Enhancing Memory

Poor encoding STM

Elaborate encoding LTM

What did you recall?

Encoding The process of converting information into a useable form that can be stored and represented in memory  Shallow Processing: Information’s physical or sensory attributes (eg, colour, size, shape and texture)  Moderate Processing: Stimulus is encoded according to acoustic or phonetic qualities. Requires attention and increases the chance of retaining in LTM.  Deep Processing: Links new information with information already stored in LTM, with categories and subcategories. Enhances retrieval chances through elaboration and more effective retrieval cues.

Elaboration Describes the way in which new information is made more meaningful by linking it to prior information already stored in LTM.

Elaboration Self-referencing by relating new information to personal experiences or your personal situation in some way.

Elaborative Rehearsal The process of linking new information in a meaningful way with information already stored in memory or with other new information to aid its storage and retrieval from LTM.

Elaboration Similar concept in some alternative education programs (eg, learn a topic from all possible angles)

Context-Dependent Cues Environment cues in the specific context (setting) where a memory was formed, which act as retrieval cues to help access the memories formed in that context. Eg, sights, sounds, smells, etc.

Context-Dependent Cues Police taking an eye-witness back to the scene of the crime to help retrieve information from LTM.

Context-Dependent Cues

State-Dependent Cues Cues associated with an individual’s internal physiological and/or psychological state at the time the memory was formed, which act as retrieval cues to help access those memories.

State-Dependent Cues If information is learned when you are happy, sad, intoxicated, sober, calm or aroused, that information is more likely to be retrieved when you are in the same ‘state’.

Mnemonic Devices Retrieval is simplified with the use of a mnemonic aid because organisation is enhanced. The information memorised is changed into a form which it can link in or fit in more easily with the information already stored in memory.

Mnemonic Devices Narrative chaining, method of loci, peg word method, acrostics, acronyms and rhymes.

Narrative Chaining Linking otherwise unrelated items to one another (‘chaining’) to form a meaningful sequence or story (‘narrative’).

Narrative Chaining Make up a story to help remember the following words:  Dog, ball, house, petrol, supermarket, party, chairs, box.

Narrative Chaining The playful dog retrieved a ball that was thrown towards a house. The owner of the property worked at a petrol station on weekdays and a supermarket on weekends. His wife was planning a party for their five-year-old son. The games planned were musical chairs, and Jack in the box.

Narrative Chaining

Method of Loci This technique uses a well-learned sequence of locations as a series of retrieval cues for the information to be recalled.

Method of Loci Visualise entering your house through the gate, up the path to the front door, through the foyer, etc and each location would act as a cue for what needs to be remembered.

Method of Loci The concrete in the front of the gate has sensory memory engraved in it, the path has an eyeball from an old toy on the ground to represent iconic (visual) memory, the door has an ear-shaped door knob to represent echoic (auditory) memory, the foyer has an embroided sign saying “short-term memory” instead of “home sweet home”, etc.

Method of Loci

Rhyming Activity Capsicum, clothes-rack, Dalmatian, boat, iPod, tree, wheelbarrow, flute, toothpick, $5