Memory: Encoding & Storage
Jan 15, 2016
Memory:Encoding & Storage
Information Processing
Atkinson-Schiffrin three-stage model of memory includes a) sensory memory, b) short-
term memory and c) long-term memory.
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Fra
nk W
arte
nber
g/ P
ictu
re P
ress
/ C
orbi
s
Information Processing
a) sensory memory-immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the
memory systemB
ob D
aem
mri
ch/ T
he I
mag
e W
orks
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Fra
nk W
arte
nber
g/ P
ictu
re P
ress
/ C
orbi
s
Information Processing
b) short-term memory-activated memory that hold a few items briefly before it is
stored or forgottenB
ob D
aem
mri
ch/ T
he I
mag
e W
orks
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Fra
nk W
arte
nber
g/ P
ictu
re P
ress
/ C
orbi
s
Information Processing
b) short-term memory-activated memory that hold a few items briefly before it is
stored or forgottenB
ob D
aem
mri
ch/ T
he I
mag
e W
orks
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Fra
nk W
arte
nber
g/ P
ictu
re P
ress
/ C
orbi
s
Information Processing
c) long-term memory-relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Fra
nk W
arte
nber
g/ P
ictu
re P
ress
/ C
orbi
s
Modifications to the Three-Stage Model
1. Some information skips the first two stages and enters long-term memory automatically.
2. Since we cannot focus on all the sensory information received, we select information that is important to us and actively process it into our working memory.
Information Processing
What is special about working memory?
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Bob
Dae
mm
rich
/ The
Im
age
Wor
ks
Fra
nk W
arte
nber
g/ P
ictu
re P
ress
/ C
orbi
s
Working Memory Store
• What happens if you need to keep information in working memory longer than 30 seconds?
• To demonstrate, memorize the following phone number (presented one digit at a time):
Working Memory Store
8 5 7 19 36
Working Memory Store
• The number lasted in your working memory longer than 30 seconds
• So how were you able to remember the number?
•What is the number? 857-9163
Maintenance Rehearsal
• Mental or verbal repitition of information allows it to stay in your working memory longer than the usual 30 seconds
• What is the number? 857-9163
Encoding: Getting Information in
Encoding: Getting Information In
How We Encode
1. Some information (route to your school) is automatically processed.
2. However novel information (friend’s new cell-phone number) requires attention and effort.
Automatic Processing
Enormous amount of information is processed effortlessly by us, like:
1. Space: While reading a textbook you automatically encode place of a picture on a page.
2. Time: We unintentionally note the events that take place in a day.
3. Frequency: You effortlessly keep track of things that happened to you.
Effortful Processing
Novel information committed to memory
requires effort, like learning a concept from a text. Such
processing leads to durable and
accessible memories.
Spencer G
rant/ Photo E
dit
© B
ananastock/ Alam
y
Rehearsal
Effortful learning usually requires
rehearsal or conscious
repetition.
Ebbinghaus studied rehearsal by using nonsense syllables: TUV YOF GEK XOZ
Hermann Ebbinghaus(1850-1909)
http://ww
w.isbn3-540-21358-9.de
Rehearsal
The more times the nonsense syllables were practiced on
Day 1,the fewer repetitions
were required to relearn them on Day
2.
Memory Effects
1. Next-in-line-Effect: When your recall is better for what other people say but poor for a person just before you in line.
2. Spacing Effect: We retain information better when our rehearsal is distributed over time.
3. Serial Position Effect: When your recall is better for first and last items, but poor for middle items on a list.
Serial Position Effect
1. TUV2. ZOF3. GEK4. WAV5. XOZ6. TIK7. FUT8. WIB9. SAR10. POZ11. REY12. GIJ
Better recall
Better recall
Poor recall
Memory Demo
Handout 27-1
What We Encode
1. Encoding by meaning2. Encoding by images3. Encoding by organization
Encoding Meaning
Q: Did the word begin with a capital letter?
StructuralEncoding
Q: Did the word rhyme with the word “weight”?
Q: Would the word fit in the sentence? He met a __________ in the street.
PhonemicEncoding
SemanticEncoding
“Whale”
Craik and Lockhart (1972)
Intermediate
Deep
Shallow
Results
Visual Encoding
Mental pictures (imagery) are a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially
when combined with semantic encoding.
Showing adverse effects of meth usein a picture may be more powerful than simply talking about it.
Storage: Retaining Information
Sensory Memory
Working/Short-term Memory
Long-Term Memory
Storing Memories in the Brain
Déja Vu means "I've experienced this before.”Cues from the current situation may unconsciously trigger retrieval of an
earlier similar experience.
Retrieval Cues
Memories are held in storage by a web of associations. These associations are like
anchors that help retrieve memory.
Fire Truck
truck
red
fire
heatsmoke
smellwater
hose
Storage: Retaining Information
the heart of memory is storage. Three stores of memory are :
SensoryMemory
WorkingMemory
Long-termMemory
Encoding
RetrievalEncoding
Events
Retrieval
Sensory Memory
SensoryMemory
WorkingMemory
Long-termMemory
Encoding
RetrievalEncoding
Events
Retrieval
Sensory Memory
SensoryMemory
Events
Iconic memory—few tenths of a second
Echoic memory—3 or 4 seconds
Working Memory
SensoryMemory
WorkingMemory
Long-termMemory
Encoding
RetrievalEncoding
Events
Retrieval
Long-Term Memory
SensoryMemory
WorkingMemory
Long-termMemory
Encoding
RetrievalEncoding
Events
Retrieval
Long-Term Memory
Unlimited! Estimates on capacity range from 1000 billion to 1,000,000 billion bits of
information.
Clark’s nutcracker can locate 6,000 caches of buried pine
seeds during winter & spring.
Rajan Mahadevan recited 31, 811 digits of pi on July 4th,
1983
Hippocampus ≠ Cerebellum
Hippocampus – a neural center in the
limbicsystem that processes
explicit memories.
Cerebellum – a neural center in the
hindbrain that processes implicit
memories.
Explicit Memories
Explicit Memory refers to facts and experiences that one can consciously know and declare.
What is the capital of Kyirblahkyrstan?
Hippocampus ≠ Cerebellum
Hippocampus – a neural center in the
limbicsystem that processes
explicit memories.
Cerebellum – a neural center in the
hindbrain that processes implicit
memories.
Implicit Memories
Implicit memory involves learning an action, but the individual doesn’t know/declare what she knows.
Two Types of Long-Term Memory
Stress Hormones & Memory
Heightened emotions (stress related or otherwise) make for stronger memories. Continued stress can disrupt memory.