Information Processing

psychologists refer to all cognitive and mental processes that occur in the brain as information processing.

Information Processing

Central processingThe “storing and sorting of

information in the brain (memory and thinking)

OutputThe ideas and actions that result

from this processing

InputInformation we receive from our senses

Input*All the information we receive from our senses

If you take it all in you will be overwhelmed.

Therefore….

selective attention The ability to pick and choose among

the different available inputs.• EX: At a party there is noise, smells,

conversation etc, but you are still able to focus on what you want

Some inputs are more important than others• Primary needs – food, water, etc• Strange or unusual• Interest – things that you are interested

in

feature extraction Involves locating the outstanding

characteristics of incoming information• Example:

Twins, unusual outfit or hairstyle

• Experience plays an important role in ability

MemoryThree types of

memory:sensory storageshort termlong term

Sensory Stage

Holds info for only an instant at the receptors

Short Term Holds info for

approximately 20 seconds

Can only hold 7-8 unrelated items (unrehearsed) Chunking Clustering

Long Term

Any storage from 20-30 seconds on Indefinite

Output

Retrieving information Stored info is useless unless we can

retrieve it

Key to memory is ORGANIZATION

1. Recognition

“oh yeah syndrome” Memory is organized in a way that makes

recognition easy Multiple Choice

Info is often linked to many different categories/items in memory. The more links the better

* Travel the road frequently

Recall

The active reconstruction of information More remarkable than recognition Involves knowledge, attitudes and

expectations etc.

Confabulation

When a person re-remembers parts of a memory/experience and fills in the gaps by making up the rest

Eidetic Memory

“Photographic Memory” Incredible and rare

Forgetting

When information that once entered long term memory can’t be retrieved, it is said to be forgotten

Physical damage does permanently remove memories

Short term and sensory storage quickly fade away or decay

Still uncertain if long term memories ever decay away

Some forgotten info can be retrieved through hypnosis, medication, and brain stimulation which suggests that they do not decay

Forgetting may be due to…

AmnesiaInterferencerepression

Amnesia Loss of memory

• functional (mental trauma)• Organic (brain injury)

Interference Memory being blocked by previous

or succeeding memories• Proactive – earlier memory does the

blocking• Retroactive – later memory does the

blocking

Repression Subconscious blocking of memories

that are painful, unpleasant or undesirable• Defense mechanism

Four Strong Influenceson our ability to retrieve

1. Meaningfulness The more meaningful something is, the

easier it will be to remember

2. Association More vivid memories when linked with

items previously stored

3. Lack of Interference Good way to protect mind from this

is to over-learn. Practice, practice, practice

• The more senses involved the better

4. Degree of original Learning The better you learn something the

first time, the more information you’ll likely recall

Improving Memory

Techniques are based on efficient organization of the things one learns and chunking information for easier handling

Mnemonic Devices

Techniques for using associations to memorize information Ex:

• Every good boy does fine (or deserves fudge) • My very elegant mother just served us nine pizzas• Roy G. Biv• Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally

Form mental pictures