Memory
Dec 16, 2015
Evaluate two models or theories of one cognitive process with reference to research studies.
We will be focusing on two models of memory.
The Multi-Store Model of MemoryAtkinson and Shiffrin 1968
Three step process….
1. Encoding: The processing of information into the memory system.
2. Storage: The retention of encoded material over time.
3. Retrieval: The process of getting the information out of memory storage.
Sensory Memory
• A split second holding tank for ALL sensory information.
• Sperling’s research on Iconic Memory
• Echoic Memory
Short Term Memory
• The stuff we encode from the sensory goes to STM.
• Events are encoded visually, acoustically or semantically.
• Holds about 7 (plus or minus 2) items for about 6-15 seconds.
• We recall digits better than letters.Short Term Memory Activity
Ways to remember things in STM…so they go to LTM
• Chunking: Organizing items into familiar, manageable units.
• Mnemonic devices or Peg Systems
• Rehearsal
1-4-9-2-1-7-7-6-1-8-1-2-1-9-4-1
"Mary Very Easily Makes Jam Saturday Unless No Plums."
Long Term Memory
• Unlimited storehouse of information.
• Explicit (declarative) memories
• Implicit (non-declarative) memories
Forgetting
• Retroactive Interference: new information blocks out old information.
• Proactive Interference: old information blocks out new information.
Calling your new girlfriend by old girlfriends name.
Getting a new bus number and forgetting old bus number.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
Aim:• To investigate recency
effect in free recall.Procedure:• This was a laboratory
experiment where participants first heard a list of items and them immediately had to recall them in any order.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
Results:• Participants recalled
words from the beginning of the list and end of the list best.
• The results showed a U shaped curve.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
• If the participants were given a filler task (something to do) right after the last words, the primacy effect disappeared but the recency effect remained.
Why?• Maybe the words are still
active in STM.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
Evaluation• The study supports the
idea of multiple stores (STM and LTM).
• Controlled lab experiment.
• Ecological validity issues?
Case study example of Multi-Store Model
• Amnesia is caused by damage to hippocampus and related networks.
• MRI scans showed that H.M. had severe damage to hippocampus which is critical to store info in LTM.
• H.M. could store implicit memories but not explicit memories.
• This shows that the memory system contains different systems.