1. Memory
1st studied experimentally by Hermann Ebbinghaus

2. Modal model

3. Sperling’s Study Demo

4. Short-term memory Properties of STM Capacity Duration/Forgetting
N. R. Brown, U of Alberta
Short-term memory
Properties of STM
Capacity
Duration/Forgetting
Retrieval
Psyco 350

5. Measuring STM Capacity: Digit-Span Task
N. R. Brown, U of Alberta
Measuring STM Capacity: Digit-Span Task
Digit Span Defined: # of digits accurately recalled 50% of the time
Standard Span: 7±2 digits
Modal Model Interpretation (Miller, 1956):
STM Capacity: ≈ 7 “chunks”
Psyco 350

6. Long-Term Memory
Coding, capacity, duration
Types of LTM

7. Modal model can explain Ebbinghaus’ serial position curve

8. 5) Forgetting: Decay versus interference
Problems:
1) Capacity issue
2) Only auditory?
3) Repetition=memory?
-mnemonics
-flashbulb and incidental memories
4) Circular reasoning
5) Forgetting: Decay versus interference

9. Alternative to modal model: Depth of Processing
Physical: Is the word written in capital letters?
15%
Phonemic: Does the word rhyme with BLUE?
50%
Semantic: Would the word fit this sentence:
“I saw a _____ in a pond”
90%

10. 1. Principle of Encoding Specificity
Other factors besides processing depth that influence memory:
1. Principle of Encoding Specificity
-situation-specific learning
-state-specific learning
2. Self-referential memories
3. Rehearsal distribution