Human MemoryHuman Memory
Three Memory ProcessesThree Memory Processes
Memory = the storage and Memory = the storage and retrieval of what one has either retrieval of what one has either learned or experiencedlearned or experienced
1.1. EncodingEncoding
2.2. StorageStorage
3.3. RetrievalRetrieval
EncodingEncoding
Transformation of Transformation of information so the information so the nervous system can nervous system can process itprocess it
Types of codes:Types of codes:
1.1. AcousticAcoustic
2.2. VisualVisual
3.3. Semantic Semantic
StorageStorage
The process by The process by which we which we remember remember material material acquired over a acquired over a period of timeperiod of time
RetrievalRetrieval The process of The process of
obtaining information obtaining information from storagefrom storage
Memory Memory championships- A championships- A Russian known only Russian known only by his first initialsby his first initials——S.S.S.S.——could repeat could repeat 70 randomly 70 randomly selected numbers in selected numbers in the precise order in the precise order in which he had just which he had just heard themheard them
What is Memory Retrieval?What is Memory Retrieval? The process of The process of
accessing stored accessing stored information and information and making it available to making it available to our consciousnessour consciousness
Some memories are Some memories are retrieved easilyretrieved easily
Context-dependent Context-dependent memory effectmemory effect : : Police Police detectives often take detectives often take victims back to the victims back to the scene of a crime to scene of a crime to help jog their help jog their memoriesmemories
Memory StagesMemory Stages
Sensory Sensory memorymemory
Short-term Short-term memorymemory
Long-term Long-term memorymemory
Sensory MemorySensory Memory
Sensory Memory (cont.)Sensory Memory (cont.)
The storage system that holds The storage system that holds memory of sensory impressions memory of sensory impressions is short-livedis short-lived
Sensory registerSensory register Iconic memory, eidetic imagery, Iconic memory, eidetic imagery,
echoic memoryechoic memory
Short-Term Memory (STM)Short-Term Memory (STM)
Allows for the Allows for the brief retention of brief retention of newly acquired newly acquired information, information, usually for a usually for a maximum of 30 maximum of 30 secondsseconds
George Miller’s StudyGeorge Miller’s Study
Magic 7Magic 7 Examples of magic 7Examples of magic 7 Shakespeare’s seven ages of Shakespeare’s seven ages of
man (from man (from As You Like ItAs You Like It), the ), the seven wonders of the world, the seven wonders of the world, the seven deadly sins, and even seven deadly sins, and even Snow White’s pals the seven Snow White’s pals the seven dwarfsdwarfs
ChunkingChunking
The process of breaking down a The process of breaking down a large amount of information into large amount of information into smaller chunkssmaller chunks
Chunking makes recall easierChunking makes recall easier
A Simple TestA Simple Test
Row 1 2937Row 1 2937 Row 2 78541Row 2 78541 Row 3 821374Row 3 821374 Row 4 3820961Row 4 3820961 Row 5 18294624Row 5 18294624 Row 6 9284619384Row 6 9284619384 Row 7 1992199319941995Row 7 1992199319941995
Maintenance RehearsalMaintenance Rehearsal
A system for A system for remembering remembering which involves which involves repeating repeating information to information to oneself without oneself without looking for any looking for any underlying underlying meaningmeaning
The Primacy-Recency EffectThe Primacy-Recency Effect
CheeseCheese MilkMilk EggsEggs ShampooShampoo BreadBread CatsupCatsup JamJam FlourFlour
We can best We can best remember or remember or recall recall information at information at the beginning the beginning and the end of a and the end of a listlist
Long-Term MemoryLong-Term Memory
The storage of The storage of information over information over an extended an extended timetime
Information in Information in long-term long-term memory is memory is organized by organized by categories or categories or featuresfeatures
Types of Long-Term MemoryTypes of Long-Term Memory
Semantic Semantic memorymemory
Episodic Episodic memorymemory
Declarative Declarative memorymemory
Procedural Procedural memorymemory
Semantic MemorySemantic Memory
Knowledge of Knowledge of language, language, including its including its rules, words, rules, words, and meaningsand meanings
Retaining factsRetaining facts Semantic Semantic
memory is not memory is not imprinted on our imprinted on our brainsbrains
Episodic MemoryEpisodic Memory
Memories of Memories of one’s own life one’s own life (also includes (also includes the time the time experiences experiences occurred)occurred)
Like a personal Like a personal diarydiary
Declarative MemoryDeclarative Memory
Holds knowledge that can be Holds knowledge that can be called forth consciously as called forth consciously as neededneeded
““What” and “that”What” and “that” For example,we remember For example,we remember
“what” street we live on, and we “what” street we live on, and we know “that” two plus two equals know “that” two plus two equals four.four.
Procedural MemoryProcedural Memory Memory of learned Memory of learned
skills that do not skills that do not require conscious require conscious recollectionrecollection
We gradually lose We gradually lose the ability to the ability to describe what we describe what we are doing when we are doing when we perform these perform these skillsskills
Retrospective vs. Retrospective vs. Prospective MemoryProspective Memory
Retrospective memoryRetrospective memory: past : past experience or events and experience or events and previously acquired informationpreviously acquired information
Prospective memoryProspective memory: things you : things you need to do in the futureneed to do in the future
Muscle MemoryMuscle Memory
Relying on Relying on muscles to muscles to perform perform complex motor complex motor skills such as skills such as riding a bike, riding a bike, dancing, typing, dancing, typing, hitting a hitting a baseballbaseball
Flashbulb MemoriesFlashbulb Memories
What were you What were you doing when…?doing when…?
Usually involves Usually involves stressful or stressful or emotionally emotionally arousing arousing personal or personal or historical eventshistorical events
the 9/11 attackthe 9/11 attack
Flashbulb Memories (cont.)Flashbulb Memories (cont.)
Anderson & Anderson & Conway (1997) Conway (1997) coined the term coined the term “flashbulb “flashbulb memory”memory”
Permanently Permanently seared into the seared into the brainbrain
Eyewitness TestimonyEyewitness Testimony Memory does not Memory does not
always work like a always work like a camera that camera that records and records and retrieves snapshots retrieves snapshots of eventsof events
Eyewitness Eyewitness testimony can be testimony can be flawedflawed
Misinformation Misinformation effecteffect
SchemasSchemas Conceptual Conceptual
frameworks that a frameworks that a person uses to make person uses to make sense of the worldsense of the world
Sets of expectationsSets of expectations A portrait of Frank A portrait of Frank
J. Huttle, a WWII Air J. Huttle, a WWII Air Corps pilot. His Corps pilot. His bravery and bravery and sacrifice represent sacrifice represent elements of popular elements of popular schemas many of schemas many of us have about us have about pilotspilots
Schema ViolationSchema Violation
Memory and the BrainMemory and the Brain
How and where How and where are memories are memories stored in the stored in the brain?brain?
The striatum The striatum (deep in the (deep in the frontal cortex)frontal cortex)
The hippocampus The hippocampus and the amygdalaand the amygdala
The Biological Basis for The Biological Basis for MemoryMemory
The human brain has The human brain has billions of neurons billions of neurons and trillions of and trillions of synapses synapses
How to track down How to track down specific networks of specific networks of cells where cells where memories are storedmemories are stored
Aplysia- large sea Aplysia- large sea snail that possesses snail that possesses only 20,000 neuronsonly 20,000 neurons
Erik KandelErik Kandel
A molecular biologist/Nobel PrizeA molecular biologist/Nobel Prize winner winner
Experiments with sea snailsExperiments with sea snails Neurotransmitter released into Neurotransmitter released into
synapsesynapse Kandel observed that the Kandel observed that the
amount of neurotransmitters amount of neurotransmitters released into the synapses released into the synapses between the nerve cells that between the nerve cells that controlled the withdrawal reflex controlled the withdrawal reflex increased as the snails learned increased as the snails learned the conditioned response. He the conditioned response. He thus proved that memory thus proved that memory formation involves biochemical formation involves biochemical changes that occur at the changes that occur at the synaptic levelsynaptic level
Retrieval and Recognition ExerciseRetrieval and Recognition Exercise
Look at the picture Look at the picture and name this and name this dwarf from Walt dwarf from Walt Disney’s “Snow Disney’s “Snow White and the White and the Seven Dwarfs”Seven Dwarfs”
Write down or Write down or make a list of as make a list of as many of the seven many of the seven dwarfs that you can dwarfs that you can rememberremember
Seven DwarfsSeven Dwarfs
The following list includes the The following list includes the names of all seven dwarfs. Which names of all seven dwarfs. Which ones are correct? ones are correct?
Tubby, Grouchy, Gabby, Fearful, Tubby, Grouchy, Gabby, Fearful, Sleepy, Smiley, Jumpy, Hopeful, Sleepy, Smiley, Jumpy, Hopeful, Shy, Droopy, Dopey, Sniffy, Shy, Droopy, Dopey, Sniffy, Wishful, Puffy, Dumpy, Sneezy, Wishful, Puffy, Dumpy, Sneezy, Lazy, Pop, Grumpy, Bashful, Lazy, Pop, Grumpy, Bashful, Cheerful, Shorty, Nifty, Happy, Cheerful, Shorty, Nifty, Happy, Doc, WheezyDoc, Wheezy
ForgettingForgetting
DecayDecay Memory lossMemory loss InterferenceInterference
AmnesiaAmnesia
Often caused by Often caused by a traumatic a traumatic injury to the injury to the brain, such as a brain, such as a concussionconcussion
Retrograde Retrograde amnesiaamnesia
Anterograde Anterograde amnesiaamnesia
Retrograde AmnesiaRetrograde Amnesia
Childhood AmnesiaChildhood Amnesia
A normal phase A normal phase of development of development that accounts that accounts for the lack of for the lack of memory before memory before the ages of 3 or the ages of 3 or 44
Dissociative Dissociative amnesia- often amnesia- often results from results from stress. stress.