1. Forgetting An inability to retrieve from LTM

2. But is forgetting necessarily a retrieval failure? “RetrievaI failure” implies the information is there and just not accessible. Was it inadequately stored, or learned, when we acquired it? Has it actually decayed with time?

3. Important questions, because we would like to know How might we minimize forgetting? How can we remember what we wish and forget what we’d rather forget? Should we attempt to interfere with forgetting, or does forgetting serve an essential purpose?

4. Hermann Ebbinghaus In 1885, using himself as subject, studied forgetting, using nonsense syllables (why?) Plotted a forgetting curve, testing himself at various intervals after learning, and found that memory did decline with time passage

5. I. Transience Pattern of forgetting over time Early theorists suggested that decay of memories accounts for forgetting Some evidence does suggest that unused memories are forgotten.

6. Interference Recent research suggests much more forgetting occurs due to Interference Proactive Interference: Previously learned information inhibits our ability to remember new information

7. Retroactive Interference: New information inhibits our ability to remember old information

9. Especially potent when retrieval cues are identical or very similar (e.g., learning new/forgetting old locker combinations)

10. II. Blocking Temporary inability to retrieve something known Very common: forgetting the name of a CD, someone’s name you know, etc.

11. TOT Phenomenon Experienced as inability to recall a fact, word, name, etc., that we are absolutely certain we know and have stored in LTM; The memory is temporarily inaccessible. For example,

12. >Patronage bestowed on a relative, in business or politics is

13. Often due to interference from words similar in sound, number of syllables, 1 st letter, etc.: they keep recurring as we try to remember target word

14. >An astronomical instrument for finding position is

15. III. Absentmindedness Inattentive or shallow encoding of events Where your keys are, name of person you just met, whether you took your vitamins, etc.

16. Described as explaining “change blindness” – inability to detect changes to an object or scene Well-known example: individual asking directions “changes” to another person

17. Amnesia Extreme forgetting: inability to retrieve vast quantities of information from LTM Anterograde and retrograde