Chapter 7: Human Memory

1. Chapter 7: Human Memory

2. Human Memory: Basic Questions • How does information get into memory? • How is information maintained in memory? • How is information pulledback out of memory?

3. Figure 7.2 Three key processes in memory

4. Encoding: Getting Information Into Memory • The role of attention • Focusing awareness • Divided attention

5. Encoding: Getting Information into Memory • The role of attention • Levels of processing • Incoming information processed at different levels • Deeper processing = longer lasting memory codes • Encoding levels: • Structural = shallow • Phonemic = intermediate • Semantic = deep

6. Figure 7.3 Levels-of-processing theory

7. Enriching Encoding • Elaboration = linking a stimulus to other information at the time of encoding • Thinking of examples • Visual Imagery = creation of visual images to represent words to be remembered • Easier for concrete objects: Dual-coding theory

8. Storage: Maintaining Information in Memory • Analogy: information storage in computers ~ information storage in human memory • Information-processing theories • Subdivide memory into three different stores • Sensory, Short-term, Long-term

9. Figure 7.6 The Atkinson and Schiffrin model of memory storage

10. Sensory Memory • Brief preservation of information in original sensory form • Auditory/Visual – approximately ¼ second

11. Short Term Memory (STM) • Limited duration – about 20 seconds without rehearsal • Rehearsal – the process of repetitively verbalizing or thinking about the information • Limited capacity – magical number 7 plus or minus 2 • Chunking – grouping familiar stimuli for storage as a single unit

12. Short-Term Memory as “Working Memory” • STM not limited to phonemic encoding • Loss of information not only due to decay • Baddeley (1986) – 3 components of working memory • Phonological rehearsal loop • Visuospatial sketchpad • Executive control system

13. Figure 7.7 Short-term memory as working memory

14. Long-Term Memory • Unlimited Capacity • Permanent storage? • Flashbulb memories • How is knowledge represented and organized in memory? • Schemas and Scripts • Semantic Networks • Connectionist Networks and PDP Models

15. Retrieval: Getting InformationOut of Memory • The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon – a failure in retrieval • Retrieval cues • Reinstating the context • Context cues • Reconstructing memories • Misinformation effect • Source monitoring

16. Forgetting: When Memory Lapses • Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve • Retention – the proportion of material retained • Recall • Recognition • Relearning

17. Figure 7.10 Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve for nonsense syllables

18. Why We Forget • Ineffective Encoding • Decay • Interference • Proactive • Retroactive • Retrieval failure • Repression • Authenticity of repressed memories? • Memory illusions • Controversy

19. Figure 7.11 Effects of interference

20. Figure 7.12 Retroactive and proactive interference

21. Retrieval Failure • Encoding Specificity • Transfer-Appropriate Processing • Repression • Authenticity of repressed memories? • Memory illusions • Controversy

22. Figure 7.14 The prevalence of false memories observed by Roediger and McDermott (1995)

23. The Physiology of Memory • Anatomy • Anterograde and Retrograde Amnesia • Hippocampus • Medial temporal lobe memory system • Neural circuitry • Localized neural circuits • Biochemistry • Hormones modulating neurotransmitter systems • Protein synthesis

24. Figure 7.16 The anatomy of memory

25. Systems and Types of Memory • Declarative vs. Procedural • Semantic vs. Episodic • Prospective vs. Retrospective

26. Figure 7.17 Theories of independent memory systems

27. Figure 7.18 Retrospective versus prospective memory