MEMORYMEMORY

o Do you think you have a good memory? Do you think you have a good memory? (remembering names, birthdays, (remembering names, birthdays, studying)studying)

o When should we trust our memories and When should we trust our memories and when should be we cautious about doing when should be we cautious about doing so? Can you think of a scenario?so? Can you think of a scenario?

Keep In Mind…Keep In Mind…

Even those with “good memories” still tend to Even those with “good memories” still tend to forget a great deal (i.e. watch a show and week forget a great deal (i.e. watch a show and week later forget main characters name)later forget main characters name)

Do we also “remember” things that never Do we also “remember” things that never happened? Or happened? Or ConfabulationConfabulation-confusing an -confusing an event that happened to someone else)event that happened to someone else)

If memory is not always reliable…If memory is not always reliable… What does this mean for legal system (eye witness What does this mean for legal system (eye witness

accounts)?accounts)? How can any of us hope to know the story of our How can any of us hope to know the story of our

own lives?own lives?

Definition of MemoryDefinition of Memory

Memory is the capacity to retain and Memory is the capacity to retain and retrieve information.retrieve information.

Or in other words,Or in other words,

Information that finds its way to the brain needs Information that finds its way to the brain needs to be registered, held onto or even “filed” for to be registered, held onto or even “filed” for future use.future use.

This type of storage is called Memory.This type of storage is called Memory.

Why Is Memory So Why Is Memory So Important?Important?

Humans are capable of astonishing acts of Humans are capable of astonishing acts of memory (i.e. lyrics of songs, movie lines, etc.)memory (i.e. lyrics of songs, movie lines, etc.)

Without it we would be helpless and unable to Without it we would be helpless and unable to carry out even the simplest of taskscarry out even the simplest of tasks

Gives us sense of personal identifyGives us sense of personal identify Cultures rely on remember historyCultures rely on remember history

““Memory gives us our past and guides our Memory gives us our past and guides our future.”future.”

Information ProcessingInformation Processing

All cognitive and mental activitiesAll cognitive and mental activities 3 steps3 steps

Input-info people receiveInput-info people receive Central Processing-storing (memory) and Central Processing-storing (memory) and

sorting (by thought) info.sorting (by thought) info. Output-ideas and reactions that result from Output-ideas and reactions that result from

processingprocessing

The Three-Box Model of The Three-Box Model of MemoryMemory

Psychologists distinguish among three Psychologists distinguish among three separate memory systems…separate memory systems…

Sensory, Short-Term Memory and Long- Sensory, Short-Term Memory and Long- Term MemoryTerm Memory

Sensory RegisterSensory Register

All incoming sensory All incoming sensory info. must briefly stop info. must briefly stop here – the entryway of here – the entryway of memorymemory

Information (input) held Information (input) held momentarily by the momentarily by the senses.senses.

Acts as a holding bin, Acts as a holding bin, retaining info. until we retaining info. until we chose items we wish to chose items we wish to keep, which moves onto keep, which moves onto short-term memoryshort-term memory

The senses of sight and The senses of sight and hearing seem to be able hearing seem to be able to hold information for to hold information for less than a second less than a second before the input is gone.before the input is gone.

Example: Memorizing #’s Example: Memorizing #’s and being asked to recite and being asked to recite them. You might recall a them. You might recall a few of the numbers, but few of the numbers, but you will forget the rest.you will forget the rest.

Short-Term MemoryShort-Term Memory

Retains info. only temporarilyRetains info. only temporarily Info. is no longer just a sensory imageInfo. is no longer just a sensory image This material either transfers into long-This material either transfers into long-

term memory, or is lost foreverterm memory, or is lost forever Brain injuries-cannot transfer to long-term Brain injuries-cannot transfer to long-term

memory. Hold a normal conversation but memory. Hold a normal conversation but can only recall new events/facts for can only recall new events/facts for longer than a few minuteslonger than a few minutes

Limits of Short-Term Limits of Short-Term Memory Memory

Application ActivityApplication Activity

This demonstration reveals the limited capacity This demonstration reveals the limited capacity of short-term memory through the use of a of short-term memory through the use of a digit-span test. digit-span test.

I will read a string of unrelated numbers and I will read a string of unrelated numbers and your task is to memorize those digits in the your task is to memorize those digits in the exact order presented. exact order presented.

After I read the #’s, I will say “go”; record as After I read the #’s, I will say “go”; record as many numbers as you canmany numbers as you can

How did you do?How did you do?

2,8,3,12,8,3,1

7,4,1,3,97,4,1,3,9

4,9,7,2,1,54,9,7,2,1,5

5,1,8,3,9,2,65,1,8,3,9,2,6

1,9,5,6,3,4,7,21,9,5,6,3,4,7,2

3,6,2,5,1,9,7,4,83,6,2,5,1,9,7,4,8

6,1,5,4,9,8,3,2,8,76,1,5,4,9,8,3,2,8,7

8,9,3,1,6,4,2,7,5,1,38,9,3,1,6,4,2,7,5,1,3

ChunkingChunking

Temporary storage in short-term memory.Temporary storage in short-term memory. Short-term memory can only hold about 7 Short-term memory can only hold about 7

unrelated items at once. (Example-a bunch of unrelated items at once. (Example-a bunch of different #’s/letters, you will only remember different #’s/letters, you will only remember about 7)about 7)

Chunking, however can help you connect Chunking, however can help you connect certain items together so you can remember certain items together so you can remember more. (Example-Abbreviations like IRS are more. (Example-Abbreviations like IRS are chunked/connected so that counts as one item chunked/connected so that counts as one item instead of 3, Internal Revenue Service)instead of 3, Internal Revenue Service)

The Value of ChunkingThe Value of ChunkingApplication ActivityApplication Activity

The purpose of this demonstration is to The purpose of this demonstration is to illustrate how short-term memory illustrate how short-term memory performance can be enhanced by the performance can be enhanced by the use of “chunking” procedures; that is, by use of “chunking” procedures; that is, by grouping items into larger, meaningful grouping items into larger, meaningful units. units.

Volunteer DemonstrationVolunteer Demonstration

In the following two-part demonstration, I will In the following two-part demonstration, I will need a volunteer. need a volunteer.

1. You will be presented with a set of items to 1. You will be presented with a set of items to be memorized in exact order. be memorized in exact order.

XX I B M C I A F B I C B S M T VI B M C I A F B I C B S M T V

After a short delay, the student will recall as After a short delay, the student will recall as many of the letters as possible. many of the letters as possible.

22ndnd Part-Chunking Part-Chunking DemonstrationDemonstration

You will improve your memory with a little You will improve your memory with a little help I will read the letters in the following help I will read the letters in the following “chunked format”: “chunked format”:

X IBM CIA FBI CBS MTVX IBM CIA FBI CBS MTV The student should have nearly perfect The student should have nearly perfect

recall. Grouping the letters reduced the recall. Grouping the letters reduced the memory task from 16 items to 6 items.memory task from 16 items to 6 items.

Working MemoryWorking Memory

Besides retaining new Besides retaining new info. for brief periods info. for brief periods while we are learning it, while we are learning it, short-term memory holds short-term memory holds info. that has been info. that has been retrieved from long-term retrieved from long-term for temporary usefor temporary use

““Short-term plus the Short-term plus the mental processes that mental processes that control the rehearsal and control the rehearsal and retrieval of information retrieval of information from long-term memory from long-term memory and interpret that and interpret that information, depending information, depending on the task you are on the task you are doing.”doing.”

Long-Term MemoryLong-Term Memory

Where we store information for future use. Where we store information for future use. Can recall a wide variety of information Can recall a wide variety of information

accurately.accurately. Contains representations of countless facts, Contains representations of countless facts,

experiences and sensations. experiences and sensations.

Example- can probably still visualize your Example- can probably still visualize your childhood home. childhood home.

Can You Recall?Can You Recall?

Can you recall/visualize your childhood Can you recall/visualize your childhood home?home?

Take a couple minutes and list some Take a couple minutes and list some words/phrases that remind you of where words/phrases that remind you of where you grew up. You may also use symbols you grew up. You may also use symbols or illustrations to help you do this…or illustrations to help you do this…

Long Term Memory - Long Term Memory - ContinuedContinued

When you watch a play When you watch a play you see/hear many you see/hear many things. things.

Some of the Some of the sounds/phrases sounds/phrases accumulate in the short-accumulate in the short-term memory.term memory.

The parts that are very The parts that are very meaningful to you will be meaningful to you will be stored in your long term stored in your long term memory.memory.

Next day, good details; Next day, good details; week later, least week later, least important info. is important info. is dropped; month later, dropped; month later, brief outline; as more brief outline; as more times goes on, may not times goes on, may not remember much at all. If remember much at all. If you see it again, recall you see it again, recall some lines, etc. some lines, etc. Elements of the play Elements of the play were stored in long-term were stored in long-term memory.memory.

RehearsalRehearsal

Technique for keeping info. in short-term Technique for keeping info. in short-term memory and increasing chances of it staying in memory and increasing chances of it staying in long-term long-term

The review or practice of material while you are The review or practice of material while you are learning itlearning it(i.e. repeating phone number over and over (i.e. repeating phone number over and over until you remember vs. storing it in speed dial until you remember vs. storing it in speed dial without rehearsal)without rehearsal)

Deep ProcessingDeep Processing

Another strategy for retaining info. in the LTM. Another strategy for retaining info. in the LTM.

If you find patterns and/or assign labels to info. If you find patterns and/or assign labels to info. your processing will be deeperyour processing will be deeper

i.e. hypothalamus – spelling and sound i.e. hypothalamus – spelling and sound will will make remembering shallow; analyzing make remembering shallow; analyzing the the word (word (hypohypothalamus is below the thalamus is below the thalamus) thalamus) your processing will be deeperyour processing will be deeper

Retrieving MemoryRetrieving Memory

The brain stores The brain stores information and puts information and puts it into some kind of it into some kind of order.order.

Organizing Organizing information is the information is the easiest way to store easiest way to store information.information.

Retrieval is when you Retrieval is when you call upon stored call upon stored information.information.

So complex that So complex that psychologist have psychologist have yet to determine how yet to determine how it exactly happens.it exactly happens.

Other memory & suchOther memory & such

Semantic-our Semantic-our knowledge of knowledge of language, rules, language, rules, words and meaningwords and meaning

Episodic-our own lifeEpisodic-our own life

Declarative (or Declarative (or explicit)-involves explicit)-involves both semantic and both semantic and episodic, call upon it episodic, call upon it when you need itwhen you need it

Procedural-skillsProcedural-skills

Memory Organization & Memory Organization & ForgettingForgetting

Relearning-going Relearning-going back to something back to something you once learned you once learned and learning it again. and learning it again. Your brain has Your brain has stored the past info stored the past info but you can not fully but you can not fully recall it.recall it.

Forgetting-happens Forgetting-happens because of interference.because of interference. Proactive-earlier Proactive-earlier

memory blocking a memory blocking a memorymemory

Retroactive-a later Retroactive-a later memory does the memory does the blockingblocking

Remembering new Remembering new phone numbersphone numbers

Repression- subconsciously blocking a Repression- subconsciously blocking a memory of an embarrassing or memory of an embarrassing or frightening experience.frightening experience.

MnemonicsMnemonics

Yet another technique to help rememberYet another technique to help remember

Strategies and tricks for storing and Strategies and tricks for storing and retaining info.retaining info. NNever ever EEat at SSour our WWatermelon = North, East, atermelon = North, East,

South, WestSouth, West

Can you think of any?Can you think of any?

Selective AttentionSelective Attention

Ability to choose Ability to choose among the various among the various available inputs.available inputs.

What you may do What you may do at home, at at home, at school, or if you school, or if you don’t want to do don’t want to do something like something like take out the take out the garbage.garbage.

Feature ExtractionFeature Extraction

Deciding on which Deciding on which aspects of the aspects of the selected thought you selected thought you will focuswill focus

Look for the Look for the important or important or significant (cars, significant (cars, readingreading

Involves locating the Involves locating the outstanding outstanding characteristics of characteristics of incoming informationincoming information..

The Secret Life of the BrainThe Secret Life of the Brain(Memory and the Brain)(Memory and the Brain)

““What happens in the brain when What happens in the brain when something is stored in long-term something is stored in long-term memory?”memory?”

Question is highly controversial.Question is highly controversial. Psychologists agree that some Psychologists agree that some

physiological changes occur in the brain, physiological changes occur in the brain, they are only beginning to identify how they are only beginning to identify how and where memories are stored.and where memories are stored.

Memory and the Brain – Memory and the Brain – Cont.Cont.

““What physiological changes occur when we What physiological changes occur when we learn something; where does learning occur?”learn something; where does learning occur?”

Psychologists have many different theories to Psychologists have many different theories to answer these questionsanswer these questions

Complicated scientific theories…that’s for Complicated scientific theories…that’s for science class!science class!