PSYB57H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Echoic Memory, Memory Rehearsal, Iconic Memory
Chapter 5: The Acquisition of Memories and the Working-Memory System
-Acquisition: the process of gaining information and placing it into memory
-Storage: holding information in memory until needed
-Retrieval: bringing stored memory into active use
-How you learn (acquisition) depends heavily on what you already know (information in storage)
The Route into Memory
-For many years, the information processing perspective guided theorizing: complex mental
events such as learning, remembering, and deciding actually involve a large number of discrete
steps that occur one by one
-Waugh and Norman (1965) and later refined by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968); modal model
Updating the Modal Model
-When information first arrives, it is stored briefly in sensory memory (iconic memory for visual
input and echoic memory for auditory input). The information is then moved into short term
memory (where you store information if you’re working on it). Some of the information is then
transferred into long-term memory.
-Modern discussions do not mention sensory memory, and use the term working memory
instead of short-term memory.
-Long-term memory: contains all of your knowledge and all of your beliefs: most of which you
happen not to be working on at this moment
-Working memory is a status, these ideas are currently activated and being worked on
Differences Between Working Memory and Long-term Memory
1) Working memory is limited in size, and long-term memory is vast
2) Getting information into working memory is easy, and getting information into long-term
memory is more difficult
3) Getting information out of working memory is also easy. Finding information in long-term
memory can be effortful and slow, and can even fail
4) The contents of working memory are fragile, they can be pushed away if you shift your
thoughts to a new topic. Long-term memory information remains in storage whether or not
you’re thinking about it
Working Memory and Long-Term Memory: One Memory or Two?
-Free recall procedure: experiment in which a list of 30 words is presented at 1 word per
second, and participants are asked to repeat back as many words as they can in any order
-People usually remember 12-15 words and are very likely to remember the first few words
(primacy effect: observed memory advantage for words earlier in the list) and the last few
words (recency effect)
-The resulting pattern is a U-shaped curve describing the relation between position within the
series (serial position) and likelihood of recall
-This pattern is formed because these words are in working memory; however working memory
is limited to 5-6 words. Just-heard words will be replacing the old words.
-The first few words: at the beginning, participants try their best to memorize and repeat it to
themselves (memory rehearsal)
Document Summary
Chapter 5: the acquisition of memories and the working-memory system. Acquisition: the process of gaining information and placing it into memory. How you learn (acquisition) depends heavily on what you already know (information in storage) For many years, the information processing perspective guided theorizing: complex mental events such as learning, remembering, and deciding actually involve a large number of discrete steps that occur one by one. Waugh and norman (1965) and later re ned by atkinson and shiffrin (1968); modal model. When information rst arrives, it is stored brie y in sensory memory (iconic memory for visual input and echoic memory for auditory input). The information is then moved into short term memory (where you store information if you"re working on it). Some of the information is then transferred into long-term memory. Modern discussions do not mention sensory memory, and use the term working memory instead of short-term memory.
