Welcome to Memory Lecture 1 “Introduction to Memory”

How to ________ Your Memory Memory is not the same as intelligence. You can’t really change your intelligence, but your memory IS within your ____________!! The key is putting in the time & __________ necessary to develop a strong memory. However, techniques to improve memory will make more sense to you if you have a general _____________ of how our memory operates.

Information Processing Chart OUTPUT 1. SENSORY INPUT 2. SHORT- TERM MEMORY 4. FEEDBACK LOOP 3. REHEARSAL PATH 6. LONG-TERM MEMORY RETRIEVAL PATH 5. LONG-TERM MEMORY

The Information Processing Model Information is received through our 5 senses: ____ _____ The above is known as “___________,” and it 1st moves into short-term memory but stays there only 5-30 sec.

How Short-Term Memory Handles Information Quick decision must be made (consciously or subconsciously) to either ________ info in long- term memory or ________ it Short-term memory contains info. you need ________________ Examples: _______________________________ Limit to short-term memory capacity is about ____________ of information Short-term does NOT handle info. you need for exams To transfer info. to long-term memory, it must be repeated over & over…this is called “_______________”

Let’s Test the Limits of Your Short- Term Memory… 5 numbers: 6 words: 7 numbers: Above exercises are 1 way to test limits of short-term memory Frequent ________ will improve your short-term memory memorize ____________________ memorize ____________________

Long-term Memory: ____________ for Information that is to be Kept for a Long Time Long-term memory=big storehouse with _______ capacity Many psychologists believe that once info. is in long-term memory, it stays there forever So…why can’t we remember who sat next to us in 1st grade?! ANSWER: There is so much information in our brains, it gets __________. Thus, our problem is how to RETRIEVE information from long-term storage when we ___________ it!

Long-term memory is like a massive ______, but information is not always neatly filed. Memories are usually filed according to ___________. EXAMPLE: Think of the name of your 2nd grade teacher. When you come up with the name, other _______ memories also surface. These 2nd grade memories are filed together. Memories can also be cross- referenced or filed in _____________ place. Your 2nd grd. teacher’s name could be filed with other teachers’ names as well.

How does information get into my long-term memory? Remarkable events, such as 9/11, enter long- term memory ____________________ from us. But…textbook information or what we ate for dinner 3 nights ago ________ does NOT stick in our minds effortlessly! Textbook concepts just aren’t as emotionally moving as natural disasters, assassinations, etc. It is true, though, that some information will stick in your long-term memory ______ _____________.

However, the BEST way to retain less-than-thrilling info. in your long-term memory is through ___________, otherwise known as…STUDYING!!! ________ & ________lecture notes repeatedly is better than hoping that concepts will stick in your mind by chance or that a natural disaster will occur while you are looking at the information!!!