Memory

What is memory? The persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information. “Memory…is the diary that we all carry about with us.” Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest “It isn’t so astonishing the number of things I can remember, as the number of things I can remember that aren’t so.” Mark Twain

How does memory work? External Events Sensory Memory Short-term Memory Long-term Memory Sensory Input Encoding Retrieval

Three Stages of Memory Encoding -Putting information in Storage -where information is kept in the brain Retrieval -getting information back out

Memory is like a computer… Encoding Storage Retrieval Installing software or creating files Hardware File Search

List the names of the 7 Dwarfs

Dopey Grumpy Bashful Sleepy Sneezy Doc Happy

Information Processing Automatic- occurs without thinking Effortful- occurs when one purposely tries to think about something

Effortful Processing Rehearsal- conscious repetition Next-in-line effect- when you are next in line, your memory is poorest for the information preceding you Spacing effect- studying over time produces the best memory results Serial position effect- in a list, one tends to remember the first and last items best

Encoding

Things that help us encode Meaning- we need to know the context Imagery- mental pictures Mnemonic devices- memory aids Organization

Mnemonic Devices- Memory Aids Method of loci >Associate a memory with a place Keyword method >Associate a word with something that needs to be remembered Peg-word method >One is a bun, two is a shoe, three is a tree… Acronyms >ROY G. BIV Hierarchies >Split items into topics Chunking >Put into smaller units 8017686390 becomes (801) 768-6390

Storage

How does memory work? Retrieval External Events Sensory Memory Short-term Memory Long-term Memory Sensory Input Encoding Encoding

How much can be remembered? Sensory Memory Short-term Memory Long-term Memory Almost nothing, unless it catches your attention 7 items, plus or minus 2 Almost everything, but only if you can get it out

How long? Sensory Memory Short-term Memory Long-term Memory Images- tenths of a second Sounds- 3-4 seconds As long as you are consciously thinking about it Virtually forever

Neuroscience

Remember the brain cell? Nucleus Cell Body Myelin Sheath Dendrites Axon Terminal Branches

So, what does that have to do with memories? Experience neurons fire. If they fire enough, a new synapse forms making the connection even stronger

Long-term Potentiation (LTP) Increase in a synapse’s firing potential More synapses firing= stronger pathway= better memory

Implicit (Procedural) Explicit (Declarative) Types of Memories Implicit (Procedural) Explicit (Declarative) Memories stored without conscious knowledge (i.e. classical conditioning) Memories stored with conscious knowledge (i.e. what you remember from class)

Where are memories processed in the short term? Implicit – processed in the cerebellum Explicit- processed in the hippocampus

Where are memories stored in the long term? Could be anywhere in the cerebral cortex or even several places.

Retrieval

Types of Retrieval Recall- information is recovered from the brain >Fill-in-the blank Recognition- identifying information when choices are given >Multiple choice Relearning- how easily information can be stored again >Studying for a comprehensive exam

What affects retrieval? Priming- activating prior knowledge or associations >picture of a rabbit primes the response “hare” Context effect >scuba divers remembered better in the context they learned the information Mood-congruent memory >if you are happy now, your memories seem happier

Forgetting

Seven Sins of Memory Absent-mindedness- failure to encode Transience- storage decay over time Blocking- failure to retrieve Misattribution- confusing the source of information Suggestibility- false memories can be created Bias- belief-colored memories Persistence- unwanted memories

Interference- memories get in the way of each other Proactive Retroactive Past memories get in the way of new memories Ex. You remember an old locker combination instead of the new one New memories affect the recall of old memories Ex. You move to a new neighborhood. When you go back to the old one to visit your friends, you have forgotten some of the streets.

Memory Construction Repression- the Freudian concept that painful memories are kept out of consciousness Misinformation effect- putting misleading information into one’s memory of an event Source amnesia- attributing information to the wrong source