Sensory Short-Term Long-Term Three Stages of Memory Sensory Short-Term Long-Term

Stage Model of Memory Long-term memory Working or Short-term Memory Sensory Input Attention Encoding Retrieval Maintenance Rehearsal

Sensory Memory Function—holds information long enough to be processed for basic physical characteristics Capacity—large can hold many items at once Duration—very brief retention of images .3 sec for visual info 2 sec for auditory info Sensory Input Memory Hockenbury slides (Schulman) Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory

Sensory Memory Sensory memory forms automatically, without attention or interpretation Attention is needed to transfer information to the next stage Sensory Input Memory Hockenbury slides (Schulman) Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; attention

Neisser's Selective Attention Test: Introduction At any particular moment, we focus our attention on just a few limited aspects of our experience. Ulric Neisser devised a test to demonstrate selective attention. A viewer sees images of three men in black shirts tossing a ball superimposed on images of three men in white shirts tossing a ball, and is instructed to press a key each time a black-shirted player passes the ball.

Selective Attention: An Example View the Neisser’s Selective Attention Test basketball video clip below. Count the number of passes made. (click below to start) Did you notice the lady walk across the room with the umbrella? No! You were too busy watching & counting the passes.

Sensory Memory or Working Memory Divided into two types: iconic memory–visual information echoic memory– auditory information Sensory Input Memory Hockenbury slides (Schulman) Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; iconic memory; echoic memory; Sperling

Types of Sensory Memory Iconic memory—brief memory of an image A quick snapshot that lasts a fraction of second. Eidetic memory is a photographic memory that about 5% of children possess. Fades with time. George Sperling studied iconic memory Echoic memory —brief memory of a sound Auditory sensory memories may last longer than visual sensory memories (several seconds)

Sperling’s Experiment Presented matrix of letters for 1/20 of a second Report as many letters as possible Subjects recall only half of the letters Was this because subjects didn’t have enough time to view entire matrix? No How did Sperling know this? Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; iconic memory; Sperling Note: This slide and the next slide present the basic protocol for Sperling's task - mainly in text form. For instructors who prefer a more visual representation, slides 7-10 present the same protocols in a more schematic manner.

Sperling’s Experiment Sperling showed people can see and recall ALL the letters momentarily Sounded low, medium or high tone immediately after matrix disappeared tone signaled 1 row to report recall was almost perfect High Medium Low Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; iconic memory; Sperling Notes: This slide and the previous slide present the basic protocol for Sperling's task - mainly in text form. For instructors who prefer a more visual representation, slides 7-10 present the same protocols in a more schematic manner. Not an afterimage because Sperling showed he could present the letters to one eye and influence the memory by presenting a bright flash to the other eye. This would not have worked if the visual information was stored on the retina. Memory for image fades after 1-3 seconds or so, making report of entire display hard to do

Short Term or Working Memory Working or Short-term Memory Sensory Input Attention Hockenbury slides (Schulman) Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; attention; working memory; short-term memory

Working or Short-Term Memory Function - conscious processing of information where information is actively worked on Capacity - limited (holds 7 +/- 2 items) Duration - brief storage (about 30 seconds) Code - often based on sound or speech even with visual inputs Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; short-term memory; working memory; attention; memory span; 7 +/- 2 items Working or Short-term Memory Sensory Input Attention

Working Memory Store What happens if you need to keep information in working memory longer than 30 seconds? To demonstrate, memorize the following phone number (presented one digit at a time)... 8 5 7 9 1 6 3 Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; short-term memory; working memory Notes: This demonstration will present one number at a time, spaced one second apart. After the first two lines of text appear, hit enter once to start the number sequence. The remaining number will appear automatically. You do not need to hit again enter once the first number appears.

857-9163 Working Memory Store What is the number? The number lasted in your working memory longer than 30 seconds So, how were you able to remember the number? Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; short-term memory; working memory

Maintenance Rehearsal Mental or verbal repetition of information Allows information to remain in working memory longer than the usual 30 seconds Maintenance rehearsal Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; short-term memory; working memory; attention; maintenance rehearsal Sensory Memory Working or Short-term Memory Attention Sensory Input

You’ll want to limit Interference When new information appears in the short-term memory and takes the place of what was already there.

Maintenance Rehearsal What happens if you can’t use maintenance rehearsal? Memory decays quickly To demonstrate, again memorize a phone number (presented one digit at a time) BUT, have to count backwards from 1,000 by sevens (i.e., 1000, 993, 986 … etc.) Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; short-term memory; working memory; maintenance rehearsal Notes: This demonstration represents what occurs if students do not have the opportunity to rehearse the information. First, the sequence of numbers will appear. (Important note: instruct students before the number sequence begins that as soon as the final number is presented, they should immediately start counting backwards by seven from 1000). The slide will present one number at a time, spaced one second apart. After the first five lines of text appear, hit enter once to start the number sequence. The remaining numbers will appear automatically. You do not need to hit again enter once the first number appears. 6 2 8 5 9 4

628-5094 Working Memory Store What is the number? Without rehearsal, memory fades Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; short-term memory; working memory; attention

Peterson’s STM Task Test of memory for 3-letter nonsense syllables Participants count backwards for a few seconds, then recall Without rehearsal, memory fades Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; sensory memory; short-term memory; working memory; attention; maintenance rehearsal; Peterson

Primacy & Recency Effect When given a list of items to remember we are most likely to recall… The first few items (Primacy Effect) The last few items (Recency Effect) We’re most likely to forget the middle items.

Ways to Improve STM: Chunking Grouping small bits of information into larger units of information expands working memory load Which is easier to remember? 4 8 3 7 9 2 5 1 6 483 792 516 Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; short-term memory; working memory; chunking

Long Term Memory LTM

Long-Term Memory Once information passes from sensory to working memory, it can be encoded into long-term memory using maintenance or elaborative rehearsal Long-term memory Working or Short-term Memory Sensory Input Attention Encoding Retrieval Maintenance Rehearsal Hockenbury slides (Schulman) Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; long-term memory; working memory; short-term memory; encoding; retrieval

Long-Term Memory Function—organizes and stores information Unlimited capacity Duration—thought by some to be permanent Long-term memory Working or Short-term Memory Sensory Input Attention Encoding Retrieval Maintenance Rehearsal Hockenbury slides (Schulman) Key words: modal model of the mind; stage model of memory; long-term memory; working memory; short-term memory; encoding; retrieval

Memory is a Reconstruction Memories are NOT perfect playbacks of past events. They can be influenced by new information and the way we view and organize the world (schemas).

Clive Wearing--Living Without Memory: Introduction Studies of malfunctions of memory have helped researchers understand how we form (encode), store, and retrieve memories. Memories are recorded successively as sensory memory (the immediate initial stage), short-term memory (or working memory), and long-term memory. In one extreme type of memory deficit, caused by accident or disease, a person is unable to form new memories and lives in an eternal present. Clive Wearing, a world-renowned choir director and musical arranger, suffered brain damage following viral encephalitis, which destroyed both temporal lobes, the entire hippocampus, and much of the left frontal lobe. He lost his ability to form new memories. He has no memory of anything beyond the last minute or two.

Clive Wearing--Living Without Memory Clive and Deborah Wearing have one of their regular encounters, thirteen years after Clive suffered brain damage. Deborah describes Clive's repeated experience of waking up for the first time, as recorded in a diary. Click on box or title to play. If you’d like to view a more recent video of Clive click HERE. (5:54) Can also show (12:35) Segment #10 from The Mind: Psychology Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Clive Wearing--Living Without Memory: Questions Why does Wearing retains many memory-related abilities, such as speech, musical ability, and ability to recognize his wife. What is the role of the hippocampus (totally destroyed in Wearing) in memory formation?