Memory Test List 10 teachers from K-8th What do you remember? Why do you remember these teachers?
What is this?
What does it have to do with memory?
Aplysia californicus Gross sea snail Really simple brain with a memory that (in a simplified manner) works like ours We’ll get back to our sea snail friend soon.
How do we remember? How does memory help us?
What would you do to improve your memory?
Atkinson and Shiffrin’s Information Processing Model of Memory
Stages of Memory Sensory memory– holds info. for only about a fraction of a second (sparkler trails, light) Large capacity (thinking about the stimuli around us all the time) Holds information briefly (about 2 seconds for auditory info. 250 milliseconds for visual info.) Iconic memory – visual sensory memory
Short-term memory (STM) / working memory limited capacity stores unrehearsed info. for less than 20 seconds
Let’s try it Memorize the number
A 193
A 193
B 8691259
B 8691259
C 6857201623
C 6857201623
D 29543768913437
D 29543768913437
Long-term memory (LTM) – unlimited capacity, holds info Long-term memory (LTM) – unlimited capacity, holds info. over long periods of time. Transferring information from STM to LTM Rehearsal – process of repetitively verbalizing or thinking about the info. Elaboration – refers to connection of new information to information already stored in memory Chunking – groupings things together to ease memorization (parts of a phone number, chunking activity)
Chunking Exercise List A: Dogs Purple IBM Mets Horses Red Blue NFL Padres Yellow Cats Dodgers Birds MCI Pirates NBC
Chunking Exercise List A: Dogs Purple IBM Mets Horses Red Blue NFL Padres Yellow Cats Dodgers Birds MCI Pirates NBC
Chunking Exercise List B: Dogs Cats Birds Horses Purple Yellow Red Blue Mets Pirates Padres Dodgers MCI NFL NBC IBM
Chunking Exercise Which list was easier to remember? Why? List B: Dogs Cats Birds Horses Purple Yellow Red Blue Mets Pirates Padres Dodgers MCI NFL NBC IBM Which list was easier to remember? Why?
Retrieval – process of obtaining info. from stored memory Recognition – memory retrieval, identify an object, idea or situation that has not been experienced. (associating new input with previous learning. Ex. Sound of an instrument playing an unfamiliar song) Recall – active reconstruction of info. (pulling out or retrieving info. and assembling into something useful and/or describable)
Confabulation – “remembering” false info. Filling gaps in memory. (Why Confabulation – “remembering” false info. Filling gaps in memory. (Why?, What affects this? Is this accurate?) Elizabeth Loftus – Lost in the Mall experiment demonstrated how unreliable memory is How accurate was your memory of your teachers? Was it the same as others? Eidetic memory – “photographic memory”, 5% of children, very rare in adults. (skip reconstruction step, remember vivid details and info
Memory Questions Write a quick response to the following questions: My most memorable experience was when… Why do you remember this? An experience I’d like to forget but can’t was when… Explain why you think you can’t forget this experience.
What do you remember?
Remember This Take out your responses Which type of memory was represented in your response to the questions on the last slide.
THE QUEST FOR MEMORY DRUGS Memory Pill Questions Would you use a pill to increase your memory? What would you use it for? How would people benefit from such a pill? What problems or ethical issues may arise with the use of such a pill?
Forgetting Some argue that we do not forget info. in LTM, we simply can’t access it Damage can cause loss – usually most recent memories Repression – buried or blocked by subconscious (coping or defense mechanism) Interference Proactive – old memory blocks new one (new phone number, address) Retroactive – new memory blocks old
A Pill to Forget http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/22/60minutes/main2205629.shtml
A Pill to Forget When would you take a pill to forget? Explain a situation or circumstance. Make a + / - T chart to describe the benefits and problems associated with a drug like Propanolol. Should this drug be available and used to reduce and/or erase memories? Explain your response. What is the most important function of memory?
Improving Memory Organization Classification Mnemonic devices Assigning meaningfulness