HUH? : WHEN MEMORY LAPSES
Hermann Ebbinghaus tested memory Created Forgetting Curve: graphs retention and forgetting over time Showed steep drop in retention within hours of learning EBBINGHAUS’S FORGETTING CURVE
Retention: proportion of material retained 3 principle methods for measuring forgetting: recall, recognition, and relearning MEASURING FORGETTINGFORGETTING
DEF: requires subjects to reproduce info on their own w/o any cues RECALL
DEF: requires subjects to select previously learned info from any array of options Yield higher scores than recall RECOGNITION
DEF: requires a subject to memorize info a 2 nd time to determine how much time or effort is saved by having learned it before Compare time spent learning the 1 st time with time spent learning same material a 2 nd time RELEARNING
Pseudoforgetting—due to ineffective encoding (penny test) Decay theory: forgetting occurs b/c memory traces fade with time Interference theory: people forget info b/c of competition from other material 2 types of interference: 1) retroactive interference: when new info impairs the retention of previously learned info 2) proactive interference: when previously learned info interferes w/retention of new info WHY WE FORGET
Retrieval failure Encoding specificity principle: the value of a retrieval cue depends on how well it corresponds to the memory code Transfer appropriate processing: occurs when the initial processing of info is similar to the type of processing required by the subsequent measure of retention Motivated forgetting: tendency to forget things one doesn’t want to think about Freud called this Repression: keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious WHY WE FORGET CONTINUED
IN SEARCH OF THE MEMORY TRACE: THE PHYSIOLOGY OF MEMORY
Specific memories may depend on biochemical changes at specific synapses (alterations in synaptic transmission) Neurotransmitters may help with storage of new info BIOCHEMISTRY OF MEMORY
Memories may create unique, reusable neural pathways Long-term pontentiation: a long lasting increase in neural excitability at synapses along a specific neural pathway NEURAL CIRCUITRY OF MEMORY
Studies in organic amnesia give clues 2 basic types of amnesia: 1)Retrograde: loss of memories for events that occurred prior to the onset of amnesia 2)Anterograde: loss of memories for events that occur after the onset of amnesia Studies in amnesia have shown the hippocampal region is critical for LTM and Consolidation: a hypothetical process involving the gradual conversion of info into durable memory codes stored in LTM ANATOMY OF MEMORY
ARE THERE MULTIPLE MEMORY SYSTEMS?
Implicity memory: type of memory apparent when retention is exhibited on a task that does not require intentional remembering Explicit memory: intentional recollection of previous experiences IMPLICIT VS. EXPLICIT MEMORY
Declarative memory system: handles factual information Procedural memory system: houses memory for actions, skills, operations, and conditioned responses DECLARATIVE VS. PROCEDURAL MEMORY
Episodic memory system: made up of chronological, or temporally dated, recollections of personal experiences Semantic memory system: contains general knowledge that is not tied to the time when the info was learned SEMANTIC VS. EPISODIC MEMORY
Prospective memory: involves remembering to perform actions in the future Retrospective memory: remembering events from the past or previously learned info PROSPECTIVE VS. RETROSPECTIVE MEMORY