MEMORY
Get out a piece of paper – and write down the 7 dwarfs names….
We’ll get to the right answers a little later on…..
Now let’s talk about the phenomenon of memory!
Memory is the persistence of learning over time (in other words, information
processing)
Memory depends on the Difficulty of the task….. What are some of the difficulties
in writing down the 7 dwarfs’ names?
-
inconsequential information
too long since heard the story
classroom distractions
culture-bound
for the trivia buff – it was easy!
Only 18% of Americans can name them – but virtually all Americans know the
story….
Memory as Information Processing has three steps:
-
getting the information into our brain (ENCODING)
retaining the information over time (STORAGE)
getting it back out (RETRIEVAL)
I need a VOLUNTEER…..
Think of a recent time when you knew a word that you wanted to say, but just
couldn’t get it out….and you still can’t think of it!
-
Now describe as much as you can about the word.
How many syllables?
What letter does it start with?
What meaning or connotation does the word have?
This is known as TOT (Tip of the Tongue) phenomenon. – When retrieval
process does not produce a complete response – but parts that must be
constructed into a whole.
This illustrates how forgetting may result from retrieval failure, rather than
encoding or storage failure….
We organize our memory by sound, letter & meaning….
-
-
was there an order to the dwarf names that you listed? (get some
volunteers to share their list – and see if you/class can identify any
patterns)
Is there a pattern? (i.e., all end in “Y”, or several started with “S”?)
This concept is illustrated by your wrong answers of dwarf names in 2 ways:
-
Many of your wrong answers will be similar in sound, letter or meaning
o For example – 2 syllable names, ending in “y”, beginning with
“s” or “d” – or have similar meanings like Lazy, Clumsy,
Grouchy, Droopy.
-
Runs or patterns – when the generation of 1 correct item serves as a
cue for the next – virtually all will demonstrate these runs whether
correct or incorrect.
RECALL VS. RECOGNITION
Would you be able to remember more names if you had a list to choose
from? This is known as a “RECOGNITION” vs. a “RECALL” task.
RECALL –
is a 2-step process – you have to GENERATE the names and then
IDENTIFY the right names
RECOGNITION is easier, because the first step is done for you.
S0 – are multiple choice tests easier than essay tests? Why?
HERE’S A HANDOUT WITH SEVERAL POTENTIAL DWARF NAMES…..
Circle the correct names, cross out the ones you know are incorrect, and
leave the rest alone.
OKAY – HERE ARE THE CORRECT NAMES: Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Dopey,
Sneezy, Bashful & Doc.
Compare your initial “RECALL” list with the second “RECOGNITION” list. Were
you able to remember more names with the handout? Why?
91% of Americans recognize more names than can recall them!
Plus, there is a specific order of most to least likely to remember:
You are more likely to remember names ending in “y” – “organization by sound”
You are least likely to remember Bashful – also and example of organization by
sound (or absence of), and by meaning
So, was the purpose of everything we’ve covered so far to get you to memorize
the 7 dwarfs? What was the purpose?
SHORT TERM MEMORY – is transient – it can fit 7 pieces of information +-2
When we started this task it was a test to Recall from your Long Term Memory –
but now the dwarf names should be in your Short Term Memory.
Let’s find out – Turn over the handouts, and recall the names….
Was this Effortful processing or Automatic processing?
Does “rehearsal” play a role?
And what about the concept of “PRIMING?” ID strand that leads to memory –
and “awakening of associations”
TRANSITION TO NEW TOPIC……
Write down in a sentence or 2 your most 3 vivid memories from your life!
What did the text say these type of memories were? FLASHBULB MEMORY
It’s as if the nervous system takes a multimedia snapshot of sounds,
sights, smells, weather, emotional climate, body postures, etc….
These memories usually are about:
Injuries/accidents 18%
Sports 11%
Opposite Sex 10%
Animals 9%
Deaths 5%
Vacations 5%
Events that were surprising, consequential, emotional are most likely to be
flashbulb memories.
What were some of yours that you’d like to share?
Details of flashbulb memories are NOT necessarily accurate, even though we
think they are. WHY?
We rehearse & reconstruct an event – again & again
Other’s recollection of an event can influence our memory as well.
TRANSITION TO ANOTHER TOPIC
What is ENCODING again? – getting information into the brain
We need to understand material before we can remember it – there were several
TPS on this. SEMANTIC CODING – means to give “meaning” to something so
we can remember it.
We do this in different ways:
MNEMONIC DEVICES – Memory Tricks – SHARE YOURS
CHUNKING – remember 7 +- 2 (phone numbers)
TRANSITION TO NEW TOPIC
What is a DÉJÀ VU EXPERIENCE?
Different interpretations: Psychoanalytic – you really have been there
before, but can’t recall the original event because it is linked to pain or distress –
REPRESSED memory – teases at the edge of consciousness.
Neurologists – when 2 hemispheres of the brain jump out of sync.
Creates a distorted sense of time – 1 side of the brain can perceive something a
fraction of a second before the other…..
POLLY ANNA PRINCIPAL
SERIAL POSITION EFFECT
ICONIC MEMORY - photographic
ECHOIC MEMORY – “What did I just say?” 
IMPLICIT MEMORY – procedural – how to do something (amnesia victims, still
retain this memory)
EXPLICIT MEMORY - declarative memory – no recall of the experience (what
people with amnesia experience)
HIPPOCAMPUS – TPQs about this – This is basically the LAST brain structure
to mature – about age 3 – this explains why most of us don’t remember anything
prior to 3 years of age. It is the temporary processing site for explicit memories.
CEREBELLUM – is where Implicit memories are stored – and explicit.
FORGETTING – Causes:
Encoding Failure
Storage Decay
Retrieval Failure
INTERFERENCE –
PROACTIVE – something learned earlier disrupts recall of something you
can learn later
REACTIVE – when new information makes it hard to recall something
learned earlier
CHANGE BLINDNESS – encoding failure – occurs when we fail to detect
changes in objects or scenes that occur over time. (Example in book)
Memories are like “responses” waiting for the right “stimulus” to release them.
Retrieval Error is the largest contributor to forgetting!
Memories are dispositions that can be activated in certain circumstances (or
retrieval environments) and not in others…..IMPORTANT IN STUDYING!
Demonstrate superiority of recognition over recall – with “pin list” exercise
Listen carefully as I read a list of words. Do NOT write anything down.
Thread, pin, eye, injection, syringe, sewing, sharp, point, hurt, knitting, prick,
thimble, haystack, pain.
Now, write down as many as you can “recall”.
Once they are done distribute handout, and have them circle the ones they
remember.
So, did you “recognize” more than you “recalled?”
Ask how many students recalled and wrote down the following:
Pain (last item)
Thread (first item)
Point (middle item)
Sharp (middle item)
This demonstrates serial position effect – more will have the first 2 than the last
2.
How many of you recalled and wrote “needle?”
How many of you gave “needle” a 3 or 4 rating?
“Needle” wasn’t one of the words I said. I just created a “false memory” for you.
See how easy that was? How did that happen?
MEMORY CONSTRUCTION
The Misinformation Effect
WHEN? (passage of time) (subtle misinformation)
WHO? (young children & Sr. Citizens)
WHAT HAPPENS to original memory?
Permanently altered
Still there, but not encoded right initially
DO PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS MISINFORMATION?
YES!
Misinformation can turn a lie into memory’s truth. It causes people to believe
they saw things that never existed or saw them differently……
WHAT IMPLICATIONS DOES THIS HAVE? (eyewitnesses, UFO
sitings,etc)
TIPS FOR IMPROVING MEMORY
Overlearn – study repeatedly to boost long-term recall
Spend more time rehearsing / actively thinking
Make material personally meaningful
Use mnemonic devices
“jog” your memory – recreate situation/mood
Minimize interference – study before sleeping
Test your recall.