Name the Princesses
Was it easy or hard?
• It depends on several
things….
• If you like Disney
movies?
• When was the last
time you have seen
the movie?
• Are people around
you being loud pain in
the butts so you
cannot concentrate?
Memory aids us more than you
might realize
Recognize
family
Memory-
learning that has persisted
over time
Human Memory: Basic Questions
• How does information get into memory?
• How is information maintained in memory?
• How is information pulled back out of
memory?
How Does memory
work?
Why do you forget what you learned
Last week…..
but remember lyrics to a song you
heard 3 years ago
Sensory Memory
• A split second
holding tank for ALL
sensory information.
• Feeds working
memory
• Sperling’s research
on Iconic Memory
Echoic Memory
Three Box Model of Memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin
Focuses on explicit memories through effortful processing
Working Memory
• Atkinson and Shiffrin
Model has been
disputed
• Explained the working
memory
– A newer
understanding of
short term memory
that focuses on
conscious, active
processing of
incoming sensory
information linked
with information
retrieved from long
term information
The BASIC Memory Process
Three step process….
1. Encoding: The processing
of information into the
memory system.
2. Storage: The retention
of encoded material over
time.
3. Retrieval: The process of
getting the information
out of memory storage.
Think of a
computer
Psychologists use
information-processing models
STEP 1- Encoding
Processing information
Parallel ProcessingBrain processing information at the same time
Walking down the hallway acknowledging the
people around you and the weird smells at once
Automatic processing
We automatically process
Implicit memories
Space
Time
Frequency
Effortful processing
Must practice to retain information
Explicit memories
(Declarative memories)
Storage
Short Term Memory
• The stimuli we
encode from our
sensory system goes
to STM.
• Events are encoded
visually, acoustically
or semantically.
• Holds about 7 (plus
or minus 2) items for
about 20 seconds.
• We recall digits
better than letters.
Short Term and Working memory have
limited capacity
• 7 items
• (+ or - 2)
• More for digits less for letters or words
BUT THERE IS HOPE!
Ways to Strengthen our effortful
processing
• Chunking
• Organizing info into familiar, manageable units
• Mnemonics
• Peg words- associating new information with common
knowledge info..
• Acronym (combines chunking and Mnemonics)
• Hierarchies
• OUTLINE NOTES!!!!! WAHOO!!!!
• Spacing Effect
• Cramming doesn’t work : (
• Testing effect
Lets try your memory
• Take out a scratch sheet of paper and a pen.
• I will read a list of words, try to remember as
many as you can
• After all words are read, write down the ones
you remember
SERIAL POSITION
EFFECT
Long Term Memory
• Unlimited
storehouse of
information.
• Explicit
(declarative)
memories
• Implicit (nondeclarative)
memories
Shallow and Deep processing
• Shallow- encoding on a basic level based on
the structure or appearance of the word
• Deep- encoding semantically based on the
meaning of the words- best retention
If information is meaningful or
relevant to our experiences it is
more likely to be processed
* Ebbinhaus- remembering
meaningful information required
1/10th of the effort vs. nonsense
material
Even though long term
memory is endless,
attention issues, prior
knowledge and memory
decay will interfere with
actual memories
Where in the Brain
• Frontal Lobes
• Explicit memories
are stored in the
Hippocampus
• Damage to the
Frontal lobes and
Hippocampus can
affect the recall
of explicit
memories
Where in the Brain cont.
• Implicit memories can
still form with damaged
to the frontal Lobe and
Hippocampus
• Cerebellum is used in
creating implicit
memories caused by
classical conditioning
• Basal Ganglia- creates
our procedural
memories (riding a bike)
• Strong emotions lead to
stronger memories
• Weaker emotions lead
to weaker memories
This is due to stress hormones- they encourage brain
activity and signal the brain of importance
Practice makes perfect
• When learning occurs the neurons actually
become more effective at sending and
receiving neurotransmitters
Long Term Potentiation