are linked to the cerebellum and motor area of the cortex

Emotional memories are formed as a result of a positive or negative associations with certain stimuli. These memories involve the cerebral cortex and the limbic system

Spatial memory is responsible for holding a record of information that can be recalled about a person’s environment and its spatial orientation (e.g. Remembering the layout of a room). These memories are stored in the limbic system