Forgetting, Memory Construction and Memory Improvement

Amnesia Retrograde Amnesia Anterograde Amnesia Loss of memory from the point of an injury or trauma backward. Those who cannot remember their past “Retro” means going backward, like a retro look for a party Anterograde Amnesia Loss of memory from the point of an injury or trauma forward. New, explicit memories cannot form but implicit, automatic memory not affected.

Two-track Mind Case studies about these two types of amnesia confirm we have two distinct memory systems, controlled by different parts of the brain. Those with anterograde amnesia cannot recall new facts (explicit memory), they can be successful learning how to do new things (implicit memory).

Memory Failures Forgetting for most of us is quite a bit less dramatic than those with amnesia. There can be problems with: Encoding Storage Retrieval

Encoding Failure Much of what we sense we never notice. What we fail to encode, we don’t remember Encoding slows with age, so age can affect encoding

Failure to process information into memory Encoding Failure Failure to process information into memory Which penny is real?

Encoding Failure

Retrieval Cues Sometimes it helps to have some sort of stimulus to help us remember. This is called a Retrieval Cue. Priming Context Dependent State Dependent Encoding Specificity

Storage Decay Even after encoding something well, we sometimes later forget it. Herman Ebbinghaus conducted research in this area.

Storage Decay

Retrieval Failure Often forgetting isn’t an issue of memories faded but its that they aren’t that important to us. However, sometimes important memories defy our attempt to retrieve them. Retrieval cues may help. Such as “It begins with an M.”

Retrieval Failure

Summary: Forgetting can occur at any stage. As we process information, we filter, alter, or lose much of it.

Are there advantages to forgetting stuff Are there advantages to forgetting stuff? What would be the problem with not being able to forget anything? Jill Price

Interference As you collect more and more information your mental attic gets cluttered. Sometimes your clutter interferes as new learning collides with old.

Interference Proactive Interference is the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information. Retroactive Interference is the disruptive effect new learning has on the recall of old information.

Interference Information learned in the hour before sleep is protected from retroactive interference. Old and new information do not always interfere with each other – sometimes it actually helps.

Memory Construction Errors Misinformation Effect: incorporating misleading information into one’s memory of an event.

Memory Construction Errors Misinformation Effect: incorporating misleading information into one’s memory of an event. Source Amnesia: attributing to the wrong source an event we have experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined. Déjà vu: Cues from the current situation may unconsciously trigger revival of an earlier event.

Improving Memory SQ3R: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review Rehearse Repeatedly: Space the drills out Make the material meaningful: Create a story, or relate personally Get some sleep!

Children’s Recall How reliable are young children’s eyewitness descriptions,