Memory – encoding, Memory – encoding, storage & retrievalstorage & retrieval

Chapter 29Chapter 29

Selection, encoding, storage & retrievalSelection, encoding, storage & retrieval Memory is Memory is selectiveselective – – only a fraction of sensory only a fraction of sensory

stimuli is selected for memorystimuli is selected for memory Sensory images for memory Sensory images for memory

need to be need to be encodedencoded Can be Can be visualvisual, , acousticacoustic or or

semanticsemantic ((meaning)meaning) Committing to memory aided Committing to memory aided

by rehearsal, organisation & by rehearsal, organisation & elaborationelaboration

Average: 5-9 new pieces of info Average: 5-9 new pieces of info can be held in memory spancan be held in memory span

‘‘Chunking’ helps increase Chunking’ helps increase memory spanmemory span

Different levels of memoryDifferent levels of memory Level 1Level 1 – – V. short lived (0.5 secs for visual, 2 V. short lived (0.5 secs for visual, 2

secs for auditory).secs for auditory). - v. little transferred to level 2- v. little transferred to level 2 Level 2 (STM)Level 2 (STM) – – only a limited amount held here only a limited amount held here

(5-9 items)(5-9 items) - held for a short time (30 secs)- held for a short time (30 secs) - most is forgotten, some to level 3- most is forgotten, some to level 3 Level 3 (LTM)Level 3 (LTM) – – unlimited capacityunlimited capacity - encoded items are packaged into - encoded items are packaged into

categoriescategories - items need to be focused on to be - items need to be focused on to be

remembered (rehearsal)remembered (rehearsal) - items can be retrieved from LTM - items can be retrieved from LTM

when neededwhen needed - primacy & recency influences - primacy & recency influences

what is memorised - ‘serial position what is memorised - ‘serial position effect’effect’

Organisation & ElaborationOrganisation & Elaboration Organisation of new info Organisation of new info

into categories helps into categories helps retentionretention

e.g ‘family’, seasons’, e.g ‘family’, seasons’, ‘metals’‘metals’

Group headings act as Group headings act as contextual cluescontextual clues

- aid retrieval from LTM to - aid retrieval from LTM to STM and vice versaSTM and vice versa

Elaboration of meaning – Elaboration of meaning – helps commit to helps commit to long term long term retentionretention

ClassificationClassification

Info in LTM is stored into Info in LTM is stored into categoriescategories

When something is to be recalled, When something is to be recalled, a search for the info startsa search for the info starts

Contextual cluesContextual clues aid the search aid the search These trigger impulses through These trigger impulses through

memory circuitsmemory circuits The more categories info is stored The more categories info is stored

under, the easier the searchunder, the easier the search If cues are weak then memory If cues are weak then memory

can be hard to retrieve can be hard to retrieve – ‘– ‘tip of the tongue’ statetip of the tongue’ state MnemonicsMnemonics are tricks to help aid are tricks to help aid

memorymemory