Gerontology October 17 2012 Memory in Later Life Why Study Memory Practical Memory Memory skills are necessary to cope with everyday life Ex Remembering medications Age Brings gains losses BUT memory can be maintained enhanced Normal Aging vs Disease Age associated changes in memory o Normal maturational changes in our memory Age related changes in brain s pre frontal cortex o Hippocampus associated with memory Pathological Changes in Memory Effects of disease or injury Memory Structures Sensory memory First step in receiving information o Ex Visual or auditory memories o Sensory memories decay rapidly o Shows little change with age Sensory Memory Test Short Term Memory Primary or working memory Scratch pad of the human mind limited storage Maximum of 7 2 stimuli ex 7 digit phone number Some age deficits when manipulating information Short Term Memory Test Long Term Memory Permanent Memory Storage Long term memory has unlimited capacity Age differences in long term memory depend on the type of information Ex Recall more meaningful events Memory Processes Information Processing Approach Encoding Giving meaning to the memory Storage Refers to organizing information in a hierarchical manner Retrieval Refers to getting out the information Learning and Memory in Adulthood Encoding Problems Older adults less efficient Storage problems no real difference Retrieval problems Older adults worse at recalling information No differences in recognizing information Memory Strategies Explicit External Aids o Written reminds ex notes lists o Sensory or object cues Explicit Internal Aids Encoding Strategies o Mental imaging o Rehearsal organization and elaboration Common Strategies Rehearsal Mnemonic Devices Verbal or visual associations to link unrelated pieces of information to remember Rhyme I before e except after c Form a verbal math association HOMES Great Lakes Other Encoding Strategies Age Differences in Strategy Use Older adults less likely to spontaneously use strategies than younger ages Why Consider strategies silly or childish Related to cohort differences ex education Processing speed difficult to hold information in mind while forming association Dr Gary Small Memory Techniques 1 Look Relax focus on the details take your time decide what you want to remember 2 Snap Take a mental picture 3 Connect Imagine objects on top of each other crash objects into each other Enhance Learning Memory in Adulthood Task Pacing Increase time available to retrieve information External Aides Notes keeping things in the same place Encoding Strategies o Mnemonics visual imagery o Keyword method elaboration o Organic material Manage anxiety about failure o Requires dividing attention fewer resources to focus on task o Ex lost while driving at night Healthy Lifestyle o Diet exercise and moderate alcohol intake
View Full Document
Unlocking...