1. Psychology in Action (8e) by Karen Huffman
PowerPoint  Lecture Notes Presentation
Chapter 7: Memory
Karen Huffman, Palomar College
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)

2. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Lecture Overview
The Nature of Memory
Forgetting
Biological Bases of Memory
Using Psychology to Improve Our Memory
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3. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
The Nature of Memory
Memory: internal record or
representation of some prior
event or experience
Memory is also a constructive process, in which we actively organize and shape information as it is processed, stored, and retrieved.
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)

4. The Nature of Memory— Description of Four Memory Models
1. Information Processing Approach: memory is a process analogous to a computer, which encodes, stores, and retrieves information
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5. The Nature of Memory— Description of Four Memory Models (Cont.)
2. Parallel Distributed Processing Model: memory is distributed across a network of interconnected units that work simultaneously (in a parallel fashion) to process information
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6. The Nature of Memory— Description of Four Memory Models (Continued)
3. Levels of Processing Approach: memory depends on the degree or depth of mental processing occurring when material is initially encountered
4. Traditional Three-Stage Memory Model: memory requires three different storage boxes to hold and process information for various lengths of time
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7. Diagram of Three-Stage Memory Model
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8. The Nature of Memory— Description of Three Stage Memory Model
Sensory Memory: briefly preserves a relatively exact replica of sensory information
Sensory memory has a large capacity but information only lasts a few seconds.
Selected information is sent on to short-term memory.
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)

9. The Nature of Memory— Three Stage Memory Model (Cont.)
Short-Term Memory (STM): temporarily stores sensory information and decides whether to send it on to long-term memory (LTM)
STM can hold 5-9 items for about 30 seconds before they are forgotten.
STM capacity can be increased with chunking. STM duration improves with maintenance rehearsal.
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)

10. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
STM, also called working memory, is much more than just a passive, temporary holding area.
Three parts of working memory:
visuospatial sketchpad
central executive
phonological loop
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11. The Nature of Memory— Three Stage Memory Model (Continued)
Long-Term Memory (LTM): relatively permanent memory storage with a virtually limitless capacity
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12. Types of Long-Term Memories
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13. Improving Long-Term Memory (LTM)
LTM can be improved with:
Organization (Flowchart)
Elaborative Rehearsal
Linking to existing memories
Retrieval Cues
Recognition (M/C exam)
Recall (Essay exam)
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14. An Example of Using Hierarchies as an Organizational Tool
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15. An Example of Recognition Vs. Recall
Research shows people are better at recognizing photos of previous high school classmates than recalling their names.
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16. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
A Test for Recall: Can You Write Down the Names of Santa’s Nine Reindeer?
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17. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Now Try Recognizing the Names (Need Help? Answers Appear in Appendix B)
A) Rudolph
B) Dancer
C) Cupid
D) Lancer
E) Comet
F) Vixen
G) Blitzen
H) Crasher
I) Donner
J) Prancer
K) Sunder
L) Thunder
M) Dasher
N) Donder
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18. Forgetting: How Quickly Do We Forget?
Ebbinghaus found:
forgetting occurs most rapidly immediately after learning.
relearning takes less time than initial learning.
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19. Why Do We Forget? Five Key Theories
Decay
Interference
Motivated Forgetting
Encoding Failure
Retrieval Failure
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20. Five Theories of Forgetting (Continued)
1. Decay Theory:
memory degrades with time
2. Interference Theory: one memory competes (interferes) with another
Retroactive Interference (new information interferes with old)
Proactive Interference (old information interferes with new)
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21. Two Forms of Interference
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22. Five Theories of Forgetting (Continued)
3. Motivated Forgetting: motivation to forget unpleasant, painful, threatening, or embarrassing memories
4. Encoding Failure: information in STM is not encoded in LTM
5. Retrieval Failure: memories stored in LTM are momentarily inaccessible (tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon)
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23. Overcoming Problems with Forgetting
Serial Position Effect: remembering material at the beginning and end of the list better than material in the middle
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24. Overcoming Problems with Forgetting (Continued)
Source Amnesia: forgetting the true source of a memory
Sleeper Effect: information from an unreliable source, which was initially discounted, later gains credibility because source is forgotten
Spacing of Practice: distributed practice is better than massed practice
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25. Biological Bases of Memory
Biological changes in neurons facilitate memory through long-term potentiation (LTP), which happens in at least two ways:
repeated stimulation of a synapse strengthens the synapse, and
neuron’s ability to release its neurotransmitters is increased or decreased.
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)

26. Biological Bases of Memory (Continued)
Hormones
also affect memory (e.g., flashbulb memories--vivid and lasting images are associated with surprising or strongly emotional events).
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27. Where Are Memories Located?
Memory tends to be localized and distributed throughout the brain--not just the cortex.
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28. Biology and Memory Loss: Injury and Disease
Amnesia: memory loss from brain injury or trauma
Retrograde amnesia: old memories lost
Anterograde amnesia: new memories lost
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29. Biology and Memory Loss: Injury and Disease (Continued)
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): progressive mental deterioration characterized by severe memory loss
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30. Memory and the Criminal Justice System
Two memory problems with profound legal implications:
Eyewitness Testimony--
very persuasive but can be flawed
Repressed Memories—
considerable debate as to whether recovered memories are accurate or repressed
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)

31. Using Psychology to Improve Our Memory
Why do we distort our memories?
Need to maintain logic and consistency.
Need to shape and construct our memories because it is more efficient to do so.
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32. Pause and Reflect: Why Study Psychology?
Psychological research conducts basic research, which helps us describe and understand our own and others’ memory processes. This basic research also leads to applied research that shows us how to improve our sensory, short-term, and long-term memory.
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33. Using Psychology to Improve Our Memory (Continued)
Eight Tips for Memory Improvement:
1. Pay attention and reduce interference
2. Use rehearsal techniques
3. Organization
4. Counteract serial position effect
5. Time management
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34. Using Psychology to Improve Our Memory (Continued)
6. Use encoding specificity principle (recreate the original learning conditions)
7. Employ self-monitoring and overlearning
8. Use mnemonic devices: method of loci (phys.places), peg-word (hang & associate), substitute word (word parts), word associations (first letters make a new word)
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35. Psychology in Action (8e) by Karen Huffman
PowerPoint  Lecture Notes Presentation
End of
Chapter 7: Memory
Karen Huffman, Palomar College
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)