Transcript Document

Memory Features
Serial Position Effect
Primacy Better recall, or improvement in
retention, of information presented
Effect:
at the beginning of a task
Recency Better recall, or improvement in
retention, of information presented
Effect:
at the end of a task
Why?
•More time for rehearsal
•Still in working memory
Baddeley’s Working Memory Model
Executive
Control
System
Maintenance
Rehearsal
What is the capital of South
Dakota?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Madison
Pierre
Montpelier
Jefferson City
What is the difference between recall
and recognition? Which is easier to
remember?
– must retrieve previously
learned info without (or with very few)
external cues
 Recognition – you are given more
external cues
 Recognition is easier
 Recall
Forgetting Curve
Reasons We Forget “Vlog”

Within your group discuss your assigned
reason for forgetting
 Use your text as a source, but also include
personal information (if applicable) to
demonstrate your understanding of the
concept
 Create a video entry with the Flip camera;
explain the basic idea and provide examples
to help your classmates understand
 Feel free to get creative (act out a scene,
show a graphic from the book while you
speak, etc.)
 Everyone from each group must speak
 Turn in the camera when finished
Reasons We Forget
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ineffective encoding and retrieval failure (p.
280-282); also include the “tip-of-thetongue” phenomenon (p. 275)
Decay Theory (p. 281) and organic amnesia
(p. 288); be sure to discuss the different
types of memories (sensory, short-term, &
long-term)
Interference (p. 281-282); also discuss how
the concept of “prospective” versus
“retrospective” memory (p. 293-294)
Motivated forgetting & repressed memories
(p. 282-283); discuss the main point of
contention over supposedly recovered
repressed memories (you don’t need to go
into all of the evidence for and against)
Decay Theory

Memories fade away over time because they
are not used
 True of sensory and short-term memory, but
not long-term memory
 Time is thought to be the key factor, but it
can’t explain why we remember many old
unused memories
 It is what happens during the time that is most
important
Repression

Unconscious process where
info that is threatening to our
self-concept or that makes us
anxious is pushed beyond our
access
 Thought to occur after an
especially traumatic event
 Sometimes these memories
resurface, but there are
controversies over their
accuracy
Interference
 Other
memories block or prevent
retrieval of a particular memory
 Retroactive interference – new info
goes back to interfere with previously
learned material
 Proactive interference – old info goes
forward to interfere with newly learned
material
Inadequate Retrieval Cues

Too few associations or
reminders are for available
for memories to be retrieved
 Tip-of-the-tongue
phenomenon supports this
 State-dependent learning –
it is easier to recall info when
you are in the same
physiological state as when
you learned it
 Mood congruence effect –
our memories match our
moods
( mood =  memories)
Amnesia/Biological Causes
Anterograde amnesia – inability to form new
memories after brain injury
 Retrograde amnesia – inability to retrieve
memories encoded prior to brain injury or
psychological trauma

Korsakoff’s
Syndrome – variety of
memory problems, as well as general
apathy in mood; often caused by
malnutrition as a consequence of
alcohol abuse
Alzheimer’s Disease
 Cause
unknown
 Risk increases with age, but not caused
by age
 Destruction of neurons that supply
acetylcholine (neurotransmitter)
 Starts in hippocampus; creates
problems forming new memories
 Then spreads to frontal & temporal;
difficulty with old memories and
planning
 Then parietal; difficulty with coordination
 Misinformation
effect