Memory and Cognition

Retrieving Memories and the Failure of Memory

Memory Videos• Cards:• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voAntzB7EwE• Passes:• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

Quick Review• What is memory?• What is the information-processing model?

– What its 3 basic parts? What does each term mean?

• Where does encoding take place? Why there?– What are two ways of encoding?– Chunking and Rehearsal (effortful processing like elaborated

rehearsal—need attention)

• What are the three stages/types of memory? Explain.• What are the two levels of processing? Explain them.

– What is an example of deep processing?

• What are the two main parts of LTM?– What 2 ways is declarative memory divided?

• What are the 3 types of amnesia we talked about?

Implicit vs. Explicit Memory• Implicit Memory—

memory that you do not know you have; memory not deliberately learned; not conscious of knowledge– Most procedural

memories; how to ride a bike

• Explicit Memory—memory that has been consciously learned and consciously recalled– Mostly declarative or

semantic

Retrieval and Priming• Retrieval: the recovery of information• Need retrieval cues for quicker & more accurate retrieval• Think of a Google search

– Needs to be specific• Retrieval Cues: stimuli used to bring a memory into

consciousness or behavior—smell, emotion, location• Priming: activating specific associations in our memory

– Or: providing cues that stimulate memory– Guess the words: _ a _ _ a n; t _ _n_s; N _ _ _ e– Batman; thanks; Niche– Look at this list: frogs, books, trimming, ocean– Guess again: t _ im_ _ _ g; f_ _ e _ o _; _oo_ _– trimming; freedom; looks

• Can work with incomplete pictures• Can be incorrect

Types of Retrieval: Recall vs. Recognition• Think of Essay vs MC

test• Recall: reproducing

previously learned info• Recognition: ability to

id that you have seen a stimuli before (Ex: faces in the computer lab)– Cues available so

easier

Encoding and Memory• Encoding Specificity Principle—memory is encoded and stored with cues that are related to the circumstances in which it was formed– You only learn things by

taking MC tests then this is the way you will remember information…and essay would be difficult for you

• Mood-congruent memory—more likely to retrieve memories that match your mood– If depressed—most

memories will be sad

*TOT phenomenon: Tip-of-tongue—inability to recall a word while knowing it is a memory

Schacter: 7 sins of memory• See Handout!!!

Hermann Ebbinghaus: Forgetting Curve• Transience: long term

memories fade in strength over time– Studied this “sin”– Learned list of

nonsense syllables (KEB, RUZ, etc.)

– Tried to recall them over varying time intervals

– Rapid initial loss of memory, then a declining rate of loss—forgetting curve

*He dealt with meaningless material; meaningful stuff fade, but not as quickly

*Motor skills, flashbulb memories retained for long time

Advantages of the “7 Sins”• Transience—helps the brain

from becoming overwhelmed• Blocking—allows most

relevant information to come to mind

• Absent-mindedness—a by product of our ability to multitask

• Misattribution, bias, and suggestibility—occur b/c memory is built to deal w/ meaning and rid of details

• Persistence—help people not make same mistakes; shows us how much memory is tied to emotion