PSYC 2000 Chapter : Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Memory
- What is memory?
o An active system
▪ Receives information
▪ Organizes and alters that information
o There are multiple types of memory, it is not one thing in one place in the brain
- Basic elements of memory
o Encoding (putting it in)
▪ Converting sensory information into a form that is usable in the brain’s
storage systems
o Storage (keeping it in)
▪ Holding onto information for some period of time
o Retrieval (getting it out)
▪ Using information in storage
- Memory stores
o Sensory memory
o Short term memory (working memory)
o Long term memory
- Sensory memory
o Holds information from the senses for a very brief duration
o Each snese has a sensory memory
o Associated with it
o Visual = iconic memory (about 1 sec)
o Auditory = echoic memory (about 4 secs)
- Iconic memory
o Visual sensory memory
o Capacity: everything you can see at one time
o Duration; information is pushed out as soon as you look at something new
o Eidetic Imagery
▪ The ability to retain more information in iconic memory
- Echoic sensory memory
o Memory for what you just heard
o Limited to what can be heard at any one moment
o Capacity: smaller than iconic memory
o Duration: longer than iconic memory
▪ 2-4 seconds
- Sperling’s iconic memory experiement
o People couldn’t remember all of the letters in the display
o Later he cued only one row and people could rmemeber the entire row
o Capacity Is essentially unlimited, but sensory memory fades very quickly
- Short term memory (STM)
o The magic number 7 (+,- 2)
o Active part of memory
o Lasts up to 30 seconds
▪ Dialing a phone number
o Relies on selective attention
o Chunking
▪ Organizing information (acronyms)
▪ FB IAO LM BMB MW
▪ FBI AOL MTV IBM BMW
o Rehearsal
▪ Representing information over and over
o Interference
▪ Interruption that impairs memory
- working memory
o more modern view of STM
o Alan Baddeley
o STM: maintain
o WM; maintain and manipulate
o Phonological loop
▪ Language
▪ Articulatory control process
• Your “internal voice”
▪ Phonological store
• Holds onto some info for 1-2 seconds while you’re processing
other info
• Conversation
o Visuo-spatial sketch pad
▪ Stores visual information
• Where you put information
▪ Separate capacity from phonological loop
o Episodic buffer
▪ “backup storage”
▪ Communicates between LTM and WM
o Central executive
▪ Decides what WM pays attention to
• Selective attention
• Driving a car and talking
▪ Combining information
• Reading and imagery
- Long term memory
o Relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system
o Elaborative rehearsal
▪ Transferring information form STM into LTM by making that information
meaningful in some way
- Non-declarative memory
Document Summary
What is memory: an active system, receives information, organizes and alters that information, there are multiple types of memory, it is not one thing in one place in the brain. Memory stores: sensory memory, short term memory (working memory, long term memory. Sensory memory: holds information from the senses for a very brief duration, each snese has a sensory memory, associated with it, visual = iconic memory (about 1 sec, auditory = echoic memory (about 4 secs) Iconic memory: visual sensory memory, capacity: everything you can see at one time, duration; information is pushed out as soon as you look at something new, eidetic imagery, the ability to retain more information in iconic memory. Echoic sensory memory: memory for what you just heard, limited to what can be heard at any one moment, capacity: smaller than iconic memory, duration: longer than iconic memory, 2-4 seconds.
