Module 11

Types of Memory

INTRODUCTION

• Definitions– Memory

• ability to retain information over time through three processes: encoding, storing, and retrieving

– Encoding• refers to making mental representations of

information so that it can be placed into our memories

INTRODUCTION

• Definitions– Storing

• process of placing encoded information into relatively permanent mental storage for later recall

– Retrieving• process of getting or recalling information that has

been placed into short-term or long-term storage

THREE TYPES OF MEMORY

• Sensory memory– refers to an initial process that receives and holds

environmental information in its raw form for a brief period of time, from an instant to several seconds

• Short-term memory– also called working-memory, refers to another

process that can hold only a limited amount of information, an average of seven items - 2 to 30 seconds

• Long-term memory– refers to the process of storing almost unlimited

amounts of information over long periods of time

THREE TYPES OF MEMORY (CONT.)

THREE TYPES OF MEMORY (CONT.)

• Memory processes– sensory memory– do not pay attention, information is forgotten– pay attention, information is automatically transferred

into short-term memory– short-term memory– do not pay attention– information is not encoded and is forgotten– long-term memory– encoded information will remain on a relatively

permanent basis

SENSORY MEMORY: RECORDING

• Iconic memory– form of sensory memory that automatically holds

visual information for about a quarter of a second or more; as soon as you shift your attention, the information disappears

• Echoic memory– form of sensory memory that holds auditory

information for 1 to 2 seconds

SENSORY MEMORY: RECORDING (CONT.)

• Functions of sensory memory– prevents being overwhelmed– gives decision time– provides stability, playback, and recognition

SHORT TERM MEMORY: WORKING

• Short Term or Working Memory Definition– refers to a process that can hold a limited amount of

information-an average of seven items-for a limited period of time –2 to 30 seconds

• Two features– limited duration– maintenance rehearsal– refers to the practice of intentionally repeating or

rehearsing information so that it remains longer in short-term memory

SHORT TERM MEMORY: WORKING (CONT.)

• Two features– limited capacity

• Interference– results when new information enters short-term

memory and overwrites or pushes out information that is already there

• Chunking– combining separate items of information into a larger

unit, or chunk, and then remembering chunks of information rather than individual items

SHORT TERM MEMORY: WORKING (CONT.)

• Functions of short-tem memory– Attending

• selectively attend to information that is relevant and disregard everything else

– Rehearsing• allows you to hold information for a short period of

time until you decide what to do with it– Storing

• helps to store or encode information in long-term memory

LONG-TERM MEMORY: STORING• Putting information into long-term memory

– Long-term memory• refers to the process of storing almost unlimited

amounts of information over long periods of time with the potential of retrieving, or remembering, such information in the future

– Encoding• process of transferring information from short-term to

long-term memory by paying attention to it, repeating or rehearsing it, or forming new associations

– Retrieving• process of selecting information from long-term

memory and transferring it back into short-term memory

LONG-TERM MEMORY: STORING (CONT.)

• Separate Memory Systems• Primacy Versus Recency

– primacy effect• better recall, or improvement in retention, of

information presented at the beginning of a task– recency effect

• better recall, or improvement in retention, of information presented at the end of a task

– primary-recency effect• better recall of information presented at the

beginning and end of a task• Short-Term Versus Long-Term Memory

LONG-TERM MEMORY: STORING (CONT.)

• Declarative versus procedural or nondeclarative– Declarative memory

• involves memories for facts or events, such as scenes, stories, words, conversations, faces, or daily events

– Semantic memory• type of declarative memory and that involves

knowledge of facts, concepts, words, definitions, and language rules

LONG-TERM MEMORY: STORING (CONT.)

• Declarative versus procedural or nondeclarative– Episodic memory

• type of declarative memory that involves knowledge of specific events, personal experiences (episodes), or activities, such as naming or describing favorite restaurants or hobbies

LONG-TERM MEMORY: STORING (CONT.)

• Declarative versus procedural or nondeclarative– Procedural or nondeclarative memory

• involves memories for motor skills (playing tennis), some cognitive behaviors learned through classical conditioning

ENCODING: TRANSFERING

• Two kinds of encoding– Automatic encoding

• transfer of information from short-term into long-term memory without any effort and usually without any awareness

• personal events• interesting facts• skills and habits

ENCODING: TRANSFERING (CONT.)

• Two kinds of encoding– Effortful encoding

• involves the transfer of information from short-term into long-term memory either by working hard to repeat or rehearse the information or, especially, by making associations between new and old information

ENCODING: TRANSFERING (CONT.)

• Rehearsing and encoding– Maintenance rehearsal

• refers to simply repeating or rehearsing the information rather than forming any new associations

– Elaborative rehearsal• involves using effort to actively make meaningful

associations between new information that you wish to remember and old or familiar information that is already stored in long-term memory

ENCODING: TRANSFERING (CONT.)

• Levels of processing– theory says that remembering depends on how

information is encoded– shallow processing: poor recall– deeper and deepest processing: encode by making

new association

REPRESSED MEMORIES

• Definition of repressed memory– the process by which the mind pushes a memory of

some threatening or traumatic event deep into the unconscious mind

• Implanting false memories– studies on implanting false memories simply show

that a false suggestion can grow into a vivid, detailed, and believable personal memory

Unusual Memories

• photographic memory– occurs in adults, is ability to form sharp, detailed

visual images after examining a picture or page for a short period of time and to recall the entire image at a later date

• eidetic imagery– Form of photographic memory that occurs in children,

is the ability to examine a picture or page for 10-3 seconds and then for several minutes hold in one’s mind a detailed visual image of the material

Unusual Memories

• flashbulb memories– vivid recollections, usually in great detail, of dramatic

or emotionally charged incidents that are of interest to the person

– encoded effortlessly and may last for long periods of time

Unusual Memories (CONT.)