Memory Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning

The Three Processes in Memory w Encoding- the forming of a memory cube w Storage-the maintaining of encoded information in memory w Retrieval-the act of recovering information from memory

Levels of Processing Theory w The idea that the deeper the level of processing the longer-lasting the memory Shallow-encoding the physical structure of the stimulus Intermediate-encoding that emphasizes what the word sounds like Deep-encoding that emphasizes the meaning of the word

Practical Application of Memory Information on Encoding w Enrich Encoding Elaboration-link information you are learning to other information at the time of encoding Visual Imagery-link information you are learning to a visual picture at the time of encoding Self-Referent Encoding-link information you are learning to something personal at the time of encoding

Memory Storage Systems w Sensory Memory-preserving information in its sensory structure for a brief moment w Short -Term Memory-a limited-capacity (about 7 items) storage for unrehearsed information w Long -Term Memory-an theoretically unlimited-capacity store for large pieces of information over longer periods of time.

Long -Term Memory Systems w Implicit Memory-apparent when retention is exhibited on a task that does not require intentional recollection of information w Explicit Memory-intentional recall of previously learned information w Prospective Memory-remembering to perform actions in the future w Retrospective Memory-involves remembering events from the past w Declarative Memory-factual information w Episodic Memory-chronologic recollection of personal experience w Semantic Memory-general knowledge that is not tied to the time when the information was learned w Nondeclarative Memory-houses memory for actions, skills, and operations

Retrieval Systems w Retention-the amount of information remembered w Recall-a type of memory test that requires that the participant reproduce the information on their own without any cues w Recognition-a memory test that requires that the participant select previously learned information from a group of options w Relearning-A demonstration that even though you may not remember something you learned, there must still be a trace. When you relearn something it takes significantly less time to learn then when you first learned it.

Causes of Forgetting w Decay-forgetting occurs because memory traces degrade with time w Retrieval Failure-unsuccessful recovery of information from memory stores w Encoding failure-information is not encoded in a way that it successfully reaches long-term memory w Consolidation failure-information is not consolidated in a way that it is successfully retained in long-term memory w Motivated forgetting-purposeful forgetting w Interference-the idea that people forget information because of competition from other information

Things that Can Impact Retrieval w Serial Position Effect-the idea that subjects given a memory test show better recall for items at the beginning and end of a list than for items in the middle of the list w State-Dependent Memory-improved recall that is attributed to being in the same emotional state during encoding and subsequent retrieval

The Physiology of Memory w Anatomy hippocampus amygdala w Physiology long-term potentiation w Chemistry Norepinephrine Acetylcholine GABA

Mnemonic Devices w Acrostics Every Good Boy Does Fine Associations Exist to Support Retention w Acronyms Roy G Biv w Narrative Methods Story Writing Rhymes (Ex: “I before E, except after C…”) w Visual Imagery Link Method of Loci Keyword Method w Organization of Information Hierarchies

Applying What We Know About Memory w Distributed vs massed practice Primacy/recency/serial position w Adequate rehearsal Ebbinghaus w Minimize interference proactive and retroactive w Duplicate Test Conditions State Dependence w Engage in Deep Processing Conceptual learning w Acoustic vs visual encoding Example