Memory
Cognitive Processing Automatic processing Controlled processing Serial processing Parallel processing
Attention Focusing attention on a narrowed range of stimuli Sustained v. Divided Filter Early? (sensory input) Late? (after brain processes) Top Down v. Bottom Up
Retention at three levels of processing Retention at three levels of processing. In accordance with levels-of-processing theory, Craik and Tulving (1975) found that structural, phonemic, and semantic encoding led to progressively better retention.
Enriched Encoding Elaboration Visual Imagery Self-Referent Encoding
Baddeley & Hitch – Working Memory
Recognition versus recall in the measurement of retention Recognition versus recall in the measurement of retention. Luh (1922) had subjects memorize lists of nonsense syllables and then measured their retention with either a recognition test or a recall test at various intervals up to two days. As you can see, the forgetting curve for the recall test was quite steep, whereas the recognition test yielded much higher estimates of subjects’ retention.
Memory Systems Implicit Explicit
Conditioned responses Implicit Memories Procedural Learned skills Does not require conscious recollection Conditioned responses “automatic memory”
Explicit Memories Declarative Semantic Can be accessed directly Involves episodic and semantic memory Semantic General knowledge not attached to time Language Episodic Chronological recollection of experience “Flashbulb memory”
Memory for the past and future events Retrospective Remembering events from the past or previously learned Prospective Memory for future events “What do I have to do today?”
Why do we forget? 7 sins of memory
“Sins of Omission” Transience--the decreasing accessibility of memory over time. Absent-mindedness--lapses of attention and forgetting to do things. Blocking--temporary inaccessibility of stored information, such as tip-of-the-tongue syndrome.
“Sins of Commission” Suggestibility--incorporation of misinformation into memory due to leading questions, deception and other causes. Bias--retrospective distortions produced by current knowledge and beliefs. Persistence--unwanted recollections that people can't forget, such as the unrelenting, intrusive memories of post-traumatic stress disorder. Misattribution--attribution of memories to incorrect sources or believing that you have seen or heard something you haven't.