Transcript Chapter 7, Intro to Memory and Encoding

Introduction to Memory and
Encoding
Memory
Memory is the basis of knowing your friends,
your neighbors, the English language, the
national anthem, and yourself.
If there was no memory every one would be a
stranger to you, every language foreign, every
task new, and even you yourself would be a
stranger.
Memory is any indication that learning has
persisted over time. It is our ability to store and
retrieve information.
Flashbulb Memory
President Bush being told of 9/11 attack.
all photos and text © George Weld, 2001
Ruters/ Corbis
An unique and highly emotional moment can
give rise to clear, strong, and persistent memory
called flashbulb memory. This memory is not
free from errors.
Stages of Memory
Sequential Process
Keyboard
(Encoding)
Flash Drive
(Storage)
Monitor
(Retrieval)
All three processes must occur to remember and,
subsequently, to learn.
Information Processing
Frank Wartenberg/ Picture Press/
Corbis
Bob Daemmrich/ The Image Works
Bob Daemmrich/ The Image Works
Atkinson-Schiffrin (1968) three-stage model of
memory includes a) sensory memory, b) shortterm memory and c) long-term memory.
Sensory Memory
▪
Initial, momentary storage of info. -- lasts
only an instant (a second or two)
•
•
•
Use our senses to take in this info.
Allows us to take in all info and decide if it is
important enough for us to pay attention
If info is not passed on, it is lost (decay,
displacement)
o Think of sensory memory like a
snapshot…but a snapshot that is
constantly replaced with new snapshots,
unless it is paid attention to and transferred
to ST memory
Example of Sensory Memory
• Sparkler
When you twirl it,
does it actually
make a circle?
Short-Term (ST) Memory
▪
Memory that holds meaningful info for a short
period of time, usually less than 30 seconds
• Has a limited capacity of 7 (+/-) 2 items
o Can store more information if info is
“chunked” or grouped together
o EXAMPLE…
PBSFOXCNNABCCBSMTVNBC
PBS FOX CNN ABC CBS MTV NBC
Short-Term (ST) Memory
▪
Info will leave ST memory if not
rehearsed (repetition of info)
o Think about when you have to look up a
number in the phone book…you have to keep
repeating it, until you dial the phone – but if
not keep repeating it, you’ll forget it
o rehearsal will keep info in ST memory
and is necessary for info to be
transferred to LT memory
Long-Term (LT) Memory
▪
Memory that stores
information on a relatively
permanent basis
o Appears to have a
limitless capacity
o Info in LT memory is
filed and coded so we
can retrieve it when
needed
Working Memory
Alan Baddeley (2002)
proposes working memory
that acts as an active
workspace in which
information is retrieved and
manipulated & maintained
through rehearsal
(instead of simpler ST memory
described earlier)
A “central executive”
containing auditory & visual
processing makes decisions
and reasons…allows us to
briefly maintain information in
an active state so we can do
something with the info
If/when info is not used, it is lost…
Encoding- Getting information in
What we encode
We don’t actually have a picture of Darth Vader in our
brains… we have some mental representation that the
cognitive system “understands.”
Same goes for letters/words.
Encoding: Getting Information In
How We Encode
1. Some information (route to your school) is
automatically processed.
1. However novel information (friend’s new
cell-phone number or a new friend’s name)
requires attention and effort.
Automatic Processing
Enormous amount of information is processed
effortlessly by us, like:
1. Space: While reading a textbook you
automatically encode the place of a picture
on a page.
2. Time: We unintentionally note when the
events take place in a day.
3. Frequency: You effortlessly keep track of
how often things that happened to you.
Effortful Processing
Novel information
committed to memory
requires effort, like
learning a concept from
a text.
© Bananastock/ Alamy
Spencer Grant/ Photo Edit
Such processing leads to
durable and accessible
memories…the adage of
“practice makes perfect”
rings VERY true when it
comes to memory
Memory Effects
1.
Next-in-line-Effect: When your recall is better for what
other people say but poor for a person just before you in
line.
▪
1.
think about when you have had to read aloud in class…you are
worried about what you have to read and aren’t paying attention
to what the person before you said
Spacing Effect: We retain information better when our
rehearsal is distributed over time
▪
1.
Studies have shown that if you study a bit each night, you’ll
remember the information better than if you cram the night
before a test
Serial Position Effect: When your recall is
better for first and last items, but poor for
middle items on a list.
▪
Let’s try this one…
Write down as many U.S. President’s
names you can remember
Encoding exercise
Let’s see how we encode information…
▪
I am going to read a list of words
aloud to you…following the directions
on your ½ sheet as I read the list, don’t
write anything, wait for my directions
afterward…
Visual Encoding
Mental pictures (imagery) are a powerful aid to
effortful processing, especially when combined
with semantic encoding.
Showing adverse effects of tanning and smoking
in a picture may be more powerful than simply talking about it.
Active vs. Passive Processing
• Active
• Passive
– You visualized
what you were
trying to remember
– You actively tried to
put it in your
memory
– Same can be said
for studying
– Just tried to
memorize, no real
processing
– Only need to
remember right
now
– Same can be said
for studying
Evaluate how you study!
Mnemonics
Imagery is at the heart of many memory aids.
Mnemonic techniques that use vivid imagery in
aiding memory.
1. Method of Loci
2. Peg-Word
3. Link Method
Method of Loci
List of Items to bring
to AP Psychology
Imagined Locations
within the school
Paint brush
World Maps
Laptop
Textbook
Colored Pencils
Computer Paper
Ms. LaPorte
Mr. Gold
Mrs. Southers
Mrs. Marina
Ms. Decker
Mrs. Polley
Involves imagining moving through a familiar
series of locations with items to be remembered
Peg-Word
1st memorize a jingle…then associate the jingle
with a list trying to remember, even better if can
visualize items trying to remember
Jingle
One is bun..
Two is shoe…
Three is tree…
Four is door…
List
Lettuce
Banana
Cheese
Tomatoes
Link Method
List of Items
Newspaper
Shaving cream
Pen
Umbrella
.
.
.
Lamp
Involves forming a mental image of items to be
remembered in a way that links them together.
Chunking
Organizing items into familiar, manageable units.
Try to remember the number below.
1-7-7-6-1-4-9-2-1-8-1-2-1-9-4-1
If you are well versed with American history,
chunk the number and see if you can recall it
easier.
1776 1492 1812 1941.
Chunking
Acronyms are another way to chunk information
and remember it.
HOMES = Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior
PEMDAS = Parentheses, Exponent, Multiply, Divide, Add, Subtract
ROY G. BIV = Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet