Our memory works by encoding information into something the brain can understand, where
it is stored and can later be retrieved.
Sensory memory quickly holds onto sensory information. But if we pay a bit more attention,
that information can reach our short-term memory.
Short-term memory is limited in both how much information it can hold and for how long.
That's why you can forget the name of someone you just met. Chunking is a way to remember
more information by grouping it together. For example, 0705609510 is harder to remember by
just memorizing each digit, but easier like this: 070 560 95 10.
Long-term memory is where all our most robust memories stay. As far as we know, the space
is infinite and can be held throughout our lives.
The serial position effect is the effect where we have better ability to remember information
based on where it is located in a series. This effect has two components: the primacy and
recency effect. This means that we remember more of the first and last of a series of
information, like a shopping list forgotten at home, for example.
The better we encode information into long-term memory, the better the possibility of
retrieving it.
Effortful and automatic processing: When studying for a test, for example, we use effortful
processing as we repeat the information and focus to remember it. Automatic processing is
encoding that occurs without meaning and requires minimal attention.
When studying, we remember more if we focus on the meaning of information. This is called
elaborative rehearsal. It requires deeper processing to focus and reflect on the information,
making it easier to remember than just reading something and hoping it sticks. When we only
read something without focusing and reflecting, it only stays in short-term memory, which is
called maintenance rehearsal.
Schema helps us organize our world. For example, in FL, I have built a schema for each
project. Just by seeing how it is organized, I can remember which song it is.
STORAGE
The associative network is explained as a massive network of associated ideas and concepts.
For example, when we think of a car, we can more easily think of related concepts like
wheels, color, glass, steering wheel, etc. This helps us understand how some people can
remember pi by associating each digit with something.
Declarative memory involves factual knowledge and includes two subcategories.
Episodic memory is our knowledge of our personal experiences. Like my favorite movie or
what I had for lunch.
Semantic memory represents general factual knowledge about the world, language, words,
and concepts. Like I know that Mount Everest is the world's tallest mountain.
These are called declarative because if we are to demonstrate our knowledge, we must be able
to explain it. Tell others what we know.
Procedural memory is reflected in competence and action. Here, our knowledge is
demonstrated by doing something like exercising at the gym or driving a car.
Explicit memory involves conscious memory retrieval, while implicit memory affects our
behavior without consciousness.
RETRIEVAL
Retrieval cues are like breadcrumbs that can activate information in long-term memory. If I
tell my dad a match, but he says he doesn't remember it, I can mention some retrieval cues
that he probably associated with the match so he remembers it. Like Rödin scored two goals
or Bertilsson got a match penalty. The more cues we have, the more we remember.
The encoding specificity principle is a theory that suggests that we better remember
something if we are in the same environment or context as when the memory was encoded.
For example, when I take a test, it's better if I use headphones because I studied with them.
That's why my retrieval is better.
State-dependent memory is the same, but this time it's our inner state instead of the outer. If I
study while cycling at the gym, my ability to retrieve the memory is better if I experience the
same breath/internal state.
FORGETTING/DISTORTION
We can forget things if we didn't initially put enough energy into remembering them. So it
stays only in short-term memory until it disappears.
Sometimes our old memories get in the way of our new ones. Like if you move, the address
for your old home may be what you think of when you think of your new address. This is
called proactive interference. On the other hand, there is retroactive interference, which means
that our new memories get in the way of our old ones.
Childhood amnesia: Our memory usually doesn't contain what happened before we were 3-4
years old. This may have to do with the brain not being fully developed to encode long-term
memory. Then we don't have the same understanding at that age, so it's harder to create
memories.
Misinformation effect means the distortion of memories of misleading information after an
event. If I show a video of two cars colliding and then ask, "What speed do you think the cars
were going when they made contact?" The answer may be less than if I ask, "What speed do
you think the cars were going when they crashed into each other?" Because "crash" is a more
brutal word than "contact," it can distort our memory of just that change after.