Psychology: from Science to Practice

PSY 105 Memory

Objectives
When you complete this lesson, you will be able to:

Describe the information processing model of memory Describe the three kinds of memories Compare and contrast the views of short term and working memory Explain the difference between episodic and semantic memory Describe the role schemas play in memories and memory distortions Explain forgetting in terms of two forms of interference Explain three forms of memory found in everyday life Discuss two forms of memory impairments

Information Processing Model

Computer memory and human memory similarities
Encoding - converting information into form to be entered into memory Storage - retaining information over time Retrieval locating and accessing information when needed

Information-processing model for storing information

Sensory memory - temporary storage of information from senses Short-term memory - holds small amounts of information for brief periods, usually thirty seconds or less Long-term memory - allows retention of information for long periods

Memory on the Move

Sensory Memory Focus of attention (concentration)
Short term memory
Elaborative Rehearsal Relate to previous information Cognitive effort

Long-term memory

Working Memory
Short-term memory
Hold only seven (plus or minus two) discrete items Items chunked into piece of information

Working memory
Short-term storage Mechanism for rehearsing stored information Attention mechanism that determines what information enters

Long Term Memory Episodic Memory

Episodic memory: store factual information that happen to us personally

Level of processing view: view of memory that greater effort expended in processing information, more readily will be recalled later Retrieval cues: stimuli associated with information stored in memory that can bring it to mind Context dependent memory: material learned in one environment or context is easier to remember in a similar context or environment State-dependent retrieval: easier to recall information stored in long-term memory when internal state similar to when information first entered into memory Encoding specificity principle: retrieval of information is successful to the extent that the retrieval cues match the cues the learner used during the study phase.

Long Term Memory Semantic Memory

Semantic memory: information we do not remember acquiring at specific time or in specific place
store general abstract knowledge about the world

Concepts: mental categories for objects or events that are similar to one another in certain ways
Exist in networks reflecting relationships between them

Procedural Memory
Procedural memory: a system that retains information we cannot readily express verbally but can recall the memory
Sometimes referred to as implicit memory Existence provided by way in which many skills are acquired Improves with practice

Forget Me Not
Retroactive Interference
Information learned currently
Interferes

Information learned previously

Proactive Interference
Information Learned currently Information learned previously

Interferes

Retrieval Inhibition
Retrieval inhibition: inhibition of information in memory we do not try to remember produced by remembering other, related information
More difficult in the future

Memory Distortion
Memory distortion results in alterations in information stored in memory
Distortion of physical attributes Distortion from given false information

Schemas: cognitive frameworks representing individuals knowledge about world

Developed through experience Act like mental scaffolds for processing new information and relating to prior knowledge

Memory Construction
Fuzzy trace theory: relationship between memory and higher reasoning processes Eyewitness testimony: information provided by witnesses to crimes or accidents
Errors occur due to suggestibility or wrong sources

Memories in Every Day Life

Repression: active elimination from consciousness of memories or experiences we find threatening Autobiographical memory: memory for information about events in our own lives
Since we did not possess language skills at that time, we cannot report them in words Brain structures necessary for such memory not sufficiently developed No clear self-concept until sometime between our second and third birthday ; lack of personal frame of reference

Memory for Our Emotions

Current emotional state can produce distortions of memories Tendency to cope with present problems by reconstructing past to maximize our current happiness or satisfaction Mood-dependent memory: memory enhanced when our mood state during retrieval is similar to when first encoded some information Mood congruence effects: remember information that is congruent with our current mood
Positive information when we feel happy and negative information when we feel sad

Diversity and Memory

Easier to remember people belonging to our own racial or ethnic group than people belonging to others
may influence accuracy of eyewitnesses at crime scenes Annoying to people who feel slighted from nonrecognition

Memory Disorders
Amnesia: loss of memory stemming from illness, accident, drug abuse
Retrograde amnesia - memory of events prior to the amnesia inducing event impaired Anterograde amnesia - individuals cannot remember events that occur after the amnesia inducing event

Korsakoffs syndrome
anterograde amnesia and severe retrograde amnesia damage thalamus and hypothalamus suggesting involvement in long term memory.

Memory Disorders cont

Alzheimers disease: disease afflicting people over 65 that involves severe mental deterioration, including amnesia Accumulation of amyloid beta protein may cause damage to neurons

Memory and the Brain

Hippocampus
converts information from temporary state to more permanent one Plays a role in spatial learning

Frontal lobes
Working memory Encoding and retrieval of factual information from long term memory

Possible causes of amnesia

Damage to these areas prevents consolidation of the memory trace When information stored in memory, its context is also stored. May result from inability to enter this additional information into memory Stems from an inability to monitor errors

Memories are highly localized within the brain and some are represented by a pattern of neural activity in many different brain regions

Summary

Memory is the system of storing and retrieving information. The information-processing model of memory suggests that 1) memory involves encoding, storage, and retrieval of information; and 2) we possess several different kinds or types of memory including sensory, short term, and long term memory. Short term memory is enhanced by ones ability to chunk information. Semantic memories hold information about the world around us while episodic memories is the ability to recall events that happened to us directly and are part of our long term memory processing system. Retrieval cues are stimuli that are associated with information stored in memory and can help bring it to mind at times when it cant be recalled spontaneously. Psychologists believe that forgetting stems from several different factors. Retroactive interference happens when information currently being learned interferes with information already present. Proactive interference happens when previously learned information interferes with newly learning information. Memory functions do show some localization within the hippocampus as well as the frontal lobes.