PSYCH 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Psych, Retrograde Amnesia, Anterograde Amnesia
Nahas
Psych 101
General Psychology
LE
Fall 2018
3 steps of Long Term Memory:
● 1. Encoding: information is acquired and processed into neural code
○ Gathering information so it can be stored
○ Done by intentional or incidental learning
○ Rehearsal: Ebbinghaus conducted a study – as rehearsal increases, relearning time
decreases
○ Semantic Encoding: results in better recognition later than visual or acoustic
encoding
● 2. Storage: information is stored in the brain
○ Retention of encoded representations over time
○ Stress Hormones & Memory: heightened emotions (stress-related or otherwise)
make for stronger memories
○ Flashbulb Memory: a unique and highly emotional moment can give rise to a
clear, strong, and persistent memory called the flashbulb memory; though this
memory might not be completely accurate (ex: 9/11)
○ Memory Consolidation: need for consolidation is reflected in cases in which this
has been disrupted
■ Retrograde amnesia: disrupts memory for experiences before the injury,
accident, or disease that triggered the amnesia (lose memory of what
happened before an accident)
■ Anterograde amnesia: disrupts memory for experience after the injury or
disease (you can’t remember anything that has happened after the
accident; brain cannot form new memories)
● Case Study: H.M. – after losing his hippocampus in surgery, he
kept memories from before the operation but couldn’t make new
ones
● Number of errors he made each day decreased
● Can still have implicit memories because implicit memories are
processed in the cerebellum, not hippocampus
● 3. Retrieval: information is retrieved when it is needed
○ Retrieval cues: memories are held in storage by a web of associations; these
associations are like anchors that help retrieve memory
○ Ability to retrieve information is context dependent; if you return to the
environment in which you learned something, you are more likely to recall the
information
○ Moods and Memories: we usually recall experiences that are consistent with our
current mood (state-dependent memory)
■ Emotions serve as retrieval clues
Document Summary
Encoding: information is acquired and processed into neural code. Gathering information so it can be stored. Rehearsal: ebbinghaus conducted a study as rehearsal increases, relearning time. Semantic encoding: results in better recognition later than visual or acoustic decreases encoding. Storage: information is stored in the brain make for stronger memories. Stress hormones & memory: heightened emotions (stress-related or otherwise) Flashbulb memory: a unique and highly emotional moment can give rise to a clear, strong, and persistent memory called the flashbulb memory; though this memory might not be completely accurate (ex: 9/11) Memory consolidation: need for consolidation is reflected in cases in which this. Retrograde amnesia: disrupts memory for experiences before the injury, has been disrupted accident, or disease that triggered the amnesia (lose memory of what happened before an accident) Anterograde amnesia: disrupts memory for experience after the injury or disease (you can"t remember anything that has happened after the accident; brain cannot form new memories)
