Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory “HSAM”

1. Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory“HSAM” • Parts 1 and 2 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHeEQ85m79I (13:37) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en23bCvp-Fw (12:38) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0-mv26szJk (update 7:46)

2. Long Term Memory • The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system.

3. Long-Term Memory • Is it limitless?...We think so! • Rajan was able to recite 31,811 digits of pi. • At 5 years old, Rajan would memorize the license plates of all of his parents’ guests (about 75 cars in ten minutes). He still remembers the plate numbers to this day.

4. Long Term Memory - Types

5. Memory Retrieval • Reconstructive Memory • Leads to incorrect memories • Process of piecing together memories by fitting them into a meaningful plan or organization • We fill in gaps with assumptions because we are uncomfortable with the gaps. Once we've done this, distinguishing what actually happened from what we filled in is almost impossible. • Schema-a cognitive system which helps us organize and make sense of information.

6. The Rumor Chain – reconstructive memory activity • Errors in each successive telling of the story are usually predictable: • Leveling – The tendency to simplify the material. Non-distinct details are left out. • Sharpening – Different individuals will highlight or over emphasize different details based on their prior experience and personal expectations. • They will correctly remember odd/very specific details that others probably would have forgotten. • Assimilation – Details of the story will be changed to fit the subjects own background knowledge and expectations; schemas.

7. Memory Retrieval • Context Effect • It helps to put yourself back in the same context you experienced (encoded) something. • If you study on your favorite chair at home, you will probably score higher if you also took the test on the chair. • Chewing gum/testing

8. Memory Retrieval • Déjà Vu: eerie sense that you have experienced something before. • Current situation cues past experiences that are very similar to the present one- your mind gets confused. • Hemisphere delay Is déjà vu really a glitch in your memory?

9. Types of Forgetting • Why can’t I remember? • Encoding failure • Storage Decay • Retrieval Failure • Motivated forgetting • Repression • Amnesia • Infantile • Anterograde • Retrograde

10. Forgetting • Encoding failure • We fail to encode the information. • It never has a chance to enter our LTM.

11. Storage Decay • Even if we encode something well, we can forget it. • Without rehearsal, we forget things over time. “Use it or lose it.”

12. Forgetting: Decay

13. Retrieval Failure • The memory was encoded and stored, but sometimes you just cannot access the memory.

14. Motivated Forgetting Why does is exist? One explanation is REPRESSION: • psychoanalytic theory • defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings and memories from consciousness

15. Elizabeth Loftus-Eyewitness Testimony and False Memories • Mother’s drowning • Famous cases • OJ Simpson • Ted Bundy • Hillside Stranglers • McMartin Preschool • Rodney King • Michael Jackson • “Lost in the mall technique” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQr_IJvYzbA • “The Bunny Effect” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RLvSGYxDIs • NatGeo video-”red coat shills” & Misinformation Effect

16. Forgetting--Misinformation Effect • Information received after an event can alter your memory. • Leading question... “About how fast were the cars going when they ????? into each other?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg5bBJQOL74 car video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB2OegI6wvI More from Loftus

17. Elizabeth Loftus Study Results of the first experiment: Speed estimates for the verbs used in the estimation of speed question The results in the table show that the phrasing of the question brought about a change in speed estimate. With “smashed” eliciting a higher speed estimate than “contacted.”

18. Elizabeth Loftus Study Results of the second experiment Response to the question 'Did you see any broken glass?' These results show a significant effect of the verb used in the question on the misperception of glass in the video clip.

19. Elizabeth Loftus • Eyewitness vs DNA • Think/pair/share activity • 60 Minutes clip “Eyewitness”

20. Brewer and Treyens -Schemas • Psychology professor’s office • Take a few moments to “look around.” • Write down as many details from the photo as possible. • Did you remember books, filing cabinet, telephone, lamp, pens, pencils, coffee cup?