1 Memory I Introduction A 3 Stages of memory 1 Encoding processing info in such a way that it can be represented internally for memory storage Ex Computer entering data into computer on keyboard 2 Storage maintaining encoded info in memory over time Ex Computer saving data in a file on a hard drive 3 Retrieval recovering info from storage B 3 Types 1 Iconic sensory Memory a Fraction of a second b Separate memory store for each sensory system 2 Working short term memory a Limited capacity b Up to 20 seconds Unrehearsed c Rehearsed stays in working memory while being rehearsed phone 3 Long term memory a Minutes lifetime b Unlimited capacity Infantile amnesia why we cant remember anything before the age of roughly 3 years old Could be due to lack of speech Maybe the cognitive structure just isn t there to retain what happened Marilu Henner superior autobiographic memory Her memory is Eidetic in nature DanielTammer Mathematic savant had epilepsy as a child that may have caused his abilities to do math He also has Asperger s very rare that people are savants He did pie and then 22000 places Took him 5 hours to perform and a couple weeks to learn Synesthesia combing sense that is how numbers feel for him 2 Loci method of location for memorizing things such as the video of memorizing a deck of cards II Working Short Term Memory A def limited capacity store keeps unrehearsed info up to 20 seconds 1 mental workspace temporarily holds info coming in from your sensory memory or info retrieved from long term memory 2 located in prefrontal cortex also where high level thinking happens B Stages 1 Encoding 3 codes a Phonological coding sounds 1 most common 2 use even when material is visual rather than look alike 4 do this in rehearsal b Semantic coding meaning 3 people are more likely to confuse things that sound alike more important in our long term memory c Visual coding images i Eidetic photographic memory 2 Storage very limited a Magic number is 7 1 Working memory holds 7 items 2 5 9 numbers 2 memory span the max number of items between 5 9 3 that can be Recalled in perfect order 3 demonstration b Chunking recoding new material into larger more meaningful units using LTM long term memory a 1st recognize letters as a familiar unit transfer knowledge from LTM to WM b draw info out of LTM to evaluate and understand info 1 still 7 2 more info 2 date word abbrev 3 how chunking works in WM thinking c Maintenance rehearsal repeating material to sell verbalizing or 1 keeping material in WM as long as you re rehearsing it 2 if material is rehearsed enough goes to LTM 3 demo candid camera tape d Forgetting failure to retrieve information from your memory 1 decay info fades over time 2 displacement new info replaces old info 4 Retrieval the more items in WM the slower the retrieval 4 III Long Term Memory LTM A B lifetime Stages Def unlimited capacity to store holds info for a long time from minutes to a 1 Encoding elaborative rehearsal efforts to encode info from WM into LTM a code verbal info based on meaning 1 we recall the meaning context don t recall the exact words 2 make info personally meaningful b the more elaborately you encode the info the better the memory 1 organize material a content group related things together b chunking enlarge size of chunk put more info 2 imagery visualizing what you re trying to remember a link method form mental image by linking items together foreign languages b method of loci imaginary walk along familiar path items to remember are associated with certain locations ben pridmore visualizing his gmas house to remember a deck of cards c key word method associate familiar word with new word by generating an image foreign language b 2 kinds of memory 5 2 Storage a located in hippocampus and surrounding cortex 1 consolidates new info also links memory stored in separate parts of brain 2 damage severe memory impairment this is what gets damged when you have Alzheimer s 1 Explicit memory conscious recollection a episodic memories personal experiences dated autobiography b semantic memory general facts updated encyclopedia 2 Implicit procedural memory skills and procedures can do without conscious recollection tying shoes driving 3 Retrieval a have to locate it first 1 forgetting often the inability to find info retrieval failure not the actual loss of info storage failure 2 like looking for a book in a library b retrieval cues things that help you retrieve info from memory 1 context easier to retrieve info if youre in same context you were in when it was encoded study in classroom 2 state dependent memory improved recall when in same internal state as when info was encoded recreate that state of mind caffeinated study caffeinate when testing too 3 mood congruent memory memory is better for info consistent with your current mood when sad depressed remember sad things 6 c unsuccessful retrieval forgetting 1 interference difficulty retrieving info due to competition from other material a greater interference 1 when the intervening material is more similar ex Learning old number v new number 2 over time more material accumulates b kinds 1 retroactive new info impairs retention of previously learned info new before old 2 proactive previously learned info interferes with retention of new info 2 Amnesia loss of memory a b cause types 1 2 retrograde anterograde c