Transcript Ch 8 notes

Information processing
Ch 8
I. Aquiring Information (learning and storing)
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A. Learning Curve -gradual upward slope representing increased retention of material as the result of learning
1. attention - alert focusing on material
B. Chemical influence on learning
1. Stimulants - can increase learning (caffeine+sugar)
2. strong stimulants - can over stimulate the brain and cause the reverse
(amphetamines - speed)
3. depressants - will block the firing of brain nerve cells and reduce learning
(tranquilizers, alcohol, hot dogs, cold cuts)
4. state-dependent learning - learning and reproduction of the material are
reliant on the condition of the body at the time of learning
I. Acquiring Information (learning and storing)
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A. Learning Curve -gradual upward slope representing increased retention of material as the result of learning
1. attention - alert focusing on material
B. Chemical influence on learning
1. Stimulants - can increase learning (caffeine+sugar)
2. strong stimulants - can over stimulate the brain and cause the reverse
(amphetamines - speed)
3. depressants - will block the firing of brain nerve cells and reduce learning
(tranquilizers, alcohol, hot dogs, cold cuts)
4. state-dependent learning - learning and reproduction of the material are
reliant on the condition of the body at the time of learning
C. Transfer of training - learning task A will carry over to learning task B if there are
similarities between them
1. positive transfer - transfer of learning that results from similarities between
two tasks
2. negative transfer - previously learned task is interfering with the present
one
II. Information Processing (learning and reproduction)
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A. Schema - organized and systematic approach to answering questions or solving problems
II. Information Processing (learning and reproduction)
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A. Schema - organized and systematic approach to answering questions or solving problems
B. Special learning processes
1. elaboration - the process of attaching the maximum number of associations
to a basic concept or other material to be learned so that it can be retrieved
more easily
a. poets and fiction writers are masters of elaboration
b. especially useful are colorful association that grab your attention
C. Mnemonic devices - unusual associations made to make material aid memory
1. can be useful in remembering names, routine tasks, information for tests
2. if images are to bizarre you won’t remember associations
3. can help slightly mentally retarded in learning and remembering
4. won’t work unless you use them from the beginning with whatever you are
trying to remember
5. it becomes hard to use them as you get older (keep your imagination
active)
II. Information Processing (learning and reproduction)
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D. Principle Learning - focus on the basic idea behind what is being learned
1. tie the new material to be learned to a principle
E. Chunking - putting items into clusters or “chunks” so that the items are learned in groups rather than separately
• !@#$%^&
• SLICNEK
• NICKELS
III. Retaining Information
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A. Principles of forgetting
1. Forgetting - an increase in errors in bringing back material from memory
a. doe not necessarily mean losing what learn
b. could be the inability to retrieve material
c. other material may interfere (phone #)
2. Overlearning - rehearse something over and over beyond one perfect
recitation
III. Retaining Information
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A. Principles of forgetting
1. Forgetting - an increase in errors in bringing back material from memory
a. doe not necessarily mean losing what learn
b. could be the inability to retrieve material
c. other material may interfere (phone #)
2. Overlearning - rehearse something over and over beyond one perfect
recitation (I pledge allegiance...)
3. Recall - bringing back and integrating many specific learned details(essays)
4. Recognition - recognize the right answer(multiple choice)
5. Interference Theory - we forget because there is a conflict between new
and old material in the memory system
6. Amnesia - the blocking of older material or the loss of new ones
a. caused by a head blow, major trauma, or an electric shock
b. exaggerated on TV
c. memory will usually come back
B. Mechanisms of Memory
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1. the physical process of how we encode memory is not exactly
understood
2. It is believed to be similar to a computer analog
3. Humans have billions of nerve cells with millions of connections
C. Memory System
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1. Sensory memory - system that includes direct receiver of information from the environment
a. iconic memory - a very brief visual memory that can be sent to the
short term memory
b. acoustic memory - a very brief sound memory that can be sent to
short term memory
Short Term Memory Test
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7485
36218
479103
2384971
36891756
747210324
8230138476
C. Memory System
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1. Sensory memory - system that includes direct receiver of information from the environment
a. iconic memory - a very brief visual memory that can be sent to the
short term memory
b. acoustic memory - a very brief sound memory that can be sent to
short term memory
2. Short term memory (STM) - memory that retains information for few seconds to few minutes
a. first place memory goes
b. will only hold seven items; does not matter how long each of the
seven item are (chunking)
c. material is either eliminated or moved to LTM
d. consolidation - a memory solidifies over time, eventually becoming
permanent
3. Long term memory (LTM) - memory system that retains information for hours, days, weeks, months, or
decades
IV. Special Issues in Memory
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A. Eidetic memory (photographic memory) - an iconic memory lasting a memory or so that keeps images “in front
of” the persons the objects can be counted or analyzed
1. Some people do have longer iconic memories that may last up to a
minute
2. Only one or two people have ever been found to have eidetic memory
IV. Special Issues in Memory
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A. Eidetic memory (photographic memory) - an iconic memory lasting a memory or so that keeps images “in front
of” the persons the objects can be counted or analyzed
1. Some people do have longer iconic memories that may last up to a
minute
2. Only one or two people have ever been found to have eidetic memory
B. Eyewitness memory
1. Facts in real life seldom fit completely together; your mind fills in the blanks to have it make sense
(perception)
2. Frequently fits stereotypes of “bad guys”
3. Crimes usually take place quickly (no time for elaboration)
4. Identification across racial lines is extremely poor