General Psychology Human Memory Lecture 5 Definition of

General Psychology Human Memory Lecture 5 Definition of Memory Memory Processes Stages of memory storage Forgetting Improvement of memory

In order to remember smth  learn it! To test learning  measure what is remembered! Memory involves storing information that is learned, so that it can be retrieved and used at a later time.

Retention level  the amount of info stored after learning has taken place. Retention is measured by asking a person to retrieve previously learned info. Retention loss = forgetting  a part of original learning that can’t be retrieved.

Ebbinghaus Research H. Ebbinghaus demonstrated that a greater memory loss occurs in the first 20 min after learning than in the remaining 31 days.

Memory processes

Encoding (1st step)  process of putting information into our memory system (like in a computer) Influences on effectiveness Perceive it (hear, see, touch, smell, taste) Motivated to remember Find this info meaningful or relevant to our life Practice or rehearse it

Storage (2nd step)  process of retaining information in our memory system for some length of time 3 memory stores Sensory short-term long-term SM (iconic/echoic) STM ( working active/immediate) LTM (semantic/episodic/procedural)

Retrieval  pulling information out of the memory system. We don’t know what is stored until we retrieve it. Sometimes it is adequately stored but not accessible at the moment. Success depends on effectiveness of encoding and storage.

Stages of memory storage

Memory stores characteristics

Types of LTM

Forgetting – retention loss. To test the amount of forgetting use 3 measures of retention

3 theories of forgetting

Memory improvement

Questions for the seminar: Define memory Describe encoding, storage, retrieval Iconic/echoic sensory memory Identify ‘attention’ and pattern recognition Characteristics of STM Metamemory Compare 3 types of long-term memory 3 measures of memory retention 3 theories of forgetting Techniques to improve memory

Essay task: Describe your knowledge of you own memory ability. (how you learn to remember, your ability to encode, store and retrieve, types of memory and techniques to improve your memory) Literature: R. Atkinson. Introduction to Psychology. Ch.8 pp 288-330. Volunteer Reports Emotional Factors in forgetting p 309-311 Implicit Memory in amnesia and normal subjects. Pp 311-315 Improving Memory pp 317-326 – 3 people.