Memory and Cognition

1. Memory and Cognition Retrieving Memories and the Failure of Memory

2. Memory Videos • Cards: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voAntzB7EwE • Passes: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

3. Quick Review • What is memory? • What is the information-processing model? • What its 3 basic parts? What does each term mean? • Where does encoding take place? Why there? • What are two ways of encoding? • Chunking and Rehearsal (effortful processing like elaborated rehearsal—need attention) • What are the three stages/types of memory? Explain. • What are the two levels of processing? Explain them. • What is an example of deep processing? • What are the two main parts of LTM? • What 2 ways is declarative memory divided? • What are the 3 types of amnesia we talked about?

5. Implicit vs. Explicit Memory • Implicit Memory—memory that you do not know you have; memory not deliberately learned; not conscious of knowledge • Most procedural memories; how to ride a bike • Explicit Memory—memory that has been consciously learned and consciously recalled • Mostly declarative or semantic

6. Retrieval and Priming • Retrieval: the recovery of information • Need retrieval cues for quicker & more accurate retrieval • Think of a Google search • Needs to be specific • Retrieval Cues: stimuli used to bring a memory into consciousness or behavior—smell, emotion, location • Priming: activating specific associations in our memory • Or: providing cues that stimulate memory • Guess the words: _ a _ _ a n; t _ _n_s; N _ _ _ e • Batman; thanks; Niche • Look at this list: frogs, books, trimming, ocean • Guess again: t _ im_ _ _ g; f_ _ e _ o _; _oo_ _ • trimming; freedom; looks • Can work with incomplete pictures • Can be incorrect

7. Types of Retrieval: Recall vs. Recognition • Think of Essay vs MC test • Recall: reproducing previously learned info • Recognition: ability to id that you have seen a stimuli before (Ex: faces in the computer lab) • Cues available so easier

8. Encoding and Memory • Encoding Specificity Principle—memory is encoded and stored with cues that are related to the circumstances in which it was formed • You only learn things by taking MC tests then this is the way you will remember information…and essay would be difficult for you • Mood-congruent memory—more likely to retrieve memories that match your mood • If depressed—most memories will be sad *TOT phenomenon: Tip-of-tongue—inability to recall a word while knowing it is a memory

9. Schacter: 7 sins of memory • See Handout!!!

10. Hermann Ebbinghaus: Forgetting Curve *He dealt with meaningless material; meaningful stuff fade, but not as quickly *Motor skills, flashbulb memories retained for long time • Transience: long term memories fade in strength over time • Studied this “sin” • Learned list of nonsense syllables (KEB, RUZ, etc.) • Tried to recall them over varying time intervals • Rapid initial loss of memory, then a declining rate of loss—forgetting curve

11. Advantages of the “7 Sins” • Transience—helps the brain from becoming overwhelmed • Blocking—allows most relevant information to come to mind • Absent-mindedness—a by product of our ability to multitask • Misattribution, bias, and suggestibility—occur b/c memory is built to deal w/ meaning and rid of details • Persistence—help people not make same mistakes; shows us how much memory is tied to emotion