313392 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Childhood Amnesia, Recovered-Memory Therapy, Episodic Memory
Topic of Memory in Exploring Psychology
1. Memory is the persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and
retrieval of information.
• Recall is a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information
learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test.
• Recognition is a measure of memory in which the person identifies items
previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test.
• Relearning is a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when
learning material again.
o Our response speed when recalling or recognizing information indicates
memory strength, as does our speed at relearning. Pioneering memory
researcher Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850–1909) showed this over a
century ago, using nonsense syllables. He randomly selected a sample of
syllables, practiced them, and tested himself. The more frequently he
repeated the list aloud on Day 1, the less time he required to relearn the
list on Day 2.
2. An information-processing model likens human memory to computer operations.
• Like a computer, our memory takes three steps to remember an event:
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o Encoding is the processing of information into the memory system—for
example, by extracting meaning.
o Storage is the process of retaining encoded information over time.
o Retrieval is the process of getting information out of memory storage.
• But unlike a computer, our brains are capable of parallel processing, which is the
processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously (even unconsciously).
This is the rai’s atural ode of iforatio proessig for a futios.
3. To explain our memory-forming process, Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin (1968)
proposed a model with three stages:
• Sensory memory—the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in
the memory system.
• Short-term memory—activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as
the seven digits of a phone number while calling, before the information is stored
or forgotten.
• Long-term memory—the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the
memory system, which includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.
• Working memory is a newer understanding of short-term memory that adds
conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual-spatial information,
and of information retrieved from long-term memory.
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4. Automatic processing unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time,
and frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings.
• Implicit memory is retention of learned skills or classically conditioned
associations independent of conscious recollection. (Also called nondeclarative
memory.) These are all examples of implicit memory:
o Procedural memory for automatic skills (such as how to ride a bike)
o Classically conditioned associations with stimuli
o Space (for example, when recalling information from a book, you can
remember its location on the page)
o Time (you unintentionally note the sequence of events)
o Frequency (how many times things happen)
5. Effortful processing is encoding that requires attention and conscious effort.
• Explicit memory is memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously
ko ad delare. Also alled delaratie eor.
• Sensory memory (recall Figure 22.3) feeds our active working memory, recording
momentary images of scenes or echoes of sounds.
o Iconic memory is a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a
photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more than a few
tenths of a second.
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Document Summary
Pioneering memory researcher hermann ebbinghaus (1850 1909) showed this over a century ago, using nonsense syllables. He randomly selected a sample of syllables, practiced them, and tested himself. Implicit memory is retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection. (also called nondeclarative memory. ) By contrast, experiencing something outside the usual setting can be confusing. Our memories depend on context, and on the cues we have associated with that context: when scuba divers listened to a word list in two different settings (either. Here are some facts that experts agree on: sex abuse happens, and it happens more often than we once supposed. Injustice happens: some innocent people have been falsely convicted. People can remember more after sleep than they can without sleeping before being tested. During sleep, the brain reorganizes and consolidates information for long-term memory. We are more likely to recall experiences that are consistent with our current mood.
